Every May, drivers across California see more motorcycles on the road. Warmer weather brings riders out on Pacific Coast Highway, Sepulveda Boulevard, and the roads heading into the South Bay. Motorcycle Awareness Month reminds everyone that these riders have the same right to the road as any car or truck.
California has more registered motorcycles than any other state in the country. Riders here face year-round riding weather, dense freeway traffic, and drivers who often fail to see them until it's too late. The stakes during riding season are high in El Segundo and across the South Bay.
This post covers the latest traffic crashes and traffic fatalities data, what makes El Segundo roads especially risky for riders, California motorcycle laws you need to know, safety tips that actually prevent crashes, and what your rights look like after a motorcycle accident.
May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the campaign to push one clear message: Motorcyclist Safety is everyone's safety. That matters in El Segundo more than most places.
El Segundo sits at the crossroads of some of the busiest roads in Los Angeles County. The 105 Freeway runs along the north edge of the city, the 405 cuts through to the east, and Sepulveda Boulevard carries constant north-south traffic through town. Riders also use PCH heading down to Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach. Once spring hits, motorcycle traffic surges on those same roads. More bikes mean more chances for a car driver to miss one at an intersection or during a lane change.
The whole point of Motorcycle Awareness Month is to get drivers to look twice. Most riders killed in California crashes are hit by another vehicle. That fact should change how every driver approaches a left turn, a lane change, or a glance in the mirror.
Motorcycle Awareness Month also pushes riders to take a fresh look at their own habits. Is your gear up to date? Have you taken a refresher motorcycle training course? Is your motorcycle endorsement current? May is the month to answer those questions honestly.
If you've experienced an injury due to someone else's negligence, contact Bloom Injury Law today for a free consultation. Call (310) 525-5985 or contact us online.
Every May, safety campaigns across California and the country repeat a handful of core messages. These slogans stick because they work. Each one targets a specific driver behavior that causes the most motorcycle crashes.
These themes aren't just bumper sticker slogans. They point to the exact driver behaviors that cause the most traffic fatalities involving motorcycles in Los Angeles County and across California. A driver who actually looks twice at the Sepulveda and Rosecrans intersection, or who gives a rider full space on the 105, is the reason a crash doesn't happen that day.
California leads the nation in motorcycle crashes every year, simply because it has more riders than anywhere else. The numbers back that up. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the state consistently sees over 500 motorcyclist deaths and more than 10,000 motorcycle-involved injury crashes each year.
CHP and California Department of Motor Vehicles data show riders make up a small fraction of the vehicles on the road but account for a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities every year. Most of the people killed were the riders themselves. Passengers accounted for a smaller share, but the injury rates for both groups stayed high.
National data from NHTSA tells the same story in sharper terms. In 2023, motorcyclists were nearly 28 times more likely than car occupants to die in a crash per mile traveled. They made up 15% of all traffic fatalities that year even though they represent a tiny slice of the vehicles on the road.
Most motorcycle traffic crashes in the South Bay fall into a few predictable patterns. Knowing these patterns helps riders stay alert and helps drivers understand where the danger really is.
Every one of these crash types is preventable. The driver or rider just needs to slow down, pay attention, and follow basic traffic laws before moving.
Safety advice only helps if it lines up with how crashes actually happen. The steps below come directly from NHTSA and California safety agencies. They work.
For riders, the basics still save lives. Wear a DOT-compliant helmet every ride. California is a universal helmet law state, which means every rider and passenger must wear a DOT-compliant helmet regardless of age. NHTSA reported helmet use jumped from 66.5% in 2022 to 73% in 2023, and that shift matters. In states with universal helmet use requirements like California, only 10% of motorcyclists killed were unhelmeted. A DOT-compliant helmet is the single most effective piece of safety gear a rider can own.
Riders should also gear up with a jacket, gloves, boots, and eye protection. Reflective tape on your helmet, saddlebags, and fenders adds visibility at dusk and after dark. Bright or reflective safety gear makes a huge difference on gray days or at dusk. Never ride after drinking. Take a California Motorcyclist Safety Program course. Ride within your skill level and stay out of blind spots.
For drivers, the rules are simple but ignored constantly:
These habits save lives during May and every month that follows.
California motorcycle laws require every rider and passenger to wear a DOT-compliant helmet at all times. This applies to all riders regardless of age or experience. Eye protection is required unless the motorcycle has a windshield that meets DMV requirements.
California also requires an M1 or M2 motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license before you can legally ride. To get the endorsement, riders under 21 must complete a California Motorcyclist Safety Program course. Riders over 21 can complete the course or pass the DMV skills test. This is one of the most important motorcycle laws for new riders to understand. Riding without a valid motorcycle endorsement can hurt your accident claim later.
California is also unique for its lane splitting law. Vehicle Code Section 21658.1 allows motorcycles to ride between lanes of slower-moving or stopped traffic when done safely. The CHP has issued guidelines that riders should travel no more than 10 mph faster than surrounding traffic. Drivers should never try to block a lane splitter, as doing so is both dangerous and illegal.
The first minutes after a crash matter. Get to safety if you can move. Call 911 so police and EMS arrive and create an official report. Get medical attention even if you feel okay. Some injuries, especially head injuries and internal damage, don't show symptoms right away.
Take photos of everything if you're able. Get the other driver's insurance information. Write down the names and numbers of any witnesses. Do not apologize or admit fault at the scene. Insurance adjusters use those statements later.
California is a pure comparative fault state. That means your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame, but even a rider found 90% at fault can still recover 10% of damages. This is a more rider-friendly rule than what you'll find in most states. Still, the other side's insurance company will push hard to shift as much blame as possible onto the rider. Having photos, a police report, and witness information protects you.
You also have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in California. For claims against government entities under the California Government Claims Act, you must file a claim within six months. Our motorcycle accident attorneys in El Segundo recommend speaking with a lawyer well before any deadline runs out.
Yes. California riders hurt by a negligent driver can pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and damage to their bike. If the crash caused a permanent injury or disfigurement, the claim can also include future medical care and long-term loss of earning ability.
Motorcycle cases are different from car cases. Riders face a bias that many insurance adjusters and jurors carry into a claim, the idea that riding a motorcycle is reckless by itself. That bias is wrong, but it's real. Fighting it takes evidence, crash reconstruction, and often testimony from professionals who understand motorcycle dynamics, California motorcycle laws, and the role sharing the road plays in every collision.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers in El Segundo know how to push back against those tactics and build a case that reflects what actually happened on the road.
May is the month to ride smart and drive aware. If you were hit while riding on the 105, Sepulveda Boulevard, PCH, or anywhere in the South Bay, you have rights and a limited window to act. Call Bloom Injury Law today for a free consultation with an El Segundo motorcycle accident attorney who will fight for your recovery.
Si ha experimentado una lesión debido a la negligencia de otra persona, contacte a Bloom Injury Law hoy para una consulta gratuita. Llame (310) 525-5985 or contáctenos en línea..
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