It’s a common misconception that you’re always safer riding in a car than you are riding a motorcycle. The fact is, the roads can be dangerous for everyone. Case in point: as of 2015, there were about 1.7 million rear-end collisions in the U.S. every year. And while anyone can be rear-ended, safe lane splitting
Beware Sidewalk Parking – Los Angeles
Last week, I had a very close encounter with a traffic officer. I’d only been at work for about thirty minutes when I received a call from my building’s parking attendant. He informed me there was a traffic officer giving tickets to all the motorcycles parked on the sidewalk in front of the building. I
Is it Legal to Ride a Motorcycle with Headphones in California?
Short Answer: Yes, in California it is legal to wear a listening device over one ear, but not both. Going off of my friend Tom’s recent post about listening to music while riding, I thought I would clear the air as to what is legal and what is not when it comes to riding with
About Motorcycle Insurance
The U.S. Government has made it mandatory that all motorcycle riders have current motorcycle insurance coverage. A very good reason to have insurance is for example, If you have an accident, your insurance will prevent you from paying large amounts of cash out of pocket. In order to be covered properly, it will depend on
AMA: Bill Introduced to Stop Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints
AMA Press Release: A U.S. lawmaker has introduced a bill to not only end funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints but also to put more emphasis on motorcycle safety programs, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. On May 7, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) introduced H.R. 1861 to prohibit the U.S. Transportation Department from providing funds to state
Legal Question re: Parking a Motorcycle in California
READER QUESTION: Dear Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, In California, how much space does a motorcycle legally need to park between two cars? Sincerely, Motorcyclist in Los Angeles RIDERZ LAW ATTORNEY RESPONSE: Dear Reader, I'm not aware of any state law requiring a specific amount of space between vehicles for a motorcycle to park. A motorcycle that
Michigan House Votes to Repeal Motorcycle Helmet Law — Is California Next?
Are we any closer to a repeal of the state helmet law in California? Based on trends in legislative changes throughout the country, the answer is a resounding… maybe. This week, a bill that would repeal Michigan's motorcycle laws passed the state House of Representatives. The bill was approved by a vote of 69-39. If
Question: Do Motorcycle Passengers in PA Need to Wear a Helmet?
Below is an email we recently received from a biker out in Pennsylvania regarding helmet laws in his state. He wanted to know whether passengers in PA are required to wear helmets. The short answer is, not if they are 21 or older. Dear Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, I’ve read the PA motorcycle laws and am
Long Beach Police Cracking Down on Motorcyclists
Yesterday, I got an email forwarded from a friend at ABATE that is quite disturbing. The original email is from a biker who allegedly got hassled by the Long Beach Police Department. Apparently, they are now writing tickets for “non-DOT” helmets, as well as for aftermarket pipes, regardless of whether or not they are illegal.
Will My Aftermarket Vance & Hines Pipes Get Me a Ticket in California?
The motorcycle accident lawyers here at Riderz Law got a great question from an out-of-state biker who is planning to ride up the California coast. We thought we would share it with the rest of our readers: *** Dear Riderz Law, I have a 2011 Harley-Davidson Softail with Vance & Hines Big Shot Longs that
Biker Illegally Stopped by a Cop: How Does He Fight the Ticket?
A biker called me a few days ago, and told me that he was stopped by a cop on a San Diego-area freeway while riding his special-construction motorcycle. The cop asked him what size his motor was. It was 200cc, and the biker told him so. I assume that the cop believed it was less
Is Lane Splitting on a Motorcycle Safe? (Lane Splitting: Part 3)
“Lane splitting,” also known as “white lining,” is the practice of riding a motorcycle between rows of traffic. Yesterday, I discussed the legality of the issue in the blog post Is Lane Splitting on a Motorcycle Legal in California? Today, I will continue the discussion on lane splitting with another important question: Is Riding Between
Is Lane Splitting on a Motorcycle Legal in California? (Lane Splitting: Part 2)
“Lane splitting,” also known as “lane sharing” or “white lining,” is the practice of riding a motorcycle between rows of traffic. In December, I posted a blog entry entitled “Lane Splitting: Part 1.” I promised more on the subject, and well, six months later, here is a long-awaited follow-up. This is an oft-debated topic on
We’re Bikers, So We Need to Carry Weapons!
My friends at a California MRO (or Motorcycle Rights Organization, for those of you who don’t know) have asked me to do a breakdown of the knife laws in California for their monthly newsletter. It seems that lots of bikers like carrying blades. Who knew? I’m usually armed only with my charm and quick wit.
Get Drunk, Wreck Your Motorcycle, and . . . File a Law Suit?
There is a reason people don’t like attorneys. Ok, there are probably lots of reasons, but here is a little anecdotal fuel for the proverbial fire: A few years ago, in Tom’s River, New Jersey, a 47-year old biker named Frederick Voss, got hammered at a local tavern, then jumped onto his motorcycle and took
The Secret to Safer Motorcycle Helmets? Put a Sticker on It!
Effective immediately, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has changed it’s motorcycle helmet label requirements. Until the new rule took effect, the stickers required on motorcycle helmets that met the Federal Safety Standard simply read “DOT.” The new stickers must read “DOT FMVSS No. 218 Certified.” What possible good will the new stickers do?
How To Make Insurance Claims After A Motorcycle Accident
As a service to our clients and readers, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Riderz Law have published a comprehensive “how to” section on dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle crash. (By the way, the same tips would apply equally to dealing with insurance after an auto accident!) First, we explain motorcycle insurance, identifying the
Splitting Lanes: As Dangerous as Riding a Motorcycle
Those of you who closely follow my daily motorcycle-related rants already know my opinion on lane splitting. Well, I’ve been force-fed some new fodder on the subject. Yesterday, the OC Register, Orange County’s leading newspaper (other than the LA Times, haha) ran a story entitled “Splitting Lanes: Dangerous but Legal.” The name of the article
How High Can Ape Hangers Be In California?
After a Sunday morning ride on my old-but-reliable Suzuki GSX1100G, I stopped at a popular breakfast spot, where I overhead a couple of bikers talking about California’s ape-hanger laws. One of the men had gotten a ticket in a popular Orange County beach town the day before; the cop told him his were too high,
Proposed Bill Would Make Motorcycle Helmets Optional in California
Though nothing new, the battle over helmet laws continues in California. (Helmet laws vary from state to state, but they are currently mandatory in California.) In 1985, facing pressure from the federal government and several special interest groups, California passed a law requiring minors to wear helmets. In 1992, the law was amended to require
No Probable Cause, No Problem! (After all, You’re on a Motorcycle!)
If you read our blog yesterday (or if you ride in Georgia, Wisconsin, New York, or any number of other states where this is going on), you know that all over the country, motorcycle-only checkpoints are cropping up. Under the guise of public safety, state and local law enforcement agencies are performing unconstitutional stops of
Who Cares About the Constitution When Motorcyclists’ Safety Is The Excuse?
So you’re on your way to Daytona Bike week in Florida. Or to an afternoon bbq in Appleton, Wisconsin. Or to your buddy’s pool party in Newport Beach, California. It’s a beautiful day for a ride. Ahh, what could be better? But then, up ahead, you see a traffic stop. Sure enough, it’s a police
Biker Whips May Get You in Trouble in Ventura, California (Part 3)
It has recently come to the attention of the motorcycle accident lawyers at Riderz Law that a number of bikers — specifically patch holders — have been arrested for carrying decorative motorcycle leashes, sometimes called “getbacks whips” or “getbacks.” The leashes are made of braided leather, often in club colors. At the end of each
Biker Whips May Get You in Trouble in Ventura, California (Part 2)
As discussed yesterday, the courts have upheld the constitutionality of California Penal Code section 12020(a) — the law with which bikers are being charged for carrying decorative leashes, aka “getback whips” on their motorcycles. In upholding the constitutionality of the statute, both generally and as applied to Fannin, the court offered a definition of the
Biker Whips May Get You in Trouble in Ventura, California (Part 1)
It has recently come to the attention of the motorcycle accident lawyers at Riderz Law that a number of bikers — specifically patch holders — have been arrested for carrying decorative motorcycle leashes, sometimes called “getbacks whips” or “getbacks.” The leashes are made of braided leather, often in club colors. At the end of each
Riverside Bikers Beware! Cops on the Prowl for Motorcycles in Hemet, California
Motorcyclists in Riverside County, California, should be on the lookout this Saturday, January 22. The Hemet Police Department has planned a “saturation patrol” for Saturday night. They will be prowling for intoxicated motorcycle riders and “motorcycle safety violations.” While the motorcycle accident lawyers at RiderzLaw are all in favor of police efforts to curb
“No Motorcycle Parking” Means Less Parking for Cars
My gym in north Pasadena has a serious parking shortage. It’s not uncommon for cars to have to wait in line to get a parking spot. The 24 Hour Fitness shares a lot with several other establishments, including a Subway, and a Kings Market across the street. Starting in the early morning, and until late
New California Law Puts “Straight-Up” Damper on Customizing Motorcycles
Riding a customized motorcycle? Thanks to our fearless leaders in Sacramento, California, another bill became law this week that will immediately affect many riders, particularly those of you with a penchant for customizing your motorcycles. SB 1318 was passed last year, amending California Vehicle Code section 5201 as of January 1, 2011. Among other things,
New Law Makes Thieves’ Tools Illegal (And Maybe Yours, Too)
It should come as no surprise that California leads the country in motorcycle thefts. We have more thefts (and motorcycle accidents, more motorcycle fatalities, etc.) because we have more riders and more registered motorcycles than any other state. But there is more to these numbers than that. Motorcycle theft is big business these days in
Motorcycle Safety Course to be Required for Young Riders
Starting Jan. 1, motorcyclists in California under age 21 must attend a 15-hour motorcycle skills and safety course first before they can get a learner’s permit to ride a motorcycle ride on the street. This new law is a result of a tragic incident that occurred three years ago at a suburban cul-de-sac in Fair
Hell’s Angels Lawsuit
Although motorcycle accidents are the focus of our practice, as lawyers and riders, we like to keep our friends and clients informed on legal issues that may affect them. A recent case filed in Los Angeles, Hells Angels Motorcycle Corp. v. Alexander McQueen Trading Ltd, may have a big impact on the biker community. The
Lane-Splitting: Part 1
This topic may seem irrelevant on this very rainy Wednesday in December, as my motorcycle sits hidden away in my garage in Pasadena. I didn't want to be on the road at all today, much less jump on the bike. Even in my more daring, much younger days, when I argued that, "hey, that's why