You were riding legally — in a bike lane, on a road, through an intersection — and a driver made a decision that put you on the ground. Maybe they ran a red light. Maybe they turned across your path without looking. Maybe they opened a car door into your lane and you had nowhere to go.

Bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles are among the most serious cases we handle. California consistently ranks among the top three states in the country for bicycle fatalities, with more than 10,000 bicycle accident injuries reported statewide every year. Riders have no metal frame to absorb the impact — just a helmet, whatever protective gear they’re wearing, and the pavement. The injuries are serious. Road rash to the bone. Broken collarbones and wrists from instinct bracing. Traumatic brain injuries. Spinal damage. Fractures that require surgery and months of physical therapy.

And then, while you’re dealing with all of that, the driver’s insurance company starts working on its defense.

Why Bicycle Accident Claims Are Harder Than They Should Be

California law is clear: cyclists have the same rights on the road as drivers. But that doesn’t mean insurance companies treat them that way.

Insurers in bicycle accident cases routinely try to shift blame onto the rider. They’ll question whether you were visible enough, whether you had proper lighting, whether you were riding predictably, or whether you shared responsibility for the collision. California’s comparative negligence rules mean that even if you bear some percentage of fault, you can still recover compensation — but the assigned percentage directly affects how much. Keeping that number as low as possible is part of what we do.

What we’ve found is that the sooner an attorney gets involved, the better. Traffic camera footage gets overwritten. Witness memories fade. Road conditions change. The case you can build on day three is stronger than the case you can build three months later — every time.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Most bicycle accidents involving vehicles are preventable — and most trace back to a driver who wasn’t paying attention. The causes we see most frequently include:
● Left-turn collisions where a driver fails to yield to an oncoming cyclist
● Rear-end impacts at intersections and in traffic
● Dooring accidents when a parked driver opens their door into a cyclist’s path
● Drivers running red lights or stop signs
● Distracted driving — phone use, eating, inattention
● Unsafe passing with insufficient clearance
● Drivers failing to check blind spots before turning or changing lanes
● Hit and run collisions, which require a different legal strategy to pursue

Each of these scenarios has specific evidentiary requirements. We know what to look for and how to build a case around what the evidence shows.

Your Bicycle Accident Happened in California — Here’s What That Means

California has some of the strongest legal protections for cyclists in the country, and understanding them is critical to your case.

Under California law, drivers must provide at least three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist. Violating this law is itself evidence of negligence. Drivers are also required to yield to cyclists in bike lanes and crosswalks, and are liable for dooring accidents under the California Vehicle Code.

In 2024, there were 9,752 bicycle accidents involving injury or death across California — meaning the state accounts for roughly 23% of all bicycle accident injuries nationwide. Urban areas like Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and the Inland Empire see the highest concentration of crashes — and those are exactly the communities we serve.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

The physical, financial, and emotional impact of a serious bicycle accident can last far longer than the initial injury. A successful bicycle accident claim can recover:
● Emergency medical care, surgery, and hospitalization
● Ongoing treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation
● Damage to or total loss of your bicycle and gear
● Lost wages during recovery and reduced future earning capacity
● Pain and suffering and emotional distress
● Permanent scarring, disability, or disfigurement
● Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one

Insurance companies will look at your helmet use, your lighting, your lane position, and anything else they can use to reduce their exposure. Don’t let them shape the narrative before you have an attorney in your corner.

What To Do After a Bicycle Accident

Call 911 and stay at the scene. A police report creates an official record and documents the driver’s information, which is critical if they attempt to leave.
Get medical attention immediately. Head injuries, internal trauma, and soft tissue damage don’t always present at the scene. Adrenaline is a powerful mask. Get evaluated, and keep records of every visit.

Document everything you can. Photograph the vehicles, the road, your bicycle, your injuries, skid marks, and any relevant traffic signals or signage. Get witness contact information before people disperse.

Preserve your bicycle and gear. Don’t repair or discard anything. Your bike, helmet, and clothing can all become evidence — particularly in cases where equipment failure or road conditions contributed to the crash.

Don’t give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurer. They will ask early and often. Decline until you’ve spoken with an attorney. A single offhand comment can be used to assign you fault you don’t deserve.

Call Chris and Frank as soon as possible. The earlier we get involved, the stronger your case.

Why Hire Chris and Frank

Cyclists deserve to be taken seriously — and so do their cases. We’ve recovered over $100 million for our clients and win 99% of our cases. When you call us, we take over: investigating the accident, dealing with the insurance companies, and connecting you with top medical specialists at no upfront cost.

If lost income is putting financial pressure on you while your case is pending, cash advances are available. No fees until we win. Se habla español. And with offices across California and the Pacific Northwest — and more locations opening — we’re always nearby.

You ride within the rules. When a driver breaks them and you pay the price, we make sure someone is held accountable for it.