Motorcyclist Hurt in I-5 Semi-Truck Collision

Motorcyclist Injured in Semi-Truck Collision on I-5 in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles

A serious motorcycle–big rig collision early Tuesday morning, October 28, 2025, left one rider injured on the Golden State (5) Freeway in Boyle Heights. According to preliminary reports from the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. on the southbound I-5, just north of Fourth Street. The motorcycle and rider became wedged beneath the semi-truck during the impact, prompting an immediate emergency response. First responders transported the rider to a nearby hospital. Three lanes were reopened about an hour after the crash was reported, though significant backups persisted as the morning commute progressed.

While details remain limited, incidents like this underscore the heightened risks motorcyclists face when sharing lanes with large commercial vehicles in dense urban traffic corridors such as the I-5 through Los Angeles. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances leading up to the collision, including traffic speed, lane changes, visibility conditions, and driver attentiveness.

What We Know About the Crash and Traffic Impacts

- Time and location: Around 5:45 a.m., southbound I-5 north of Fourth Street, Boyle Heights.
- Involvement: A motorcycle and a semi-truck, with the rider reportedly wedged beneath the rig following impact.
- Response: The rider was taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities partially reopened lanes approximately one hour later, but delays continued due to residual congestion and debris removal.

As with many early-morning collisions, low light, commuter density, and commercial traffic volumes can contribute to challenging roadway dynamics. CHP units typically secure the scene, direct traffic, and document evidence while tow and cleanup crews work to restore flow as quickly and safely as possible.

Why Motorcycle–Truck Collisions Are So Dangerous

Crashes between motorcycles and large trucks often result in severe injuries due to the size and weight disparity. Key risk factors include:

- Large blind spots: Tractor-trailers have extensive no-zones along the sides, rear, and right-front quarter. A motorcyclist can be easily obscured during lane changes or turns.
- Longer stopping distances: Fully loaded big rigs require greater distances to stop. Even minor speed differentials can become critical in stop-and-go traffic.
- Underride potential: In certain impacts, motorcycles can travel under the trailer or tractor body, increasing injury severity.
- Roadway conditions: Early-morning dew, lane debris, or uneven surfaces can reduce traction for motorcycles, making evasive maneuvers more difficult.

Common Causes Under Investigation in Similar Crashes

While authorities have not released a cause in this incident, investigators typically evaluate:

- Unsafe lane changes or failure to signal
- Speed relative to traffic conditions
- Following distance and sudden braking
- Driver distraction or fatigue (including hours-of-service compliance for truck drivers)
- Mechanical issues or improper maintenance
- Load securement and trailer lighting/reflectivity
- Visibility and lighting at dawn
- Alcohol or drug impairment (for any involved driver)

Evidence That Can Help Clarify What Happened

In serious collisions involving commercial trucks, multiple data sources can be pivotal:

- Electronic logging devices (ELDs) and the truck’s electronic control module (ECM “black box”) for speed, braking, and duty status
- Dashcam footage from the truck or nearby vehicles
- Cellphone records if distraction is suspected
- Vehicle damage analyses and scene measurements
- Surveillance cameras from nearby businesses or traffic systems
- Witness statements and 911 recordings
- Maintenance logs, driver qualification files, and prior safety or inspection reports

Motorcycle Safety Context and Statewide Trends

Motorcycle crashes remain a major safety concern in California and across the United States. In recent years, fatalities have trended upward nationwide. Although motorcycles represent a small portion of registered vehicles, riders face a disproportionately high risk of serious injury in collisions, particularly when larger vehicles are involved. Wearing a DOT-compliant helmet, maintaining highly visible gear or lighting, and practicing defensive riding can significantly reduce risk. For truck and passenger-vehicle drivers, heightened attentiveness, careful lane changes, and respecting motorcycles’ full lane width are critical.

Your Rights After a Motorcycle Collision in California

California law provides several protections and avenues for recovery following a crash:

- Comparative negligence: California follows pure comparative negligence, meaning an injured person may recover damages even if they are found partially at fault. Any award may be reduced by the person’s percentage of responsibility.
- Lane splitting: Lane splitting is legal in California when done safely. The legality of lane position does not preclude recovery; fault depends on the totality of circumstances.
- Statutes of limitation: Most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury. Claims involving government entities typically require a formal government claim within six months, with strict follow-up deadlines.
- Helmet law: California requires DOT-compliant helmets for riders and passengers. Helmet use may be considered in assessing injuries, but it does not automatically bar recovery.
- Insurance considerations: Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage and medical payments (Med-Pay) provisions can be crucial when at-fault coverage is limited. Health insurers may assert reimbursement rights (subrogation), which can be negotiated.

Motorcycle crashes involving semi-trucks are often catastrophic, resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. These accidents can leave victims and their families facing life-altering challenges, from medical bills to emotional trauma. At Avian Law Group, we are committed to helping those affected pursue justice and hold negligent parties accountable.

Our experienced legal team understands the complexities of motorcycle-semi truck accidents and works tirelessly to investigate the crash, determine liability, and secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle crash with a semi-truck, contact Avian Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation. We are here to protect your rights and help you take the first steps toward recovery and justice.