Primary Location
Seal Beach Personal Injury Lawyers
207 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: (213) 214-1592
Call us at (855) 855-8910
Call us at (855) 855-8910
California is the only state where lane splitting is legal. Vehicle Code 21658.1 made that official in 2017 [1]. But legal does not mean free from risk.
The CHP sets guidelines for safe lane splitting. Riders should only split when traffic moves at 30 mph or less. And the rider should go no more than 10 mph faster than the cars around them.
Here's what people don't realize. Lane splitting is legal, but it's not unlimited. A rider going 50 between cars doing 20? That changes things. Insurance adjusters know this. They look for any reason to blame the motorcyclist.
We see it constantly. The driver drifts into your lane without checking mirrors. No signal. But the insurance company still says you were "splitting unsafely." That's their playbook.
A car driver who changes lanes without signaling may carry all the fault. Your speed, the traffic conditions, and whether you followed CHP guidelines all matter. So does whether the other driver was paying attention.
If you were riding within safe limits, you have a strong case. Call us at (855) 374-1714 for a free review of your motorcycle accident claim.
Seal Beach sits at the border of Orange and LA counties. Heavy commuter traffic makes lane splitting common here, and that means more collisions.
Construction zones are a real problem right now. Narrowed lanes leave less room for riders. Unexpected lane shifts catch everyone off guard. And temporary barriers block escape routes.
If your crash happened at one of these locations, the road conditions and traffic patterns may strengthen your claim. Our Seal Beach office at 207 Main St is minutes from all of these areas.
Lane splitting crashes produce specific injury patterns. The close quarters between vehicles leave little room for reaction. And the angles of impact differ from a typical open-road crash.
Common injuries we handle:
These injuries add up fast. Surgery. Physical therapy for months. Time off work. The bills pile up before you even know the full extent of the damage.
California law allows full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering [2]. Our legal team secured a $1.25 million settlement for a motorcyclist who needed spine fusion after a crash. Every case is different, but we fight for the full value of your injuries.
The minutes after a crash matter. What you do, and what you don't do, affects your case.
Do this right away:
One thing riders often miss: get the exact time of the crash. Traffic camera footage from the city or Caltrans may exist. But it gets overwritten fast.
California gives you two years to file a lawsuit under CCP 335.1 [3]. But waiting works against you. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details. The sooner you call, the stronger your case.
Reach us anytime at (855) 374-1714. We're available 24/7.
Fault in a lane splitting case comes down to one question. Was the rider operating within safe parameters?
CHP guidelines set the benchmark. If traffic was moving at 30 mph or less, and you were going no more than 10 mph faster, you were lane splitting safely. That puts the focus on what the other driver did wrong.
Common driver negligence in these cases:
Dashcam footage helps. Helmet cameras help even more. Traffic cameras at intersections along PCH and the 405 may capture the entire incident.
Accident reconstruction experts can analyze lane widths, impact angles, and vehicle damage patterns. That evidence tells the full story when the insurance company tries to rewrite it.
California uses pure comparative fault. That means both parties get evaluated. Even if you carry some percentage of fault, it doesn't eliminate your case. It just reduces the amount. Our attorneys secured an $845,000 verdict for a motorcyclist who was assigned 70% fault in a left-turn collision. Partial fault does not mean zero recovery.
Your sibling page on left-turn motorcycle accidents in Seal Beach covers that type of crash in detail.
Request a free lane-splitting accident case review so we can evaluate the evidence and explain how California's lane-splitting law applies to your crash.
Our attorneys have recovered millions for motorcyclists across Southern California. Here are a few examples from our case files.
Wrongful death motorcycle accident. A 24-year-old rider was killed, leaving behind dependent family members. Our legal team fought for the full value of the family's loss.
Motorcycle accident resulting in spine fusion surgery. Our attorneys negotiated a settlement that covered all medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Left-turn collision where the motorcyclist was assigned 70% fault. Despite the unfavorable fault split, our legal team secured a substantial jury verdict.
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
With over 250 years of combined experience and $600 million+ recovered for clients, The Simon Law Group is one of only two law firms with a physical office in Seal Beach. We're at 207 Main St, and we're ready to review your case for free.
Our attorneys have handled personal injury cases across California and Arizona. We know how Seal Beach insurance companies operate, and we know how to push back.
That number reflects real results for real families — medical bills paid, lost wages recovered, and futures protected.
You pay nothing upfront. Our fee comes out of your settlement or verdict. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.
Accidents do not follow business hours. Neither do we. Call (602) 905-7766 any time — nights, weekends, and holidays.
Our Seal Beach team works out of 207 Main St. We know the roads, the courts, and the insurance adjusters you are up against.
“After a crash, you need a team that answers the phone, explains your options, and fights for every dollar you are owed. That is what we do at The Simon Law Group.”
Over 250 years of combined attorney experience
Seal Beach office at 207 Main St | Licensed in California and Arizona
Yes. California Vehicle Code 21658.1 permits lane splitting. California is the only state that explicitly allows motorcyclists to ride between lanes of traffic.
Yes. Lane splitting is legal in California, so you're not automatically at fault. Liability depends on whether you were riding safely and whether the car driver was negligent.
CHP guidelines define safe lane splitting parameters. Your attorney can use speed data, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction to counter the insurer's claims.
It depends on the facts. A car driver who changes lanes without looking or signaling is often at fault. But a rider going too fast between lanes may share responsibility under California's pure comparative fault system.
Medical expenses, motorcycle repair or replacement, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses caused by the crash.
Our Location
Primary Location
207 Main St, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: (213) 214-1592