Burbank Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

A rider in Burbank gets hit and the first story usually comes from the driver: "I never saw him." Then the insurer adds its own spin. You were splitting lanes. You were speeding. You skipped the helmet. None of that ends your claim under California law, but each point gets used to cut your payout. Here is what matters after a motorcycle crash in Burbank: the roads where bikes and cars meet, how insurers twist lane splitting on Interstate 5 and State Route 134, the other ways drivers hit riders, and who writes the report and treats your injuries. It also covers the short deadline if a city road or vehicle played a part. Moe Abdallah takes these calls himself, any hour, at (323) 716-1992. The review is free.

Where Burbank riders meet cars, from Olive Avenue to the freeway ramps

Burbank's major surface streets are Olive Avenue, Glenoaks Boulevard, Buena Vista Street, Victory Boulevard, Burbank Boulevard, Magnolia Boulevard and San Fernando Road. Interstate 5 and State Route 134 cut through the city, so a rider often moves from freeway speed to signal-controlled city streets. City data reported by myBurbank counted the most crashes of any intersection at Victory Place and Burbank Boulevard, with 50 from 2015 to 2020, followed by Olive Avenue and Buena Vista Street with 45. That count covers all crashes, not just motorcycles, and it is older data, so treat it as a map of busy intersections. For motorcycles, the California Office of Traffic Safety ranked Burbank 37th of 61 cities for motorcycle victims in 2022 and 43rd of 62 in 2023. Rank 1 is the worst record, so Burbank sits in the lower half. We will not call it a motorcycle hotspot. For your case, the exact spot and how the driver moved matter more than any city ranking.

Lane splitting on Interstate 5 and State Route 134, and how insurers twist it

Stop-and-go traffic on the 5 and the 134 is where lane splitting comes up. No California statute prohibits it. Vehicle Code section 21658.1 defines lane splitting and lets the CHP issue safety guidelines. Riders still must change lanes only when it is reasonably safe under section 21658(a), and ride at a safe speed under section 22350. Insurers know the rule is gray in many drivers' minds, so they say lane splitting is illegal or reckless. No statute bans it, and splitting lanes is not careless by itself. The real question is how you rode. Were you moving at a speed that fit the traffic? Did a driver swerve into your path without signaling? Did a door open or a lane change come with no look? We gather the evidence that answers those questions, including dash camera footage from other vehicles, CHP records and witness accounts. Even if a jury found you partly at fault, California's pure comparative negligence rule in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. means you can still recover, with your award reduced by your share. An insurer's accusation does not end your claim.

The left turn and other ways drivers hit riders

The most common car-versus-motorcycle crash is a driver turning left across a rider's path. Vehicle Code section 21801(a) requires a left-turning driver to yield to oncoming traffic close enough to be a hazard. A motorcycle has a thin profile and is easy to misjudge, but that does not excuse the driver. In Burbank that might be a turn into a lot on Olive Avenue, a left off Glenoaks Boulevard, or a turn at a signal on Victory Boulevard or Buena Vista Street. Then there is the lane change. A driver who drifts into a rider's space while passing violates section 21750(a), which requires passing to the left at a safe distance. Third, a driver rear-ends a rider at a light while looking at a phone. Fourth, a pothole or other road defect may support a claim against the city if the strict rules for public property are met. Each pattern calls for different proof, such as the other driver's phone records, nearby cameras, and skid and gouge marks the police may photograph. We figure out which pattern fits your crash within days.

Helmets, uninsured owners and the rules that shrink a rider's claim

California requires every rider and passenger to wear a DOT-compliant helmet under Vehicle Code section 27803. If you were not wearing one, your claim is not barred. An insurer may argue the lack of a helmet made your head injury worse and ask a jury to reduce your award. We answer that with medical evidence on what caused each injury. Two other rules can hurt riders. Proposition 213 says an owner of an uninsured vehicle, or a driver who cannot show financial responsibility, generally cannot recover pain and suffering. Check your own insurance status with us early. Proposition 51 splits pain-and-suffering damages among defendants by percentage of fault, so each person who shares blame matters. Then there is the money problem. California minimum liability limits are $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident, and a serious motorcycle injury can cost far more. So your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may matter. We read every policy that could apply before talking to any adjuster.

Burbank police reports, Providence Saint Joseph and the six-month city claim

On Burbank city streets, the Burbank Police Department takes a collision report when someone is hurt. Its Traffic Bureau line is (818) 238-3100 and the Records Bureau line is (818) 238-3140. Reports can be bought online through LexisNexis at least four days after the crash, or in person at the Records Bureau counter for a $20 fee. Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., is in Burbank, and its emergency department runs 24/7 at (818) 843-5111. Tell the staff every place you hurt, from road rash to a sore wrist, so nothing goes unrecorded. If a city vehicle or a dangerous road condition is involved, a different clock applies. You must present a written claim to the City of Burbank within six months under Government Code section 911.2, through the City Clerk's Office on the Claim for Damages form. If the city rejects it in writing, you have six months to sue under section 945.6. The City restriped East Olive Avenue in March 2025 to reduce lanes and speeds, a reminder that road design is part of crash analysis. Most injury suits for private-party crashes follow the usual two-year deadline under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.

What Moe does in the first days after a Burbank motorcycle crash

Moe starts with the bike. Do not repair it or sell it, and do not let an insurer take it for "inspection" without us. Skid marks, handlebar damage and the position of the bike all tell a story. He also asks you to save your helmet, jacket, gloves and boots, since that gear shows impact points. Then he gets the Burbank police report, sends preservation letters to businesses with cameras and checks every insurance policy that could pay. He speaks to the adjusters so you do not give a recorded statement that gets used against you. In one case, an insurer offered $900 and Moe recovered $75,000 total after the at-fault limit was tendered and an underinsured motorist claim followed. Past results do not predict a similar outcome, and every case is different. We work on contingency, so you pay no fee unless we win. We are available 24/7 and Se Habla Español.

Talk to a Burbank motorcycle accident lawyer

Call (323) 716-1992 for a free, no-obligation case review. You pay nothing unless we win, and we'll handle the insurance companies for you. Learn more about our motorcycle accidents representation →

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