Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA
If a driver hit you while you were riding in Los Angeles, the insurance company is already building a story about where you were in the lane and whether you should have seen the car coming. We used to work on that side of the table. Today NMF Law Group, APC represents injured people across California, including cyclists hurt on Los Angeles streets, and the consultation is free.
- ★★★★★5.0 Google Reviews
- Former Insurance Defense Attorney
- Free Consultation
How Bicycle Crashes Happen in Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles maintains bike lanes on city streets, and a bike path runs along parts of the Los Angeles River. Still, riding here means sharing pavement with cars, delivery vans, buses, and rideshare drivers hunting for a curb.
Right hooks and left crosses. A driver passes a cyclist and then turns right across the bike’s path, or an oncoming driver turns left into a rider coming through the intersection.
Dooring. A parked driver or a passenger swings a door open into a rider in the bike lane or along the curb.
Unsafe passing and bike lane intrusions. Drivers squeeze past with inches to spare or drift into the bike lane to get around stopped traffic.
Road hazards. Potholes, broken pavement, and debris can throw a rider with no car involved.
The California Rules That Protect Cyclists
Under Vehicle Code § 21200, a person riding a bicycle on the road has the rights, and the duties, that apply to a driver. Civil Code § 1714(a) makes everyone responsible for injuries caused by a failure to use ordinary care.
Passing. Vehicle Code § 21760, the Three Feet for Safety Act, requires a driver passing a bicycle to leave at least three feet.
Car doors. Vehicle Code § 22517 bars anyone from opening a door on the side facing moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe and will not interfere with that traffic, or leaving it open longer than needed to load or unload passengers. The rule applies to anyone who opens the door, driver or passenger. Read more about dooring accidents and your rights.
Lane position. Vehicle Code § 21202 generally requires you, when riding slower than traffic, to stay as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge, but lets you move over to pass, to prepare for a left turn, to avoid hazards such as debris or a lane too narrow to share safely, and when approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
Bike lanes. Vehicle Code § 21208 generally requires a slower rider to use a marked bike lane, but allows leaving it for largely the same reasons once it is reasonably safe, with a signal if another vehicle may be affected. Vehicle Code § 21209 bars drivers from the bike lane except to park where parking is permitted, to enter or leave the roadway, or to prepare for a turn within 200 feet of an intersection. Even then, the driver still owes you ordinary care.
Helmets. Vehicle Code § 21212 requires riders under 18, and children riding in an attached seat or a towed trailer, to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet. It does not apply to adults.
When the Insurer Blames the Rider
Before founding NMF Law Group, APC, Joshua B. Adelpour spent nearly a decade defending insurance companies, public entities, and property owners, rising to partner at an insurance defense firm. We know how a case against a cyclist gets built.
Insurers say the rider “came out of nowhere,” was outside the bike lane, or was not wearing a helmet. The last two run straight into the statutes above: Vehicle Code §§ 21202 and 21208 expressly allow a rider to move over to avoid a hazard, and § 21212 does not require adults to wear helmets. A missing helmet may still come up, typically as an argument about the extent of a head injury rather than about who caused the crash.
California also uses comparative fault. If you share some responsibility, your recovery is reduced by your share rather than wiped out, which is why the percentage an adjuster assigns you is worth contesting. Our guide to comparative negligence in California explains how it works.
When the Driver Flees or the Road Is to Blame
Hit and run and uninsured drivers. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy may apply when you are hurt on a bicycle, and an unidentified hit and run driver may be treated as uninsured. If the driver left, call the police the same day and notify your insurer right away, or the claim can be lost. Underinsured coverage matters because Vehicle Code § 16056 sets minimum liability coverage at only $30,000 per person for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025.
Road defects and the City of Los Angeles. Government Code § 835 allows a public entity to be held responsible for injuries caused by a dangerous condition of its property when the statute’s requirements are met. A defect in a bike lane the city maintains may support a claim against the City of Los Angeles, but which agency controls the exact spot must be confirmed. The clock is short: Government Code § 911.2 requires a claim against a public entity, including one over a crash with a government vehicle, to be presented within six months after it accrues.
What to Do After a Los Angeles Bicycle Crash
- Get medical care the same day, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline hides injuries.
- Call the police the same day and get the report number, especially if the driver left.
- Photograph the scene, the vehicle, any road defect, and your injuries.
- Keep your helmet, bike, and damaged gear. Do not repair or discard them.
- Save data from your bike computer, GPS watch, or ride tracking app.
- Note nearby businesses, homes, and vehicles with cameras. Footage is often recorded over, so requests must go out quickly.
- Decline recorded statements from the driver’s insurer and talk to a lawyer before accepting any offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file after a Los Angeles bicycle accident?
Generally two years from the crash to sue for your injuries under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public entity may be responsible, whether for a road defect or a government vehicle, the claim must be presented within six months after it accrues under Government Code section 911.2.
Can I still recover if I was not wearing a helmet?
Not wearing a helmet does not by itself end your claim. Vehicle Code section 21212 requires helmets only for people under 18, so an adult riding without one has not violated that statute, and the driver still owed you ordinary care.
What if the insurer says I was partly at fault?
California uses comparative fault, so your recovery is reduced by your share of fault rather than eliminated. Riding outside the bike lane is not automatically your fault, because Vehicle Code sections 21202 and 21208 let riders move over to pass, turn, or avoid hazards.
The driver who hit me drove away. Is there any coverage?
Possibly. Uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy may apply to a hit and run crash even though you were on a bicycle. Report the crash to the police the same day and notify your own insurer right away. Notice deadlines can be short, and the claim can be lost if either step is late.
What does a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. The consultation is free, and there are no attorney’s fees unless we win.
Learn more about bicycle accident cases across California, uninsured motorist claims, pedestrian accidents, or our Los Angeles car accident lawyer page. Call (213) 800-0706 or contact us online for a free consultation in English or Spanish.