Santa Monica, California
If you were hurt riding in Santa Monica, you can claim for medical treatment, lost income, and the harm the crash caused. Santa Monica concentrates three difficult conditions for riders in a small area: Pacific Coast Highway traffic entering and leaving the city, the 10 freeway terminus feeding Lincoln and Fourth, and a dense downtown grid with heavy pedestrian, bus and bike movement.
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No California law prohibits lane splitting. Vehicle Code § 21658.1 defines the practice and authorizes the California Highway Patrol to issue educational guidelines about it. It does not outlaw it and it does not make a splitting rider automatically at fault. Insurers make that argument anyway, and it has to be met with the statute.
The basic speed law (Vehicle Code § 22350) still governs, and so does everyone else's duty of care. In Santa Monica the recurring facts are a left turn across a rider at Lincoln or Wilshire, a lane change beside a rider on PCH, and a door or a bus movement downtown.
Helmets are required for riders and passengers in California (Vehicle Code § 27803); that is a safety and citation matter and is not a determination of who caused the crash.
We identify the correct investigating agency first — SMPD inside the city, CHP on PCH beyond it and on the 10 — because requesting from the wrong one costs weeks.
We preserve the motorcycle before it is repaired or released. Damage height and scrape direction routinely contradict a driver's account of the impact.
We send preservation letters to the beachfront hotels, downtown retail, Big Blue Bus and any Caltrans or city camera with a view of the location. Retention is short.
We make sure the medical record reflects the whole injury. Riders tend to be treated for the visible trauma first and the orthopedic or head injury later, and the record needs to show both.
Pacific Coast Highway is a state highway, and the California Highway Patrol generally investigates collisions on it outside city surface-street jurisdiction, while Santa Monica PD handles city streets. We confirm which agency holds your report and request it.
That is not what the law says. No California statute prohibits lane splitting; Vehicle Code § 21658.1 defines it and authorizes CHP educational guidelines. Responsibility still depends on the actual conduct of each person involved.
Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If a city, county, or state agency is a defendant — a municipal vehicle, a dangerous roadway condition, a public sidewalk — you generally have six months to present a written government claim first (Government Code § 911.2). Talk to a lawyer early so a deadline never decides the case for you.
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney's fee unless we win your case, and the first consultation is free and confidential.
On my way to LAX, a truck driver t-boned my car. I was in the hospital for a few days. Hollywood Law Center came to the hospital and took my information. They made sure my hospital bills were taken care of and got me the compensation I deserved.
What I loved about this firm is that they offer free consultations. They were very honest with me about my personal injury case and advised me of the good and the bad. They didn't just tell me what I wanted to hear — it was refreshing to have someone so honest.
Hollywood Injury Law Center — Bash & Polyachenko P.C.
6253 Hollywood Blvd #205, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm
No fee unless you win. Consultations are free, confidential, and available in English and Spanish.
Call (323) 850-0101Disclaimer: This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Hollywood Injury Law Center — Bash & Polyachenko P.C. is licensed to practice law in California.
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