Glendale's roads and surrounding mountain routes attract motorcyclists year-round — but the city's heavy traffic and complex intersections create serious dangers for riders. Attorney Anand Desai has spent 20+ years fighting for motorcycle accident victims, securing maximum compensation on a no-win, no-fee basis.
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Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.
Motorcycle accident cases require an attorney who understands the unique vulnerabilities riders face and who can overcome the anti-motorcycle bias that insurance companies and some jurors hold. At Anand Desai Law, we fight for riders' rights with the same aggression and determination we bring to every case — because motorcyclists deserve full and fair compensation when another driver's negligence causes a crash.
Attorney Anand Desai brings 20+ years of legal experience, over 50 jury trials, and deep knowledge of California's motorcycle-specific laws — including the state's landmark lane-splitting legislation (AB-51) — to every motorcycle accident case. His trial-ready reputation forces insurance companies to take our clients' claims seriously.
Here is why Glendale motorcycle accident victims choose our firm:
• Motorcycle Law Expertise: We understand California's lane-splitting law, helmet requirements, and the specific traffic laws that affect motorcycle riders. We use this knowledge to defend our clients against unfair fault allocations and to hold negligent drivers accountable.
• Glendale Street Knowledge: We know the roads where motorcycle accidents happen most frequently — Glendale Blvd, Glenoaks Blvd, Verdugo Road, Foothill Blvd, and the routes to Angeles Crest Highway. This local knowledge strengthens our case investigations.
• Overcoming Anti-Rider Bias: Insurance companies often blame motorcyclists for their own injuries. We aggressively counter this bias with evidence, expert testimony, and persuasive advocacy.
• 100% Contingency: You pay nothing unless we win. No upfront costs. No hourly fees. No hidden charges.
Call us or fill out the form. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and answer all your questions — at no cost.
We gather evidence, work with experts, handle the insurance companies, and build your claim for maximum compensation.
We don’t get paid unless you win. 100% contingency fee — no upfront costs, no hidden charges, no risk to you.
Glendale's road network presents distinct hazards for motorcycle riders. Glendale Boulevard, which runs through the western portion of the city connecting to the Atwater Village and Silver Lake neighborhoods of Los Angeles, is a high-traffic arterial where motorcyclists face risks from vehicles entering and exiting driveways, cars making U-turns, and the mix of commercial and residential traffic. The road surface conditions on Glendale Blvd — including rough pavement, manhole covers, and oil deposits — create additional hazards that are more dangerous for motorcycles than for enclosed vehicles.
Glenoaks Boulevard, one of Glendale's primary east-west corridors, sees heavy motorcycle traffic and frequent collisions, particularly at the intersections with Pacific Avenue, Central Avenue, and Brand Boulevard. Verdugo Road, which winds through the Verdugo Mountains connecting Glendale to Montrose and La Crescenta, combines curves, grade changes, and residential cross-traffic that create challenging conditions for riders.
Foothill Boulevard and the routes leading to Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) draw motorcycle enthusiasts from across Los Angeles County. Angeles Crest Highway is one of Southern California's most popular motorcycle routes, offering sweeping mountain curves and dramatic scenery — but also sharp turns, steep dropoffs, gravel on the road, wildlife crossings, and limited visibility around blind curves. Collisions on Angeles Crest are often severe due to the speed, terrain, and distance from emergency medical services. Our firm handles motorcycle accident cases on these routes and throughout the Glendale area.
California is the only state in the nation that explicitly permits lane splitting — the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes of slower-moving or stopped traffic. Assembly Bill 51 (AB-51), which became law in 2017, authorized the California Highway Patrol to develop guidelines for safe lane splitting. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21658.1, lane splitting is defined as driving a motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane, including on both divided and undivided streets, roads, and highways.
The CHP guidelines recommend that lane splitting be performed at speeds no more than 10 mph faster than surrounding traffic and that it not be done at speeds exceeding 30-40 mph. These are guidelines, not enforceable rules — lane splitting itself is legal in California, and there is no specific speed differential or maximum speed that automatically makes it illegal.
This legal framework is critically important in motorcycle accident cases because insurance companies routinely try to blame lane-splitting riders for their own injuries. When a car driver changes lanes without checking mirrors and strikes a lane-splitting motorcycle, the car driver is at fault — not the rider. Our firm aggressively defends our clients' right to lane-split legally and pushes back against insurance company tactics that attempt to assign fault to the rider simply for engaging in a lawful riding practice. We use CHP guidelines, expert testimony, and physical evidence to demonstrate that our clients were lane-splitting safely and that the other driver's negligence caused the collision.
The most frequent cause of motorcycle accidents in Glendale — and throughout California — is a vehicle driver failing to see the motorcycle. The phenomenon known as "inattentional blindness" causes drivers to look at a motorcycle without cognitively registering its presence. This is why left-turn accidents are the single most common type of motorcycle collision: a driver making a left turn at an intersection looks at oncoming traffic, fails to perceive the approaching motorcycle, and turns directly into the rider's path.
Failure to check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes is another leading cause, particularly on multi-lane roads like Glenoaks Blvd, Brand Blvd, and the 134 Freeway. Drivers who change lanes without looking strike motorcycles that are either in the adjacent lane or legally lane-splitting. Following too closely (tailgating) a motorcycle is especially dangerous because motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars, and a rear-end collision with a motorcycle sends the rider flying.
Distracted driving — texting, phone use, GPS navigation — is an increasingly lethal factor in motorcycle accidents. A driver looking at their phone for even a few seconds can easily miss a motorcycle in their path. Driving under the influence, excessive speed, running red lights, and failing to yield the right of way round out the major causes. Road hazards that are minor annoyances for cars — potholes, railroad tracks, oil spills, gravel, wet road markings — can cause a motorcycle to lose traction and crash, and when a government entity or property owner is responsible for the hazard, they may share liability.
One of the most significant challenges in motorcycle accident cases is the pervasive bias against motorcyclists. Insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, and some jurors harbor the assumption that motorcycle riding is inherently reckless and that riders accept the risk of injury. This bias manifests in multiple ways: insurance companies offer lower settlements to motorcycle accident victims, adjusters argue that the rider's choice to ride a motorcycle constitutes contributory negligence, defense attorneys portray riders as thrill-seekers who invited danger, and jurors may be less sympathetic to injured motorcyclists than to car occupants.
At Anand Desai Law, we combat this bias head-on. We present our motorcycle accident clients as the responsible, law-abiding individuals they are. We document their safety practices — proper licensing, helmet use, rider training courses, safety gear, and defensive riding habits. We use expert testimony to educate jurors about motorcycle dynamics, the legality of lane splitting, and the scientific research on inattentional blindness that explains why drivers fail to see motorcycles.
Most importantly, we shift the focus where it belongs — onto the negligent driver who caused the accident. When a driver makes an illegal left turn, changes lanes without looking, or rear-ends a motorcycle because they were texting, the driver's negligence is the cause of the crash — not the victim's choice of vehicle. Our 50+ jury trials have given Attorney Anand Desai extensive experience in persuading jurors to see past their biases and hold negligent drivers accountable.
Motorcycle accidents produce disproportionately severe injuries because riders lack the protective shell that car occupants enjoy. Even with proper safety gear, motorcyclists are exposed to direct impact forces, road surface contact, and ejection. The most common motorcycle accident injuries we handle include traumatic brain injuries (even with helmet use, the forces involved can cause closed-head injuries), spinal cord injuries ranging from herniated discs to paralysis, multiple fractures (legs, arms, pelvis, ribs, collarbone), severe road rash that may require skin grafting, internal organ damage, amputations, and wrongful death.
The severity of these injuries translates to substantial compensation claims. Economic damages cover emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, prescription medications, adaptive equipment (wheelchairs, prosthetics), home modifications for disabled riders, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and future medical costs. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life (particularly meaningful for riders who can no longer ride), disfigurement from road rash scarring, and loss of consortium.
California places no cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases, and punitive damages may be available under Civil Code Section 3294 in cases involving drunk driving, extreme recklessness, or intentional misconduct. Our firm works with life care planners, vocational rehabilitation experts, and economic analysts to document the full lifetime cost of motorcycle accident injuries and ensure our clients receive every dollar they deserve.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Glendale, protecting your rights starts immediately. Call 911 to report the accident. If you are able, document the scene — photograph all vehicles, your motorcycle, your safety gear (helmet, jacket, gloves), the road surface, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Get the other driver's information and collect witness contact details.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Glendale's primary hospital — Adventist Health Glendale at 1509 Wilson Terrace — has a full emergency department. Even if you were wearing full protective gear, internal injuries, concussions, and soft tissue damage may not produce immediate symptoms. Medical documentation beginning on the day of the accident creates a critical chain of evidence linking your injuries to the collision.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Motorcycle accident victims face particular risk from insurance adjusters who will attempt to characterize lane splitting, riding style, or speed as negligent. Anything you say can be taken out of context and used to reduce your claim. Let Anand Desai Law handle all insurance communication from the start.
Our office at 1628 Victory Blvd, Suite 100, Glendale, CA 91201, is centrally located and easily accessible. Motorcycle accident cases filed in Glendale are heard at the Glendale Courthouse, 600 E Broadway — where our firm has extensive experience. Call (833) 270-7800 today for a free consultation. We fight for riders' rights. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Yes, lane splitting is legal in California under Vehicle Code Section 21658.1. California is the only state that explicitly permits this practice. If you were lane splitting legally when a car driver changed lanes without checking mirrors and struck you, the car driver is at fault — not you. Insurance companies routinely try to blame lane-splitting riders, but our firm aggressively defends your right to lane-split and uses CHP guidelines and expert testimony to demonstrate that your riding was safe and lawful.
Call 911 to report the accident. If possible, move to safety — do not remove your helmet until medical personnel arrive if you suspect a head or neck injury. Document the scene with photos of all vehicles, your motorcycle, road conditions, and your safety gear. Get the other driver's information and witness contact details. Seek medical attention at Adventist Health Glendale or another facility, even if injuries seem minor. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company. Call Anand Desai Law at (833) 270-7800.
Insurance companies exploit the cultural bias against motorcyclists. They argue — implicitly or explicitly — that riders assume the risk of injury by choosing to ride and that motorcycle riding is inherently dangerous. They use this bias to justify lower settlement offers, even when the car driver was clearly at fault. Our firm combats this bias by presenting evidence of our clients' safe riding practices, using expert testimony about inattentional blindness and motorcycle dynamics, and making clear that the other driver's negligence — not the client's vehicle choice — caused the accident.
Yes, California Vehicle Code Section 27803 requires all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear a DOT-approved helmet. If you were not wearing a helmet and suffered a head injury, the defense may argue comparative negligence to reduce your damages. However, failure to wear a helmet does not bar your claim entirely — California's pure comparative negligence system reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault but does not eliminate it. For non-head injuries, helmet use is generally irrelevant. We strongly recommend always wearing a helmet.
You may recover economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future medical costs, property damage to your motorcycle, diminished earning capacity), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring from road rash, loss of consortium), and potentially punitive damages in cases involving drunk driving or extreme recklessness. Motorcycle accident injuries tend to be severe, and the compensation reflects this severity. Contact us at (833) 270-7800 for a free case evaluation. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Motorcycle accidents frequently cause traumatic brain injuries (even with helmets), spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures (legs, arms, pelvis, collarbone), severe road rash requiring skin grafts, internal organ damage, dislocated joints, torn ligaments, amputations, and in the worst cases, wrongful death. The lack of an enclosed protective structure means riders absorb direct impact forces. These severe injuries often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care — all of which are compensable in a personal injury claim.
Yes. Road hazards that may be minor for cars — potholes, gravel, oil spills, raised manhole covers, uneven pavement, railroad tracks, wet road markings — can cause a motorcycle to lose traction and crash. If a government entity (the City of Glendale, LA County, or Caltrans) is responsible for maintaining the road and failed to address the hazard, they may be liable under Government Code Sections 830-835.4. You must file a government tort claim within six months. Private property owners may also be liable for hazards on their property that extend onto the roadway.
Motorcycle accident lawsuits arising in Glendale are filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and are typically assigned to the Glendale Courthouse at 600 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206. Our firm has extensive experience litigating in this courthouse and is familiar with the judges, local rules, and court procedures. This familiarity allows us to manage your case efficiently and prepare effectively for trial if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.
Most motorcycle accident cases settle within 6 to 18 months, depending on injury severity, treatment duration, and the insurance company's cooperation. We do not settle until you have reached maximum medical improvement so we can accurately value your claim. Cases involving surgery, permanent disability, or disputed liability may take longer. If the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation, we take the case to trial. Attorney Anand Desai has tried over 50 jury trials and has the courtroom experience to fight for you before a jury.
Yes. Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) is one of Southern California's most popular motorcycle routes, but it is also one of the most dangerous. The highway features sharp curves, steep grades, limited guardrails, blind corners, gravel and debris on the road surface, and limited cell service in remote areas. Collisions often involve cars crossing the center line, vehicles misjudging curve speeds, or motorcycles encountering road hazards. The distance from hospitals means that injured riders face longer emergency response times. Our firm handles motorcycle accident cases on Angeles Crest and pursues all available sources of recovery.
Anand Desai is a dedicated personal injury attorney serving Glendale and the greater Los Angeles area. A graduate of Loyola Law School with an undergraduate degree from USC, Anand has been a member of the California State Bar (#249768) since 2007, bringing 20+ years of legal experience to every case he handles.
Anand specializes in personal injury law, with particular expertise in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and catastrophic injury cases. His deep understanding of California personal injury law, combined with his tenacious negotiation skills, has helped him secure millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for his clients.
What truly sets Anand apart is his commitment to his community. His firm is one of the only law offices in Glendale that offers services in 11 languages, including Spanish, Armenian, Hindi, Gujarati, Korean, Tagalog, Farsi, Mandarin, Japanese, Vietnamese, and English — reflecting the rich diversity of the communities he serves.
“I fight for every client like they’re family. When you hire me, you’re not just getting a lawyer — you’re getting someone who genuinely cares about your recovery and your future.”
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