California motorcyclists may be more prone to get into an accident than people in other types of vehicles. Individuals riding motorcycles are five times likelier to sustain an injury in a motor vehicle accident compared to people in a car and 26 times more likely to lose their lives. The fatality rate for motorcyclists is more than twice as high as it was in 1999 while traffic fatalities for people in light trucks and cars have dropped.

There are a few factors that make motorcyclists particularly vulnerable. It can be hard to see them compared to other vehicles. More than two-thirds of motorcycle crashes involving another vehicle happen at intersections, where visibility can be particularly bad. Motorcyclists are also more likely to be injured when encountering road hazards, such as debris, oil slicks and even railroad tracks, which would pose less serious problems for people in other vehicles. Some motorcycles have a front-wheel wobbling problem at high speeds, which can become a product liability issue in an accident. Some motorcyclists lack the skills to ride safely.

When an accident involving a motorcycle does occur, it is necessary to determine whether the negligence of the motorcyclist, the manufacturer or designer of the bike or another driver caused it. Other drivers are to blame in around 66% of motorcycle accidents in which another vehicle is involved.

Injured motorcyclists may want to contact an attorney about their rights and what steps they should take. There could be a dispute about who was at fault or the severity or cause of the injuries. The party who is at fault could refuse to pay compensation. If the driver responsible for the motorcycle accident is uninsured, it might be necessary to file a lawsuit. This compensation can be very important for covering a victim's lost wages, medical expenses and other expenses.