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Manhattan Beach is a regular destination for motorcycle riders traveling Pacific Coast Highway and the South Bay road network. PCH connects through the city in its western stretch, and Sepulveda Boulevard offers an alternative inland route for riders heading between the South Bay and Los Angeles. The beach city atmosphere draws weekend recreational riders from across the region, while local riders commute on these same roads daily. When a motorcycle accident happens in Manhattan Beach, the injuries are typically serious – riders have no structural protection and absorb the full force of a collision. The Law Offices of Asher Hoffman, APC represents motorcycle accident victims in Manhattan Beach and throughout the South Bay on a contingency basis, with no fees unless we recover for you.
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The intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Manhattan Beach Boulevard is one of the highest-traffic intersections in the city. Vehicles turning left across Sepulveda often misjudge the speed and gap of oncoming motorcycle traffic, leading to high-impact broadside collisions. The same risk applies at the PCH-Manhattan Beach Boulevard intersection, where left-turn movements across PCH are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists approaching from either direction.
The downtown area near the Manhattan Beach Pier sees congested parking and heavy pedestrian activity on weekends. Vehicles backing out of parking spaces, making U-turns, or pulling in and out of valet lanes create unpredictable hazards for riders navigating the area. The residential streets in the Hill Section and Tree Section are quieter but have their own risks: speed bumps, narrow lanes, and sight-line obstructions from parked vehicles and mature street trees.
Left-turn crashes at major intersections. The most common and most dangerous motorcycle accident type in urban environments is a vehicle making a left turn into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. At the Sepulveda-Manhattan Beach Boulevard and PCH-Manhattan Beach Boulevard intersections, this type of crash occurs at significant speed and typically causes fractures, spinal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.
Lane splitting on Sepulveda and PCH. California law permits lane splitting under California Vehicle Code section 21658.1, and the CHP has established guidelines for safe splitting speeds. When a car makes a sudden lane change without checking for lane-splitting motorcycle traffic, the crash that results is typically the cager’s fault. Sepulveda backups near the South Bay Galleria and PCH congestion near the pier area both create conditions where lane splitting occurs regularly.
Dooring on Highland Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Parallel parking lines both sides of Highland Avenue in the downtown area and portions of Manhattan Beach Boulevard. When a driver or passenger opens a door without checking for approaching motorcycle traffic, the rider has almost no time to react. Dooring accidents frequently result in the rider going over the door and landing in the travel lane.
The Strand and beach access road hazards. The Strand multi-use path in Manhattan Beach is city-owned. While it is not open to motorcycles, the streets that cross it and access the beachfront are. Sand tracking from the beach onto Strand Drive, The Strand, and adjacent roads creates a reduced-traction surface that is particularly hazardous for motorcycles. City responsibility for maintaining safe surface conditions may give rise to a government tort claim if a surface defect contributed to the accident.
Residential street collisions in beach neighborhoods. The dense residential neighborhoods near the beach in Manhattan Beach – El Porto in the north, the Sand Section in the central city – have narrow streets, frequent pedestrians, and limited lighting in some areas. Vehicles backing out of driveways or pulling into alleys without adequate visibility are a recurring hazard for motorcycle riders.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit against private parties is two years from the accident date. California Vehicle Code section 27803 requires motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. While helmet use (or non-use) affects the evidence, it does not excuse a negligent driver. Insurance carriers routinely try to assign comparative fault to motorcycle riders to reduce their payouts – we fight those arguments with evidence and expert testimony when necessary.
If your accident involved city-owned infrastructure – a road surface defect, a malfunctioning signal, or a hazardous condition on a city-maintained street in Manhattan Beach – California Government Code section 911.2 requires you to file a government tort claim with the City of Manhattan Beach within six months of the injury. Missing this deadline bars your claim against the city.
Manhattan Beach motorcycle accident cases are filed in the Torrance Courthouse (South Bay Justice Center), 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance. Serious motorcycle injuries are treated at Torrance Memorial Medical Center (2800 Lomita Blvd, Torrance), Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center (4101 Torrance Blvd, Torrance), and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, which is a designated Level I trauma center.
We also handle car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, and rideshare accidents in Manhattan Beach. For motorcycle accident cases throughout Los Angeles County, see our Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer page. For South Bay-wide motorcycle coverage, see the Manhattan Beach personal injury lawyer hub.
Injured in a motorcycle accident in Manhattan Beach? Call the Law Offices of Asher Hoffman at (877) 792-4529 or contact us online. Free consultation. Pure contingency – no fees unless we win. Serving Manhattan Beach, the South Bay, and all of Los Angeles County.
After a motorcycle crash in Manhattan Beach, your priority is medical attention. Even low-speed motorcycle accidents cause injuries that are not immediately apparent. Adrenaline masks pain. Concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries all require prompt diagnosis. If you are physically able at the scene: call 911, photograph the vehicles and road, collect the other driver’s information, and note the exact location. Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive or get their contact information immediately.
Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance carrier before consulting an attorney. Insurance carriers that represent vehicle drivers in motorcycle cases routinely attempt to assign comparative fault to the rider based on lane position, speed, and gear. Their goal is to reduce what they pay out. Your goal is full compensation. These interests are opposed. The Manhattan Beach Police Department handles collision investigations within city limits. An attorney can review the TCR, identify errors, and engage accident reconstruction experts if necessary to establish accurate fault allocation.
Motorcycle accidents frequently cause injuries with long-term or permanent consequences: disc herniations requiring surgery, tibial and femoral fractures requiring hardware and extended rehabilitation, traumatic brain injuries affecting cognition and personality, and road rash causing permanent scarring. All of these categories generate substantial economic and non-economic damages. California does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases. The eggshell plaintiff doctrine means that if you had a prior injury or condition that the crash worsened, you are entitled to recover for the full extent of that aggravation. We work with your treating physicians and, when warranted, independent medical experts to fully document and present your injuries. See our Manhattan Beach personal injury lawyer hub and our Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer page.
The Law Offices of Asher Hoffman, APC is a plaintiff-side personal injury firm located at 4929 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 780, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Asher Hoffman handles every case personally. We work on a pure contingency basis – no fees unless we recover for you – and we advance all litigation costs. Our firm handles cases through trial when insurers refuse to pay fair value. Call (877) 792-4529 or contact us online for a free consultation about your Manhattan Beach accident claim.
I was lane splitting when I was hit. Can I still recover? California law expressly permits lane splitting in accordance with CHP guidelines. If you were lane splitting within the guidelines when a driver made a sudden lane change and struck you, the driver’s failure to check for filtering traffic is the negligent act. California’s comparative fault system means your recovery is reduced only by your own percentage of fault. Lane splitting within guidelines typically does not constitute negligence on the rider’s part.
What if I was not wearing a helmet? California law requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets (CVC 27803). Failure to wear a helmet is evidence that may be presented at trial. However, it does not eliminate your right to recover damages from a negligent driver. Your compensation may be reduced by a comparative fault finding related to helmet use for head injuries, but the driver’s duty to yield and operate safely does not change based on your gear choices. We address this issue proactively in every case.
How is fault established in a left-turn motorcycle accident? The driver making the left turn across oncoming traffic has the duty to yield under CVC section 21801. When that driver fails to yield to an oncoming motorcycle, fault typically lies with the turning driver. We establish fault through the TCR, witness statements, and when necessary, accident reconstruction analysis and expert testimony.
I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for the team that helped me after my motorcycle accident. From day one, they treated me with respect and compassion, while also fighting aggressively on my behalf. The process of dealing with insurance companies and medical bills was overwhelming, but they walked me through every step, […]
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Asher is absolutely amazing! After my car accident, I was overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do, but he made the whole process so much easier. He’s very attentive, caring, and really goes above and beyond for his clients. I always felt supported and confident knowing he was handling my case. He not only got […]
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I am so grateful to have had Asher Hoffman as my accident attorney. From the very beginning, he was professional, compassionate, and dedicated to my case. Asher always took the time to explain every step of the process in a way that was easy to understand, and he made sure I felt supported throughout. His […]
