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Catastrophic Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes: Legal Options for Riders

By Renee Nordstrand on December 10, 2025

A motorcyclist rides through a cloud of dust at sunset, symbolizing the aftermath of catastrophic motorcycle accidents and legal recovery options in Santa Barbara.

When a careless driver makes a sudden left-hand turn or changes lanes without making sure the lane is unoccupied, the results can be devastated for an unsuspecting motorcycle rider. In these cases, riders may suffer catastrophic injuries that have life-altering consequences, from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal injuries to complex fractures and permanent disability.

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6 Signs You Need a Santa Barbara Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

By Renee Nordstrand on November 10, 2025

A damaged blue motorcycle lies on its side after colliding with a white car, with shattered debris and fluid spilled across the road. The image represents the aftermath of a motorcycle crash in Santa Barbara, emphasizing the serious injuries and complex legal issues that often require help from an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.

Motorcycle crashes are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries than other types of motor vehicle accidents because riders have less protection than people traveling in cars. Motorcycle accident victims may require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, extended time away from work, and even assisted living care.

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Riding with the Pack: Legal Tips for Santa Barbara Motorcycle Enthusiasts Attending Local Rides and Events

By Renee Nordstrand on September 7, 2025

A group of motorcyclists ride together on a multi-lane road during daytime, with riders wearing helmets and casual clothing. Trees line the background, and a few cars follow behind in the right lane under a clear blue sky

Santa Barbara offers some of the most scenic and rider-friendly roads on the Central Coast, so it is no surprise that the local motorcycle community is thriving.

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What Makes Motorcycles So Much More Dangerous Than Cars?

By Renee Nordstrand on November 20, 2023

A motorcycle on the ground in an intersection after an accident.

It’s not surprising that California has more motorcycle riders than any other state. Of course, California has the largest population, but there are additional reasons why motorcycles are popular in the Golden State. Our short rainy season makes it possible for people to use motorcycles to get around town and commute to work almost year-round.

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Biker’s Arm Is a Serious Injury

By Renee Nordstrand on May 15, 2022

person being treated for arm injury

In a motorcycle collision, it is second nature for a person to protect themselves by using their arms. Biker’s arm covers a broad range of injuries to the nerves in the upper arm that can result when a biker uses their arm to brace their fall in a crash, or when the motorcycle lands on their arm.

The nerves at risk of being damaged when a biker crashes are the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. Collectively, these nerves control the movement in arms, hands, and fingers. Biker’s arm can lead to devastating injuries such as permanent nerve damage or loss of function in the fingers and arms.

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Road Rash: Who Is at Risk?

By Renee Nordstrand on January 27, 2021

motorcyclist on Harley-Davidson

When you picture road rash, you may conjure an image of a scraped knee or skinned elbow. While those are technically mild forms of road rash, the severe forms can be much, much worse. Third-degree road rash, for example, usually results in skin, muscle, and tendon being stripped away from the body. In some cases, the bone may even be visible.

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Don’t Downplay the Danger of Road Rash

By Renee Nordstrand on August 8, 2020

motorcyclist driving down a long wooded highway

When you think of road rash, you may imagine a child falling off of their first bike and skinning their knee or a teen stumbling as they try to flip their skateboard and scratching their arm. But the truth is, road rash is a dangerous injury that many motor vehicle accident victims suffer.

While most of us have experienced a minor form of road rash at some point in our lives, the more severe road rash injuries can affect you for the rest of your life.

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Posted in: Motorcycle Accident

Are Mopeds Just as Dangerous as Motorcycles?

By Renee Nordstrand on July 29, 2020

a row of mopeds parked on the side of the street

When riding a motorcycle or bike, we’re all warned to ride defensively, wear a helmet, and make sure drivers know we’re on the road. There is very little advice readily available for moped lovers, however. Why is that? Is it because they are less dangerous to ride than motorcycles? Well, the truth may surprise you.

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Practice Motorcycle Awareness Every Month

By Renee Nordstrand on June 15, 2018

motorcyclist sitting next to his bike under a tree

May was motorcycle awareness month, but everyone on the roads around Santa Barbara should be aware and respectful of motorcyclists all year long. Motorcyclists face certain dangers on the road that other motorists do not, and when accidents occur, they are more serious and life-threatening for people on motorcycles than for those in vehicles.

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Motorcycle Lane-Splitting Is Legal in California, But Is It Safe?

By Renee Nordstrand on March 18, 2018

biker driving motorcycle down the street

Lane-splitting may seem inherently dangerous. But there is research to support the notion that it is actually safe and can be beneficial for everyone on the road. Throughout much of the world, lane-splitting on motorcycles is a perfectly acceptable way to get through traffic. In the U.S., however, it is only legal in California, where motorcyclists are free to move among other vehicles.

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Posted in: Motorcycle Accident