Williams & Gasparian Law represents injured cyclists across Los Angeles County as well as the rest of California, whether the crash happened in a bike lane, at an intersection, or on a road with no lane at all.
A bicycle case turns on proving what the driver did wrong. That takes quick work: locating witnesses, requesting video from nearby businesses, and documenting the scene before it changes.
How Bicycle Crashes Happen
Most bicycle crashes involve a driver who did not look, did not yield, or did not leave enough room.
- Right hooks. A driver passes a cyclist and then turns right across their path.
- Left crosses. A driver turning left at an intersection fails to see the cyclist coming through.
- Dooring. A parked driver opens a door into the bike lane without looking. California law puts the duty on the person opening the door.
- Driving or parking in the bike lane. Vehicles blocking the lane force cyclists into traffic.
- Passing too close. California requires three feet of clearance when a car passes a bicycle.
- Distracted or impaired drivers. Phones, screens, alcohol, or drugs.
- Road hazards. Broken pavement, storm grates, or debris that a public agency should have fixed.
What You May Be Able to Recover
California law lets an injured cyclist claim two kinds of losses.
Economic losses
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospital bills
- Rehabilitation and future treatment
- Wages you lost while you could not work
- Reduced ability to earn if the injury is lasting
- The bicycle, helmet, clothing, phone, and anything else damaged in the crash
Non-economic losses
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of the activities you used to enjoy
- Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent disability
Keep the damaged bicycle and everything you were wearing. They are evidence of how hard you were hit. We do not quote case values on this site.
California Rules That Protect Cyclists
- Same rights as drivers
- Vehicle Code section 21200 gives a person riding a bicycle the same rights, and the same duties, as the driver of a vehicle.
- Three feet to pass
- Vehicle Code section 21760 requires a driver passing a cyclist to leave at least three feet of space, or to slow down and pass only when it is safe.
- Bike lanes
- Vehicle Code section 21209 bars drivers from driving in a bike lane except to park, enter or leave the road, or prepare for a turn within a short distance of the intersection.
- Car doors
- Vehicle Code section 22517 prohibits opening a car door on the traffic side unless it is reasonably safe to do so. A dooring crash is usually the driver's fault.
- Riding position
- Vehicle Code section 21202 asks cyclists to ride as far right as practicable, but the exceptions are broad: passing, avoiding hazards, preparing for a left turn, and lanes too narrow to share safely. Insurers cite this rule often. The exceptions usually apply.
- Helmets
- Riders under 18 must wear a helmet (Vehicle Code section 21212). Adults are not required to. Not wearing one does not bar a claim, though it may be raised for a head injury.
- Deadlines
- Two years from the crash to file an injury lawsuit. Six months to file a government claim if a road defect or a public vehicle was involved.
- Shared fault
- California follows pure comparative negligence. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, if any, but not eliminated.
What Happens After You Call
Five stages, from the first phone call to the day the case closes.
A free consultation
You tell us what happened. We tell you whether you have a case and what we would do first. No charge, no obligation to hire us.
Investigation
We gather the police or incident report, photos, witness statements, medical records, and video. When a case calls for it we bring in accident reconstructionists or treating physicians.
Dealing with the insurance companies
Once you hire us, insurers deal with us instead of you. We handle the calls, the letters, and the requests for recorded statements. You focus on treatment.
Negotiation or a lawsuit
When your treatment has gone far enough to know what your losses are, we send a demand. If the insurer will not pay a fair amount, we file a lawsuit and prepare the case as if it will be tried.
Resolution
Most cases settle. Some go to trial. Either way, we explain every offer to you in plain terms, and the decision to accept or reject it is yours.
Questions People Ask Us
For an adult, not wearing a helmet is not against the law. The insurer may still argue that a head injury would have been less severe with one, which can affect that part of the claim. It has no effect on injuries to the rest of your body.
Yes. Drivers are not allowed to drive in a bike lane except in narrow circumstances, so a crash there usually starts with the driver at fault. We still gather the evidence, because the insurer will look for a reason to argue otherwise.
Possibly. If you or a member of your household has an auto policy with uninsured motorist coverage, it may cover you even though you were on a bicycle. We also look for video and witnesses to identify the driver.
A public agency can be responsible for a dangerous condition it knew about or should have found. The catch is the deadline: a written claim to that agency must be filed within six months. Call soon if you think the road was the problem.
Two years from the crash for a claim against a driver. Six months for a government claim. Video from nearby businesses is often overwritten in days, so the practical deadline for evidence is much shorter.
We work on a contingency fee. You pay no fee up front, and our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you. If we recover nothing, you owe no attorney fee. You owe nothing for case costs either.
Talk to a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Glendale
If you were hit while riding anywhere in Los Angeles County or elsewhere in California, call us or send the form. We will review what happened at no charge.
