Bicycle Accidents
Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer
A bike ride should not end in an emergency room. But on Los Angeles streets, drivers open car doors without looking, turn across bike lanes, and leave the scene after a crash. If a car hit you while you were cycling, you have the right to hold that driver responsible. Our Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers help injured riders recover money for medical care, lost pay, and the pain they live with every day.
We work on a contingency fee. That means you pay nothing up front, and nothing at all unless we win money for you. The first call is free, and we answer 24/7.
Who We Help
We represent people who were hurt on a bike anywhere in the City of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. That includes riders hit by cars, trucks, and rideshare vehicles. It includes commuters, weekend riders, kids on the way to school, and delivery riders working for a living. If someone else’s careless driving put you in the hospital, we want to hear your story.
Cyclists face a hard truth after a crash. Some drivers and insurance companies treat riders as if they were not supposed to be on the road at all. That is wrong, and the law does not support it.
Know Your Rights
Cyclists Have the Same Road Rights as Drivers
California law is clear on this point. Under California Vehicle Code 21200, a person riding a bicycle on the road has all the same rights and all the same duties as the driver of a car. You are allowed to be there. Drivers must give you the same care they would give any other vehicle.
There is a second rule that often comes up after a crash. California Vehicle Code 21202 says a cyclist who rides slower than the flow of traffic should stay near the right side of the road. But this rule has many exceptions written right into the law.
You can move left to pass another rider, to make a left turn, to avoid a parked car or an open door, to dodge road hazards like potholes or debris, or when the lane is too narrow to safely share with a car. Insurance adjusters sometimes point to Section 21202 to blame the rider. Our lawyers know these exceptions and use them to protect your claim.
Injuries We See
Common Bicycle Crash Cases We Handle
Most bike crashes fall into a few patterns. Knowing the pattern helps prove who was at fault.
Door-zone crashes (dooring). A driver or passenger opens a car door into the path of a rider. California Vehicle Code 22517 says no one may open a car door into traffic when it is not safe. When a door knocks a cyclist down, the person who opened it is usually at fault.
Right-hook collisions. A driver passes a cyclist and then turns right across the bike lane, cutting the rider off. The rider has nowhere to go and slams into the side of the car. The turning driver almost always failed to yield.
Left-cross crashes. A driver turning left fails to see an oncoming rider and turns straight into their path. These crashes often cause serious injuries because of the speed involved.
Hit-and-run cases. A driver hits a rider and drives off. These cases feel hopeless, but they are not. There are ways to recover money even when the driver is never found. More on that below.
Unsafe bike lane and road conditions. Sometimes the danger is the road itself. A bike lane that ends without warning, a lane blocked by construction, or a poorly kept surface can cause a crash. When a city or agency fails to keep a road reasonably safe, they can be held responsible. These claims have short deadlines, so act fast.
Sources of Recovery
Serious Injuries From Bike Crashes
A rider has almost no protection in a crash with a car. The injuries are often severe and cost a lot to treat.
- Traumatic brain injury. Even with a helmet, the force of a crash can injure the brain. A concussion is a brain injury. Symptoms like headaches, memory trouble, and mood changes can last months or longer.
- Spinal cord injury. Damage to the spine can cause lasting weakness, numbness, or paralysis. These are life-changing injuries with high lifetime costs.
- Road rash. Skidding across pavement tears away skin. Deep road rash can need surgery, skin grafts, and leaves scars.
- Broken bones. Collarbones, wrists, arms, and hips break often in bike crashes because riders put out their hands to brace a fall.
We build claims that account for the full cost of these injuries, including future care your doctors say you will need.
How It Works
Who Pays and How Insurance Works
The at-fault driver’s auto insurance is usually the first place we look for money. Their liability coverage should pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
But driver coverage is often too small to cover a serious injury, and some drivers carry no insurance at all. This is where your own policy can help. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your car insurance can pay for a bike crash, even though you were not in your car at the time.
Many riders do not know this. If you or a family member you live with has this coverage, it may apply to your claim. We check every policy that could pay.
After a Crash
Helmets and Fault in California
California has no law requiring adults to wear a helmet. Riders under 18 must wear one under California Vehicle Code 21212, but adults are free to ride without one.
If you were not wearing a helmet, the insurance company may argue that this reduces what you are owed. California uses a rule called comparative negligence. Under this rule, your money can be reduced by the share of fault assigned to you, but you can still recover even if you were partly at fault.
Not wearing a helmet does not end your case, and it does not mean you were at fault for the crash itself. We push back hard on efforts to blame the victim.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident
If you are hurt in a bike crash, these steps protect your health and your claim.
- Call 911 and get medical care right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries show up hours later.
- Ask for a police report. Get the officer’s name and the report number.
- Get the driver’s name, license plate, and insurance information.
- Take photos of the scene, your bike, your injuries, and the car.
- Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash.
- Do not admit fault or downplay your injuries to anyone at the scene.
- Keep your damaged bike, helmet, and gear. Do not repair or throw them away.
- Call a lawyer before you speak with the driver’s insurance company.
Talk With a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
The insurance company has lawyers working to pay you as little as possible. You should have someone working for you. Our Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers handle the paperwork, deal with the adjusters, and fight for the full value of your claim so you can focus on getting better.
Call (833) 426-5389 or reach out for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win. We serve riders across Los Angeles, and we speak English, Spanish, and Armenian.
If your crash involved a car, our Los Angeles car accident lawyers can help with those claims too. Riders and walkers share the same risks on our streets, so many of our clients also work with our pedestrian accident lawyers. If a bike crash took the life of someone you love, our wrongful death lawyers are here to help your family.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is at fault if a car hits me while I am biking in Los Angeles? It depends on how the crash happened, but drivers are at fault in most bike crashes. Under state law, you have the same right to the road as any driver. If a driver failed to yield, opened a door into you, or turned across your path, they are usually responsible. We gather the police report, witness statements, and any video to prove fault.
Does not wearing a helmet hurt my case in California? Adults are not required to wear a helmet, so riding without one is legal. The insurance company may try to use it to lower your payout, but it does not make you at fault for the crash. We work to keep the focus on the driver’s careless actions.
What can I do if a hit-and-run driver hit me? You may still recover money. Uninsured motorist coverage on your own car insurance, or a family member’s policy you live under, can pay for a hit-and-run bike crash. We also work to identify the driver through cameras and witnesses. Report the crash to police right away to protect this option.
What is the difference between a bike lane and a sharrow, and does it affect my claim? A bike lane is a marked lane just for bikes. A sharrow is a painted symbol showing that bikes and cars share the same lane. A sharrow does not give cars the right to push you out. You have the same rights in both, and neither one reduces your claim.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in California? For most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. If a city or public agency is responsible, such as for a dangerous road, you may have as little as six months to file a claim. Because these deadlines are strict, call a lawyer as soon as you can.
What is my bicycle accident case worth? No lawyer can promise an exact number. Value depends on your medical bills, future care, lost wages, how serious your injuries are, and who was at fault. We look at every part of your loss, including pain and the effect on your daily life, to seek the full amount you are owed.
Talk to a lawyer today
Talk to a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Call (833) 426-5389 or reach out for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win. We serve riders across Los Angeles, and we speak English, Spanish, and Armenian.