Bianca Babaians
If another driver’s negligence caused your Rancho Cucamonga motorcycle crash, you can recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, bike damage, and pain and suffering, and under California’s pure comparative negligence rule you can recover even if you were partly at fault. Insurers often try to blame the rider, including for lawful lane splitting, but legal lane splitting is not fault by itself. Babaians Law Firm represents injured riders in Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Empire on contingency: no fee unless we recover compensation for you, and your first consultation is free. Call (818) 334-2981; hablamos español.
Whoever’s negligence caused the crash, and fault can be shared. California divides fault by percentage, and your compensation is reduced by your share but never eliminated. Fault disputes in rider cases commonly turn on a driver turning left across a rider’s path or changing lanes without seeing the motorcycle, followed by the explanation that the driver “didn’t see” the rider. [Attorney to confirm and add what she sees most often.] Insurers then often argue the rider was speeding or reckless. Evidence, not assumption, decides the percentage. See how California’s fault rule works.
Lane splitting is legal in California, and riding between lanes does not by itself make you at fault. Vehicle Code § 21658.1, added by AB 51 and effective January 1, 2017, defines and permits it. The statute contains no speed limit, and the California Highway Patrol’s safety guidance recommends caution rather than setting a legal threshold. Defense lawyers and adjusters typically argue instead that the rider’s speed was unreasonable under the basic speed law (Vehicle Code § 22350) or that the rider made an unsafe lane change (§ 22107). Most other states do not allow lane splitting between moving traffic; a handful allow narrower “lane filtering” past stopped or very slow traffic.
Get medical care first, then protect the evidence.
The value of a claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the available insurance, and the fault percentage. We do not promise outcomes.
Generally two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If a government entity may share fault, for example because of a road defect, you generally must present a claim within six months. See our statute of limitations guide.
Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply. California’s minimum liability limits rose to $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage on January 1, 2025, but some policies still carry older, lower limits until they renew, and even the new minimums can fall short of serious motorcycle injuries. See uninsured motorist claims and underinsured motorist claims.
California has more registered motorcycles than any other state, but it does not lead the nation in motorcyclist deaths. In 2024, Florida (642), Texas (583) and California (522) had the most, according to National Safety Council analysis of federal data. Riding is year-round here and traffic is dense, but the larger issue is vulnerability: nationally in 2024, motorcycles were about 3% of registered vehicles and 0.7% of vehicle miles traveled, yet the fatality rate per registered vehicle was more than six times that of passenger car occupants (NHTSA). Two-thirds of motorcyclist deaths occurred in urban areas. In the Inland Empire, freight and warehouse traffic on the 15 and 210 adds large vehicles with big blind spots and long stopping distances.
We investigate the crash, preserve the physical and video evidence, document the full cost of your injuries, and push back when an insurer blames the rider by default. We coordinate with medical providers and project long-term costs for serious injuries. We work on contingency: no fee unless we recover compensation for you [state the fee percentage and cost handling in plain language]. [State accurately how Rancho Cucamonga clients are met; the firm’s listed offices are in Montrose, Long Beach and Sacramento.]
Call or text (818) 334-2981 or request a free case evaluation. Hablamos español.
Personal injury lawyer Rancho Cucamonga · California’s 51% rule and Rancho Cucamonga car accidents · Motorcycle accident lawyers in California
More registered motorcycles, year-round riding weather, dense traffic, and legal lane splitting all combine to keep riders constantly exposed to risk.
Done safely, lane splitting can reduce some crash types. The bigger problem is drivers who do not anticipate motorcycles, especially when turning or changing lanes.
In crashes involving another vehicle, the other driver is frequently at fault, often for turning left in front of a rider or failing to see them.
The region’s heavy freight and freeway traffic adds large vehicles with big blind spots, raising the risk for motorcyclists in areas like Rancho Cucamonga.
Generally two years from the date of the crash. Claims involving a government entity may have a six-month deadline.
We take on fewer cases to give every client the focus they deserve. Unlike high-volume firms where cases get lost in the shuffle, we prioritize quality over quantity, delivering the attention and results your case deserves. Experience the difference with our dedicated team.
Great female led personal injury firm with good results and settlements. I highly recommend this law firm for personal injury related matters in Los Angeles and California in general.
