You knew the risks the first time you swung a leg over your bike. What you didn’t sign up for is a left-turning driver on Magnolia Boulevard who never saw you, a hospital bill that arrived before you were discharged, and an insurance adjuster who called within 48 hours sounding helpful but offering pennies on what your case is actually worth.
The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti has been representing injured Burbank motorcyclists for more than 20 years. In one of our motorcycle cases, we settled for $2.75 million – more than 27 times the available policy limits, by pressing harder than the carrier expected and proving the at-fault driver’s negligence beyond what the policy could absorb. We work on contingency, our consultations are free 24/7, and we handle cases in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Call (626) 793-8607 to talk directly with a Burbank personal injury lawyer for a free, confidential case review – any time, day or night.
Why Burbank Motorcyclists Choose This Firm
Most Burbank personal injury firms treat motorcycle cases as a side category of car accident work. We don’t. Motorcycle cases run on different evidence, different injuries, different insurance dynamics, and a different fight against the assumption that the rider was somehow to blame. Here is what separates us from the firms competing for your call.
Real motorcycle results, not just generic “millions recovered” claims.
We secured $2.75 million in a Motorcycle v. Auto case on a small policy, recovering 27 times the stated policy limits because we built the case for trial, not for a quick settlement. That single result outpaces what most firms have done in a decade of motorcycle work. (Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; every case is evaluated on its own facts.)
18+ years of California trial-tested experience.
Adrianos Facchetti has been licensed to practice law in California since 2006 (State Bar No. 243213) and has personally handled more than 1,000 personal injury cases. Insurance carriers price their offers based on the perceived risk that a firm will actually try the case. Our reputation does that work for you before a single negotiation begins.
We speak your language, English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Adrianos is a dual citizen of the United States and Brazil. The Burbank-area Brazilian rider community, and the broader Spanish-speaking community of Los Angeles County, get representation in the language they actually live in. None of the other top-ranking Burbank motorcycle firms offer this.
No fee unless we win and we cover every case cost upfront.
No retainer, no hourly bills, no out-of-pocket invoices for accident reconstructionists or medical experts. We advance every cost of the case and only recover a fee if we win compensation for you. If we don’t win, you owe nothing.
Recognition that’s verifiable.
5.0 stars across 256+ Google reviews, Avvo 10.0 Top Attorney rating, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® 2025, BBB-accredited, and voted MyBurbank’s Best 2025 by the local community.
Burbank & California Motorcycle Crashes by the Numbers
Understanding the data helps you understand why insurance carriers fight motorcycle cases harder than almost any other type of claim, and why the lawyer you choose changes the outcome.
- Nationally, 2024 was one of the deadliest motorcycle years on record.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded 6,228 motorcyclist deaths in 2024, among the highest totals since NHTSA began tracking in 1975. Motorcyclists made up 15% of all U.S. traffic fatalities that year despite being a tiny share of registered vehicles.Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists were almost 27 times more likely than passenger-car occupants to die in a crash and roughly 5 times more likely to be injured. (Source: NHTSA Motorcycle Safety.)
- California rides are deadlier than most. California recorded 583 motorcyclist deaths in 2023, down 10.2% from 649 in 2022 according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. California’s motorcycle fatality rate of 66.57 per 100,000 registered motorcycles remains among the highest in the nation.Most importantly for your case: unsafe speed was the #1 primary crash factor in California fatal-or-serious-injury motorcycle crashes (28.2% of all FSI motorcycle crashes), followed by improper turning (19.8%) and auto right-of-way violations (19.3%) meaning the at-fault driver, not the rider, is statistically the most common cause. (Source: UC Berkeley SafeTREC, 2025.)
- The single most important statistic for your claim. In 43% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes, the other vehicle was making a left turn while the motorcycle was going straight (NHTSA). If you were hit by a left-turning driver on Olive, Magnolia, Hollywood Way, or anywhere else in Burbank, the data is on your side and the other driver’s insurance carrier knows it.
- Los Angeles County is the epicenter. LA County recorded 2,803 motorcycle crashes in the most recent SWITRS reporting year, resulting in 133 deaths and 3,068 injuries. Burbank’s share of that count is meaningful the 5, 134, and 170 freeway interchanges, Magnolia Boulevard, Olive Avenue, Riverside Drive, and the Hollywood Way / Burbank Boulevard corridor are persistent crash zones.The California OTS publishes annual City Crash Rankings comparing Burbank to similar-population California cities; we routinely review the current rankings when investigating local cases.
- Two findings should shape your expectations before you even call a lawyer. First, insurance carriers deny or delay payment on a substantial share of serious-injury claims; industry research consistently puts the figure near 40%. Second, represented claimants recover roughly 3.5 times more on average than unrepresented claimants, even after attorney’s fees, according to the Insurance Research Council.Adjusters price first offers based on the perceived risk of litigation and an unrepresented motorcyclist poses very little.
How Much Is My Burbank Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Every case is different, but compensation in a California motorcycle case generally falls into three categories.
Economic damages are the measurable, out-of-pocket losses your crash caused. They include past and future medical expenses (ER, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescriptions, prosthetics, home modifications), lost wages from time you missed at work, loss of future earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to the same job, motorcycle replacement, riding gear replacement, transportation costs for medical appointments, and long-term rehabilitation or life-care plan costs for catastrophic injuries.
Non-economic damages compensate for what doesn’t appear on an invoice, physical pain, emotional suffering, anxiety and PTSD (especially common after motorcycle trauma), scarring and disfigurement (particularly relevant for road rash cases), loss of consortium, and the diminished quality of life that follows a serious injury. California places no statutory cap on non-economic damages in motorcycle cases. Juries decide these figures based on the evidence.
Punitive damages apply when the at-fault driver acted with “oppression, fraud, or malice” under California Civil Code § 3294. Drunk-driving motorcycle cases routinely qualify, and so do cases involving extreme reckless conduct, street racing, deliberately running a stoplight, or hit-and-run.
Six factors drive the difference between a modest settlement and a major recovery: the severity and permanence of the injury, the clarity of liability (left-turn cases are clean, your case may already start strong), the strength of medical documentation, the available insurance policy limits, the credibility of the rider, and the reputation of the firm handling the claim. A good lawyer can influence every factor except the first. Our $2.75 million result happened on a relatively small policy because we built the case in a way that left the carrier facing a much higher number at trial.
California Motorcycle Laws That Affect Your Claim
Three California laws can either make or break your claim depending on how your lawyer handles them.
California’s Mandatory Helmet Law – and Why It Doesn’t Bar Your Recovery
California Vehicle Code § 27803 requires every motorcyclist and passenger to wear a DOT-compliant helmet. California is a universal helmet state, there are no exceptions for adults.
Here is what insurance carriers don’t want injured riders to understand: failing to wear a helmet does not bar your recovery in California. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, your damages are reduced by your share of fault, not eliminated. If you were not wearing a helmet and a jury determines that contributed to the severity of your head injury, the jury reduces your award for the head-injury portion only, the rest of your damages (broken bones, road rash, lost wages, motorcycle replacement, pain and suffering on non-head injuries) remain fully recoverable. We have represented unhelmeted riders in cases where the carrier opened with a denial and we still recovered substantial settlements. Do not let an adjuster tell you that you have no case because you weren’t wearing a helmet. That is not California law.
Lane Splitting Is Legal – California Vehicle Code § 21658.1
California is the only state in the country where lane splitting is explicitly legal. Senate Bill 350, codified as Vehicle Code § 21658.1 in 2017, authorized the California Highway Patrol to publish lane-splitting safety guidelines. The CHP guidance recommends that riders not exceed traffic speed by more than 10 mph and avoid lane splitting when traffic is moving faster than 30 mph.
Why this matters: a UC Berkeley SafeTREC study found that lane-splitting motorcyclists who maintained a speed differential of 15 mph or less and split only when traffic was moving 50 mph or less were significantly less likely to suffer severe or fatal injuries than other crash victims. The data supports the safety of properly-conducted lane splitting.
Despite the law and the data, almost every insurance carrier we deal with opens by arguing the lane-splitting motorcyclist was at fault. We push back with the actual statute, the CHP guidelines, and the SafeTREC research. If you were lane splitting at the time of your crash, that fact alone does not make you at fault, and we know how to prove it.
Pure Comparative Negligence
California is one of a minority of states that follow pure comparative negligence, established by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975). You can recover damages even if you were partially or mostly at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your fault percentage, not eliminated.
A quick example: a jury awards $200,000 in total damages and finds you 30% at fault for the crash. You recover $140,000. If the jury finds you 80% at fault, you still recover $40,000. This rule is good news for injured California motorcyclists, many states bar recovery entirely if you were 50% or more at fault. It also explains why the insurance carrier’s first move is almost always to argue you were more at fault than you actually were. Fighting that fault percentage is one of the most valuable things a motorcycle attorney does.
Statutes of Limitations You Cannot Miss
Most California motorcycle injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If your crash involved a government entity, a City of Burbank vehicle, a public bus, a CHP cruiser, or a defective public roadway, you must file a government tort claim within 6 months under Government Code § 911.2, and missing that earlier deadline almost always ends the case. Property damage only has a 3-year deadline under CCP § 338. Wrongful death claims also have a 2-year clock, running from the date of death.
If you are unsure which deadline applies, call us the day you suspect you have a claim. We will tell you for free.
Most Common Causes of Burbank Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle crash patterns are remarkably consistent, and California’s most recent data confirms what we see in our own cases.
- Drivers making left turns into a rider’s path are the single most dangerous threat to motorcyclists. NHTSA data show that in 43% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight. The driver “didn’t see” the bike, almost always because they weren’t looking for one. These are some of the cleanest liability cases in personal injury law.
- Distracted and drunk drivers account for a disproportionate share of motorcycle deaths. NHTSA found that 26% of motorcyclists killed in 2023 were involved in crashes with a driver having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had higher alcohol-impairment rates than passenger car or truck occupants. DUI motorcycle cases routinely support punitive damages.
- Unsafe lane changes and right-of-way violations are the third- and fourth-most-common causes of California fatal-or-serious-injury motorcycle crashes (SafeTREC). A driver checks a mirror, doesn’t see the smaller motorcycle profile, and merges into the rider’s lane. We use accident reconstructionists and surveillance footage to prove these cases.
- Speeding was the #1 primary cause of California FSI motorcycle crashes in 2023, accounting for 28.2% of cases (SafeTREC). Note that “speeding” sometimes refers to the at-fault driver, not the motorcyclist, the carrier’s first move is to assume the rider was the speeder, and we frequently flip that narrative with physical evidence.
- Dangerous road conditions potholes, hidden lane drops, uncleaned gravel, malfunctioning signals, can implicate the City of Burbank, LA County, or Caltrans depending on jurisdiction. These cases require the 6-month government tort claim and demand evidence preservation within days, not weeks.
- Defective motorcycle parts failed brakes, defective tires, fuel-system fires, give rise to product liability claims against the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer. Strict liability applies; you don’t need to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product was defective and the defect caused your injury.
Most Common Injuries in Burbank Motorcycle Crashes
NHTSA reports that roughly 80% of motorcycle crashes result in injury or death, compared to 20% of car crashes. The injuries pattern almost predictably.
- Traumatic brain injury is the catastrophic injury most riders fear and most adjusters underestimate. NHTSA data show that 15% of helmeted motorcyclists and 21% of unhelmeted motorcyclists suffer a TBI in a crash. Symptoms range from concussion to permanent cognitive impairment. We work with neurologists and life-care planners to document the full long-term cost.
- Lower-extremity injuries are the single most common motorcycle-crash injury, according to NHTSA research and riders are more likely to suffer fractures than soft-tissue damage. Legs hang exposed off the sides of the bike, and even a low-speed lay-down can crush an ankle, shatter a tibia, or destroy a knee.
- Spinal cord injuries can range from temporary nerve damage to complete paralysis. Cervical and thoracic fractures are common in high-speed crashes and in cases where the rider is ejected and lands awkwardly. These are catastrophic cases that demand life-care planners, vocational economists, and aggressive damages models.
- Road rash and severe burns are routinely underestimated by adjusters who classify them as “soft tissue.” Third-degree road rash, particularly on hands, forearms, and knees, can require skin grafts, leave permanent disfigurement, and cause years of nerve pain. Our firm has secured a $1 million settlement on a severe burn case (separate from motorcycle, but the principle is the same: catastrophic burns deserve catastrophic-injury treatment).
- Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding are dangerous because they often appear after the rider has already left the scene. Adrenaline masks pain for hours or days. We tell every motorcycle client to get same-day medical evaluation regardless of how they feel, both for their health and because gaps in treatment are the #1 reason adjusters undervalue cases.
- Wrongful death cases under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 give specific family members, spouses, domestic partners, children, and in some cases parents and dependents, standing to pursue a claim when negligence kills a rider. Damages include financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Burbank
The decisions you make in the first 72 hours shape your case more than almost anything that happens later. Here is the sequence we walk every Burbank client through.
Within the First 60 Minutes
Get to a safe spot first, before doing anything else. Roadside follow-on collisions are a real risk, especially on Burbank surface streets and freeway shoulders. Once you’re safe, call 911 – Burbank PD will dispatch on city streets, and the California Highway Patrol handles the 5, 134, and 170 freeways.
If paramedics offer transport, accept it. Adrenaline is masking your injuries, and it will continue masking them for hours. Document the scene if you can: photos and video of vehicle positions, license plates, the road surface, debris, your gear, and your visible injuries. Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses, they disappear fast, and even a first name and number is enough to track them down later. Do not admit fault to anyone, including the police; state the facts you observed and let investigators decide.
Within 24 Hours
File a police report if one wasn’t taken at the scene (Burbank PD non-emergency: 818-238-3000). Notify your own insurance carrier with basic facts, what happened, where, when, but do not speculate about fault or injury severity.
See a doctor even if you feel fine; same-day medical documentation is one of the most valuable pieces of evidence in any motorcycle claim. Preserve your damaged motorcycle, your helmet (especially if you crashed in it, it’s evidence), and your riding gear. Do not repair, replace, or wash anything.
Within the First Week
Do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. They will call within days, sounding helpful, and anything you say is being recorded and used to argue your injuries are exaggerated or that you were at fault. You are under no obligation to give them a statement, politely decline and tell them your lawyer will be in touch.
Do not sign any medical authorization the opposing carrier sends; their forms are typically overbroad and designed to dig through your entire medical history for pre-existing conditions to blame your injury on. Do not post about the crash on social media, not a photo, not a complaint, not a “doing fine” update. Defense lawyers monitor claimants’ social media and screenshot everything. And call a Burbank motorcycle accident lawyer. A free consultation costs nothing. Waiting costs evidence.
Burbank-Area Hospitals That Treat Motorcycle Trauma
For serious injuries, Burbank-area riders have access to several major medical facilities:
- Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center – 501 S Buena Vista St, Burbank
- Adventist Health Glendale – 1509 Wilson Terrace, Glendale (Level II trauma center)
- USC Verdugo Hills Hospital – 1812 Verdugo Blvd, Glendale
- Huntington Health / Huntington Hospital – 100 W California Blvd, Pasadena (Level II trauma center)
Records from established trauma centers carry substantial weight in negotiations and at trial.
Meet Your Burbank Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Adrianos Facchetti has represented injured people across Burbank and Los Angeles County for more than 20 years. Admitted to the California Bar in 2006 (State Bar No. 243213), Adrianos has handled more than 1,000 personal injury cases, including the $2.75 million motorcycle settlement that recovered 27 times the available policy limits. He has a reputation for taking cases other firms decline and turning insurance offers worth pennies into recoveries that change clients’ lives.
Adrianos is a dual citizen of the United States and Brazil, which has shaped his entire practice. The firm represents the Pasadena and Burbank-area Brazilian, Portuguese-speaking, and Spanish-speaking communities in their own languages, a service almost no other top-ranked Burbank motorcycle firm offers. Outside the courtroom, Adrianos runs the firm’s annual Bikes For Kids giveaway and sponsors the John Burroughs High School football program.
Professional profiles: Avvo | Martindale-Hubbell | Better Business Bureau | LinkedIn
Burbank Motorcycle Accident Case Results
- $2.75 Million – Motorcycle v. Auto. Settled for more than 27 times the policy limits.
- $1.25 Million – Pedestrian Hit in Crosswalk. Full $1,250,000 policy limits despite significant defense challenges.
- $1 Million – Severe Burn Injury from Hot Liquid. Full policy limits in under six months, before filing suit.
- $500,000 – Rear-End UIM Claim. Pursued underinsured motorist coverage after the at-fault driver’s $15K policy was exhausted; recovered $485,000 more for a total of $500,000.
- $500,000 – Assault. Took over from a previous attorney with a $20,000 offer on the table; pushed it to the full $500,000 policy limits.
View our complete Case Results →
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its own facts.
What Burbank Clients Say
“I was recommended to Adrianos through my brother who knows him and said he’s done quality work in handling uber accidents over the years. Adrianos was kind enough to take my case during a bad situation I was in thanks to an uber accident and subsequent faulty treatment recommended by a previous lawyer who had no idea what he was doing. Thanks to Adrianos he was able to find me the right treatment for my injuries and pursue the correct compensation for the pain I endured. I would personally recommend Adrianos and his firm to anybody. Their communication, knowledge, & professionalism is top tier!” – Brendon Argote
“Adrianos and his team are AMAZING! He is very professional, informative, and dedicated. He truly cares about his clients and ensures the best outcome in the case and treatment. Adrianos communicated with me every step of the way and allowed me to focus on getting the treatment I needed. Andrea, Bo, Fernanda, and Sarah were very patient and helpful; they were available to assist with any questions. I highly recommend The Law Offices Of Adrianos Facchetti. Thank you, Adrianos for going above and beyond!” – Lucy Salazar
“I immediately felt like he was someone I could trust and who would have my best interest at heart but also someone aggressive enough to fight for what I deserved. Adrianos and his whole team were AMAZING from the beginning of this experience until the end. They guided me through every step and made sure I was treated well and cared for medically and financially. I really could go on and on about how wonderful my experience with Adrianos was, especially in the midst of a crappy situation. My thoughts, concerns and feelings were theirs as well and I’m extremely grateful to have had Adrianos advising me and helping me along this process.” – Barrett Carroll
5 stars • 256+ reviews. Read more testimonials →
Burbank Motorcycle Accident FAQs
How long do I have to file a Burbank motorcycle accident claim?
Two years from the date of the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. The deadline is shorter, only 6 months, if a government entity is involved (a Burbank city vehicle, a CHP cruiser, a public bus, or a defective public roadway), under Government Code § 911.2. Property damage only has a 3-year deadline. Call us promptly if you are unsure.
I wasn’t wearing a helmet. Can I still recover damages?
Yes. California’s pure comparative negligence rule means your damages are reduced by your share of fault, not eliminated. If a jury finds your head injury would have been less severe with a helmet, your award for that specific injury is reduced, but the rest of your damages (broken bones, road rash, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering on non-head injuries) remain fully recoverable. Do not let an adjuster tell you that you have no case because you weren’t wearing a helmet. That is not California law.
Was lane splitting my fault?
Lane splitting is legal in California under Vehicle Code § 21658.1, California is the only state where it’s explicitly authorized. Insurance carriers routinely argue lane splitters are automatically at fault; we push back with the statute, CHP guidelines, and UC Berkeley SafeTREC research showing properly-conducted lane splitting is statistically safer than the alternative. The fact that you were lane splitting does not make you at fault.
How much is a Burbank motorcycle accident case worth?
Range varies, but motorcycle cases are systematically higher-value than car cases because the injuries are more severe. Our $2.75 million recovery on a small policy demonstrates how the right pressure changes outcomes. Factors include severity of injury, clarity of liability (left-turn cases are clean), available policy limits, medical documentation, and firm reputation.
What if the at-fault driver had only minimum insurance?
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage steps in. California’s minimum liability limits increased to $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident / $15,000 property damage on January 1, 2025, under SB 1107. We pursue both the at-fault policy and your UM/UIM policy in the same claim. In one of our recent cases, the at-fault driver had a $15,000 minimum policy; we collected that, pursued the UIM carrier, and recovered $485,000 more, $500,000 total.
How long does a motorcycle case take to settle?
Most motorcycle cases resolve in 12 to 18 months. Strong cases with clear liability and complete medical records can settle faster, we have closed motorcycle cases in under six months when the evidence supported full policy limits. Complex cases involving catastrophic injury or contested liability can take two to three years through trial.
Do I need a police report to file a claim?
A police report is helpful but not strictly required. Independent witnesses, medical records, surveillance footage, and physical evidence can substitute. We have built strong cases without a police report when the rider was unable to call 911 at the scene.
What if a road defect or pothole caused the crash?
Then a government entity may be liable, likely the City of Burbank, LA County, or Caltrans depending on the road. You must file a government tort claim within 6 months under Government Code § 911.2. Miss that deadline and you almost certainly lose the right to sue. Call us immediately.
How much does it cost to hire a Burbank motorcycle accident lawyer?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, typically 33⅓% if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed and 40% if the case goes into litigation. We advance every cost of the case (filing fees, experts, accident reconstruction, medical records, deposition transcripts), and we are only reimbursed from the recovery. If we don’t win, you owe nothing.
Do you speak Spanish or Portuguese?
Yes. Our firm is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Adrianos Facchetti is a dual citizen of the United States and Brazil. All consultations are free and confidential, available 24/7.
Burbank Communities and Roads We Serve
We represent injured motorcyclists across Burbank and the surrounding San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley communities, including Toluca Lake, Glendale, North Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, Van Nuys, Sun Valley, Tujunga, La Crescenta-Montrose, and beyond. See all areas we serve →
We work crashes on the 5, 134, and 170 freeway interchanges; Magnolia Boulevard; Olive Avenue; Riverside Drive; Hollywood Way; Burbank Boulevard; and the Chandler Bike Path corridor. If your crash happened anywhere in Burbank or the surrounding areas, we are familiar with the road, the traffic patterns, and the local first responders.
Contact a Burbank Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in a Burbank motorcycle accident, call us today. Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti, Accident & Injury Lawyer
4444 W Riverside Dr #308 Burbank, CA 91505
Phone: (626) 793-8607
Hours: 24/7 phone availability. Office hours Monday–Friday.
Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese
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The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its own facts.
