Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Sunnyvale, CA

Sunnyvale, CA Motorcycle Accident FAQs

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Sunnyvale, California?

  408-730-7180 is the non-emergency contact number for the Sunnyvale Police Department.

• Where can you get a copy of the police report for the accident in Sunnyvale, California?

  You can obtain a copy of a traffic accident report by visiting the Department of Public Safety Headquarters or requesting it online, https://buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com/ui/agency-search?. Only those specified in 20012 VC may receive traffic reports.

• Is it necessary to report all Sunnyvale motorcycle accidents?

  All motorcycle accidents involving injuries in Sunnyvale must be reported within 24 hours to the police department where the accident occurred or to the California Highway Patrol. Both the driver and the motorcycle operator must also file a report with the California Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of any accident that resulted in injury, death, or $1,000 or more in property damage.

• Can people recover damages in a motorcycle accident in Sunnyvale if they were not wearing a helmet?

  A motorcycle accident victim in Sunnyvale who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident is still entitled to compensation if the other driver was at fault. The percentage of fault will be divided between the victim and the other party under California's comparative negligence rule. The percentage of fault assigned to an injured motorcycle rider may reduce the gross recovery amount.

• What are the specific laws that apply only to motorcyclists in Sunnyvale?

  Motorcycle riders under the age of 21 in Sunnyvale are required by law to obtain a learner's permit before applying for a license. California Vehicle Code 27803 requires motorcycle drivers and riders to always wear helmets that meet the Department of Transportation's standards. In 2016, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed California Assembly Bill 51, which legalized motorcycle lane splitting.

• Who is at fault in a motorcycle accident involving lane splitting in Sunnyvale?

  If the Sunnyvale motorcyclists were following safe lane splitting guidelines when the other driver caused the accident, the motorists will be held liable, not the Sunnyvale motorcyclists. If the Sunnyvale motorcyclists did not follow the safe lane splitting guidelines, the fault will be shared between the Sunnyvale motorcyclist and the motorist under the comparative negligence theory. In 2017, the California Highway Patrol issued guidelines for safe lane-splitting practices, including not exceeding 10 mph faster than other vehicles while lane-splitting.

• How many motorcycle accidents occurred in Santa Clara County, where Sunnyvale is located, between 2020 and 2021, resulting in injuries and fatalities?

  Santa Clara County has some of California's most densely populated areas. Motorcycle enthusiasts can be found in San Jose, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale. In 2021, there were 277 motorcycle riders injured in collisions in Santa Clara County. Statistics show a decrease in the number of motorcycle accidents involving injuries in the same year. However, there had been a slight increase in fatal cases.