Even the safest motorcycle rider has been in a situation where their safety was suddenly in jeopardy. All it takes is one car making a sudden lane change to send a motorcyclist to the ground, and the smallest road hazards, such as cracks, wet pavement, gravel or construction, can cause a crash. Motorcyclists are harder to see, drivers often are not watching for them, and when a collision happens the rider has no airbags, seat belts or crumple zones. The tips below reduce the risk. If a crash happens anyway, our Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer page explains how California treats fault, lane splitting, helmets and insurance, and what your claim can recover.
Keep Your Speed Down
The faster you travel, the less time and space you have to notice and react to changing road conditions. Speed makes it harder to judge a turn, which means entering the corner too fast; a panic stop can throw you off the bike, and turning too hard can slide it out from under you. Riding at a speed that leaves you a margin lets you respond to hazards as they appear.
Lane Split Carefully, or Not at All
Lane splitting, riding between rows of stopped or slow traffic, is legal in California (Vehicle Code section 21658.1), and the California Highway Patrol publishes safety guidelines for it. It is also where many collisions happen, because drivers in congested traffic change lanes suddenly and do not look for a rider in the gap. If you split lanes, the CHP guidance is to keep the speed difference with surrounding traffic small, avoid splitting when traffic is moving at higher speeds, stay out of blind spots, and be especially alert near freeway ramps and exits. Away from the freeway, keep your distance from parked cars, where an opening door, a car pulling out of a driveway or a pedestrian stepping into the street can appear without warning.
Wear a Compliant Helmet and Protective Gear
California requires every rider and passenger to wear a helmet that meets the federal FMVSS 218 standard (Vehicle Code section 27803). Beyond the law, a compliant helmet, eye protection, gloves, an armored jacket and boots are the difference between road rash and a hospital stay. If you are hurt, not wearing a helmet can reduce what you recover for a head injury under California’s comparative fault rule, so it matters for your claim as well as your safety.
Perform Routine Maintenance
A motorcycle in good condition is easier to control in an emergency. Check tires, brakes, lights, turn signals, chain and fluids regularly, and fix problems before you ride. Consider a riding course, whether you are a new rider or an experienced one; the California Motorcyclist Safety Program offers courses throughout the state.
If You Are Hit
Get medical care the same day, call the police and get a report number, photograph the scene and the vehicles, get the other driver’s insurance information and witness names, and do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. You generally have two years to file an injury lawsuit in California (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1) and only six months to present a claim if a government road defect contributed (Government Code section 911.2). Abdi & Associates, Inc. helps riders injured in motorcycle crashes throughout California. Call (888) 772-2529 for a free consultation.
Reviewed by Shawn Abdi, Esq., Abdi & Associates, Inc. Last reviewed: September 4, 2026. Attorney advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice about your specific situation. Legal deadlines have exceptions; confirm the deadlines that apply to your case with a lawyer.