Pasadena Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Pasadena and its foothills are a draw for riders, and that is exactly why crashes happen here. Motorcyclists share the 210, 134, and the tight 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway with heavy traffic, weave through the stop-and-go of Colorado Boulevard, and climb the scenic but unforgiving Angeles Crest routes north of town. Too often a driver simply fails to see a motorcycle while changing lanes or turning left, and the rider pays the price.

Motorcycle claims also come loaded with bias, because some insurers assume the rider was reckless. Here is how these cases actually work in Pasadena and how we approach them from nearby Glendale.

Why motorcycle crashes happen here

• Left-turning drivers who fail to yield at Pasadena intersections
• Lane changes on the 210 and 134 where a driver never checks for a motorcycle
• The narrow, curving 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway with no shoulders
• Heavy mixed traffic along Colorado Boulevard
• The Angeles Crest foothill routes, where speed, curves, and road conditions raise the stakes

The California law that controls your case

Lane splitting is legal in California. Vehicle Code section 21658.1 expressly authorizes a motorcyclist to ride between rows of stopped or moving vehicles, so the fact that a rider was lane splitting does not by itself make the rider at fault. California's at-fault system and pure comparative negligence rule both apply: the driver who caused the crash is responsible, and even if a rider is assigned a share of fault, that only reduces recovery rather than barring it. We push back hard against the reflexive assumption that the rider must have been to blame.

Injuries and case types we handle

Without a vehicle frame around them, riders often suffer severe injuries: traumatic brain injuries even when helmeted, spinal injuries, fractures, road rash requiring skin grafts, and orthopedic damage that needs surgery and long rehabilitation. We handle crashes caused by left-turn violations, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, and hazardous road conditions.

What you may be able to recover

Results are never guaranteed, but California law permits recovery for both economic and non-economic losses, which may include:

• Medical care, including future surgeries and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Motorcycle and gear damage
• Pain, suffering, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life

Deadlines and where Pasadena cases are heard

California generally allows two years from the crash to file suit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, so it is wise to act before evidence and witness memories fade. Pasadena is in Los Angeles County, so cases proceed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. With the historic Pasadena courthouse closed, area civil matters are typically heard at the Alhambra Courthouse or the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. From Glendale, about ten miles away, we know these roads and courts well. We offer free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian and handle motorcycle cases on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win.