In California, a person riding a bicycle on the road has the same rights, and most of the same duties, as the driver of a vehicle (Vehicle Code 21200). Drivers are expected to watch for riders, give them room and yield when the law requires it. Even so, cyclists are hurt every year on the streets of Orange County, the Inland Empire and Riverside. With no steel frame, airbags or seatbelt, a rider usually takes the full force of a crash, so even a “low-speed” collision can mean fractures, a concussion or road rash that needs weeks of care.
A bicycle accident lawyer at Tafreshi Law Group can deal with the insurance companies, gather the evidence and keep track of your deadlines while you focus on getting better.
If you are hit while riding, these steps help protect both your health and your claim:
Contact us for a free consultation to talk through what happened and what your options are.
Southern California is good riding country almost every day of the year, so there are a lot of bikes on the road — commuters, students, delivery riders, weekend groups and, more and more, teenagers on e-bikes. Many of the roads they share are wide, fast arterials built for cars. Common trouble spots include:
The most common cause is still a driver who simply did not look — because of a phone, speed, or a quick turn without checking the bike lane.
After a bike crash, the other side’s insurer starts building its case right away. Our job is to build yours. That usually means:
We cannot promise any particular result, but we can make sure your side of the story is told with evidence. If the crash involved a road defect, or a city or county vehicle, see the government-claim deadline below — it can be as short as six months. See also our page on comparative negligence in California.
These rules help show who was careless. A police report that does not mention them is not the final word; witness statements, video and the scene itself often tell a fuller story.
We see the same kinds of crashes across Orange County, the Inland Empire and Riverside: right hooks, where a driver passes a rider and then turns right across the bike lane; left-turning drivers who fail to see an oncoming cyclist; drivers rolling through stop signs or right-on-red without looking right; car doors opened into a bike lane; and unsafe passing on roads without shoulders. Road defects such as potholes, broken pavement or debris can also play a part — if a public road was involved, a government claim may be due within six months (Government Code 911.2).
The at-fault driver’s liability insurance is usually the first source. If the driver had no insurance, too little insurance, or drove away, your own auto policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may still protect you even though you were on a bike. MedPay and health insurance may help with early medical bills. California’s pure comparative fault rule means a rider who was partly at fault can usually still recover a reduced amount. Most lawsuits must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1).
Often yes. Adults are not required to wear a helmet in California. The insurer may argue a helmet would have reduced a head injury, but that does not by itself bar a claim.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist and MedPay coverage on your own auto policy often apply to you as a cyclist. We can review your policy with you for free.
That is a common response. Video, witness statements, the location of damage, and the scene layout often show what really happened.
Generally two years for a lawsuit against a private party, and often six months for a claim against a city, county or state agency.
Orange County: call (949) 989-2511. Riverside, the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley: call (951) 583-1900. Text (949) 776-8964 any time — we answer 24/7 and the first consultation is free. Our office staff speaks Spanish and Farsi. We work on contingency, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. Related: pedestrian accidents, car accidents, catastrophic injuries, case results, en español.
Attorney Advertising. General information only, not legal advice; contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
If you were hurt in a bicycle accident, contact Tafreshi Law Group for a free consultation. Attorney Suzannah Tafreshi and our team work with riders and families across Orange County, the Inland Empire and Riverside, and we explain each step in plain language. Our office staff speaks Spanish and Farsi.
We have offices in Fountain Valley (18837 Brookhurst St, Ste 207), Lake Forest (22600 Lambert St, Ste 1501) and Riverside (4121 Brockton Ave, Ste 101). Riders often reach us from Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Corona and Moreno Valley; see all locations.
Related reading: proving liability in a bicycle accident and how road conditions can factor into a bicycle accident claim.
