Bicycle Accident Representation in Los Angeles
Los Angeles streets present unique challenges for cyclists. Heavy traffic, distracted drivers, and complex intersections create daily risks for commuters and recreational riders across the city. When a car strikes your bike, the impact can leave you with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about your legal options.
At BD&J, we have represented injured cyclists throughout Los Angeles and across California since 2007, recovering more than $3 billion* in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our team understands the physical and financial toll of bicycle accidents, and we work to secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs and no fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
If you were injured in a bicycle crash and are unsure what to do next, contact us to discuss your options. Every case is different, and this information is general guidance, not legal advice.
Common Causes and Liability in Los Angeles Bike Wrecks
Most bicycle accidents stem from driver negligence. Under California law, liability requires proving four elements: the at-fault party owed a duty of care, breached that duty, caused your injuries, and you suffered measurable damages. Depending on the circumstances, liable parties can include the driver, the vehicle owner, a rideshare or delivery company, or a government entity if road defects or poorly maintained bike lanes contributed to the crash.
Driver Negligence and Reckless Behaviors
California Vehicle Code Section 21200 requires cyclists to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles, but drivers frequently violate laws that protect cyclists. Common violations include failure to maintain three feet of clearance when passing (CVC 21760), unsafe lane changes, speeding, failure to yield at intersections, right-hook and left-cross turns, dooring incidents when exiting parked cars without checking mirrors, and driving under the influence. Proving these violations requires police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and physical evidence from the scene.
Comparative Fault Basics
California follows pure comparative negligence under Civil Code Section 1714, meaning you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 20% at fault, you receive 80% of total damages. Insurance adjusters routinely overstate the cyclist’s fault to reduce payouts, so get in touch with an attorney who can evaluate fault objectively and challenge unfair blame-shifting.
California Bicycle Laws That Affect Your Case
California Vehicle Code Section 21212 requires helmets for riders under 18 years old. While adult cyclists are not required to wear helmets, insurers may argue that failure to wear one contributed to head injury severity. Cyclists must use front white lights and rear red reflectors or lights when riding at night (CVC 21201). Violations of equipment or lighting rules can be raised by defense counsel, though they rarely eliminate a claim entirely.
Recovering Compensation for Your Injuries
Case value depends on injury severity, treatment duration, liability strength, and how the accident has affected your daily life and earning capacity. Compensation includes past and future medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, bicycle and equipment replacement, pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Common bicycle crash injuries include clavicle and wrist fractures, traumatic brain injuries, road rash requiring skin grafts, spinal injuries, and internal organ damage. Many clients require months of physical therapy, and some face permanent disability.
How Our Team Handles Your Claim
BD&J gathers police reports, medical records, scene photographs, helmet-camera or dashcam video, witness contact information, and bike damage documentation. We consult biomechanical experts and accident reconstructionists when crash dynamics are disputed. We file claims with at-fault drivers’ insurers and, when applicable, your own underinsured or uninsured motorist carrier. We handle all insurer communications, evaluate offers against projected trial value, and negotiate aggressively. If settlement talks stall or offers remain inadequate, we file suit and prepare for trial.
FAQs About Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Claims
What if I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet?
Adult cyclists are not required to wear helmets in California. Defense counsel may argue non-use contributed to injury severity, potentially reducing damages under comparative fault rules. Your case should still be evaluated by contacting an attorney.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Government entity claims require filing an administrative claim within six months under the California Tort Claims Act. Contact counsel promptly to preserve evidence and meet deadlines.
Will Insurance Pay if the Driver Fled the Scene?
You may recover through your uninsured motorist coverage if your policy includes it. File a police report immediately and report the hit-and-run to your insurer within the timeframe required by your policy.
Get a Free Consultation with Our Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Los Angeles, call us 24/7 or submit an online form for a free case review. You pay nothing until your case resolves. Contact us today to understand your options.
