You’re not the only one who has ever wondered what is the most common motorcycle accident in California?.
This question comes up a lot, especially in places like Bakersfield where the weather is warm and the roads are long and open all year round.
Sadly, that also means that there is always a chance of motorcycle accidents that can leave riders with serious injuries that change their lives forever in a single, tragic moment.
In this article, we’ll talk about the most common types of motorcycle crashes, why they happen, the most common injuries that happen in motorcycle accidents, and how people in Bakersfield can protect their rights after a crash.
Understanding Motorcycle Accidents in California
California is always one of the best states for motorcycle registrations, with over 800,000 motorcycles on the road. Riders have more freedom, but they also have more risk. Motorcycles don’t have seat belts, airbags, or structural protection like cars.
This means that even a low-speed crash can cause serious injury or death.
According to data from the UC Berkeley SafeTREC, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of passenger vehicles.
In Bakersfield, the high-speed sections of Highway 99 and the busy intersections near Ming Avenue and California State University make the area especially dangerous for riders.
What Is the Most Common Motorcycle Accident?
When we look into the most common motorcycle accident in California, we see a clear and sadly common situation: a left-turn collision.
This happens when a car tries to make a left turn right into the path of a motorcycle that is going straight, usually at an intersection or a driveway.
This cuts off the bike. For riders, these crashes aren’t just accidents; they’re sudden, violent events that can change lives instantly, leaving them with little or no time to react or avoid getting hit.
What Causes Left-Turn Accidents
Driver error is often the cause of these terrible left-turn motorcycle crashes, which is a common thread in many serious accidents. There are several reasons why a car driver might not see or respond correctly to a motorcycle:
The car driver doesn’t see the motorcycle (“Did Not See” phenomenon):
This is the most common and annoying reason. Even when the bike was visible, drivers often say they “never saw” it. This happens because our brains are wired to look for bigger, more common vehicles like cars and trucks.
This is called “inattentional blindness” or “looked-but-failed-to-see.” Because a motorcycle is smaller, it takes up less visual space and can be easily missed or filtered out by a driver’s brain, especially in busy, complicated places like intersections.
Cell phones, passengers, or even radio changing only worsen this significant lapse in perception.
The driver doesn’t think the rider is going fast enough:
Even if a driver does register the motorcycle, they often don’t realize how fast it’s coming. Drivers may think they have enough time to finish their turn when they don’t because the motorcycle’s narrow shape can make it look farther away or slower than it is.
The driver doesn’t know how far away the motorcycle is:
Regarding motorcycles, drivers might have trouble judging depth, just like with speed.
They might think the bike is far enough away, but then they turn right into its path, causing a crash that can’t be avoided.
These serious mistakes in seeing and judging often happen at intersections or driveways, making things very dangerous.
When a left-turn collision occurs, the car usually hits the motorcycle head-on or from the side, causing a terrible T-bone crash. These impacts are hazardous for riders because motorcycles don’t protect them like enclosed vehicles.
They can cause direct force impacts, crushing injuries, or high-speed rider ejection.
Left-Turn Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Because of how bad these injuries are, motorcycle accident injuries are often life-changing and catastrophic. Riders don’t have the steel cage, airbags, and seatbelts that keep people safe in cars, so they are fully exposed to the crash.
Motorcycle accidents that happen when someone turns left often result in a terrible range of serious injuries, such as:
Severe Leg Injuries:
The lower legs are very exposed in a motorcycle crash. Riders often break bones in more than one place, crush their feet and legs, tear ligaments, and damage a lot of soft tissue in their legs and feet.
These injuries often need several surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, and can even lead to permanent disability or amputation.
Pelvic Fractures:
The pelvis can be seriously hurt, especially in T-bone crashes or when the rider is crushed between the motorcycle and the car that is turning.
Pelvic fractures hurt a lot, take a long time to heal, and can damage internal organs and nerves, making it hard to move around for a long time.
Head Trauma:
Even with helmets, the violent forces can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can range from concussions to severe, life-changing brain damage. Some of the symptoms are memory loss, personality changes, headaches, and problems with thinking.
These can have a significant effect on daily life. Helmets lower the chance of getting a fatal head injury by a lot, but they can’t get rid of the risk of all brain injuries.
Damage to the chest or ribs:
Getting hit directly or being thrown onto the handlebars can break ribs, cause pneumothorax (collapsed lungs), cause internal bleeding, and hurt essential organs like the heart, lungs, or spleen. These injuries can be deadly and need immediate, intensive medical care.
The fact that these kinds of crashes happen so often shows how dangerous they are. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that left-turn accidents are responsible for more than 40% of all motorcycle accidents with other vehicles.
This number shows what causes most motorcycle accidents with other cars and stresses how important it is for drivers to be careful and share the road safely.
Other Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents
While understanding what is the most common motorcycle accident (left-turn collisions) is crucial, it’s equally essential for riders and drivers in Bakersfield to be aware of other prevalent types of motorcycle crashes that frequently lead to serious injuries.
While these situations may not be the most common, they are still very dangerous on California roads:
Rear-End Collisions:
Rear-end collisions happen when cars don’t stop in time at stop signs, traffic lights, or in heavy traffic and hit motorcycles from behind.
A rear-end crash can be terrible for the rider because there is no structural protection for them.
Riders can be violently thrown forward onto the pavement, into the vehicle in front, or even off their bike entirely, leading to severe motorcycle accident injuries like spinal trauma, head injuries, and broken bones.
Lane-Splitting Incidents:
California is one of the few states where lane splitting is allowed. This means that motorcyclists can ride between lanes of traffic that are stopped or moving slowly.
It was meant to help with traffic jams, but it has its risks, especially when traffic is stop-and-go or when drivers aren’t paying attention.
Drivers who change lanes suddenly or open their doors without looking in the mirrors can cause serious side-impact crashes or “dooring” incidents, making riders lose control and hurt their motorcycles badly.
Dooring Accidents:
Dooring accidents happen when a driver or passenger opens a car door before a motorcycle without looking in their mirrors or around them. These accidents can be shocking and violent.
This happens a lot in busy cities like downtown Bakersfield, where there are a lot of cars parked on the street.
A “dooring” can cause a rider to hit the open door, be thrown off their bike, or swerve into oncoming traffic, leading to sudden and serious injuries in motorcycle accidents.
Single-Vehicle Accidents:
Riders can lose control when they run into things on the road that they didn’t expect, like debris, potholes, gravel, or other problems with the pavement.
Riders can also lose control and crash if they make sharp turns, go too fast, or ride on slick surfaces (especially when it rains unexpectedly in Bakersfield).
These events are hazardous at night or when the weather changes quickly because the rider hits the ground or other fixed objects with full force.
Impaired Driving Crashes:
Sadly, a lot of the serious motorcycle accident injuries in Kern County are caused by people driving while drunk or high.
When a motorcyclist or another driver on the road is drunk or high, their judgment is impaired, their reaction times are slowed, and they act recklessly, which dramatically increases the risk of serious and often deadly crashes.
These crashes show a significant cause of motorcycle accidents and how bad it can be to make bad driving choices.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Insurance companies often try to downplay motorcycle injury claims, blaming the rider or minimizing damages. Having an experienced legal team helps level the playing field.
At Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we:
- Work on a contingency fee (no payment unless we win)
- Handle every stage of the case—from investigation to trial.
- Connect clients with a trusted medical specialist.
- Fight for full compensation, including for future losses
Our firm has served injured Californians for over 40 years. View our company profile or read client testimonials to see how we’ve helped others recover.
What Percent of Motorcycle Accidents Are Fatal?
Motorcycle crashes are disproportionately deadly. While motorcycles represent only about 3% of registered vehicles in the U.S., they account for 14% of traffic-related fatalities, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data.
In California:
Over 500 motorcyclists die on state roads each year.
Thousands more are left with debilitating injuries.
So, how many motorcyclists die in accidents? In California, about 1 in every 35 motorcycle crashes ends in death. However, this number changes depending on how fast the motorcycle was going, whether the rider was wearing a helmet, and the impact angle.
For non-fatal accidents, the consequences can still be severe and often permanent. Working with experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyers is essential to securing compensation.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in California
| Data Point | Statistic |
| Annual motorcycle fatalities in CA | Over 500 |
| Riders killed not wearing a helmet | ~30% |
| Injuries from motorcycle accidents yearly | ~14,000 |
| % of motorcycle deaths caused by left-turn crashes | 42% |
Source: SafeTREC, NHTSA
These statistics underscore how important it is to understand what is the most common motorcycle accident is and how to respond after one occurs.
What to Do If You’re Injured in a Motorcycle Accident in Bakersfield
After a motorcycle accident, regardless of what is the most common motorcycle accident type, knowing what steps to take is vital for your health and legal rights.
Call 911 and Get Medical Help
Always call 911 for police and medical assistance, even if injuries seem minor. This creates crucial official documentation and ensures prompt care for hidden motorcycle injuries.
Document the Scene
Take photos and videos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries. Gather license plates and contact information from other drivers and witnesses immediately, as evidence can quickly disappear.
Avoid Admitting Fault
Do not apologize or discuss fault with anyone at the scene or to insurance adjusters. Any statement can be used against you.
Seek a Medical Evaluation Promptly
Get a thorough medical check-up within 24 hours. Adrenaline can mask pain, and medical records are essential for both your health and linking your motorcycle accident injuries to the crash.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can protect your rights, handle aggressive insurance companies, and fight for the full compensation you deserve. You can reach out to Kuzyk Law’s Bakersfield team immediately for support.
Injured in a Motorcycle Crash? Talk to Our Bakersfield Legal Team Today
Don’t leave your future to chance if you or someone you love has been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Bakersfield. Injuries from motorcycle crashes can have long-lasting effects on your health, finances, and quality of life, from soft tissue damage to permanent disability.
Our legal team knows the most common motorcycle accidents, why they happen, and how to make careless drivers pay for their actions. We have helped thousands of people in California get justice and can help you too.
Call Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers today to set up a free consultation with a trustworthy lawyer. To get started, call us or get in touch with us here.
