Local office in Bakersfield, CA5100 California Ave, Suite 104Directions

Bicycle accident in Bakersfield?Talk to a lawyer for free.

On the road, a person on a bicycle has the same rights as a driver, and drivers passing you must leave at least three feet. Talk to us early, and we'll take it from there.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
  • Available 24/7We'll meet you at your home or hospital.
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Call our Bakersfield office(661) 426-817924/7 line: (800) 985-9565

No attorney's fees unless we recover compensation. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Read the disclaimer

Downtown Bakersfield seen from above
They genuinely cared about my well-being and worked tirelessly to get me the compensation I deserved.
LexiValero Law Group clientGoogle review

Results that speak.Millions won for injured clients.

We've won over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Recognized for excellence

Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $1.5MAuto accidentA win for a client injured in an auto accident.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

View all results

Here to protect your interests, not the insurance company's

Insurance companies have a team.You should have one too.

Insurers bring adjusters, investigators and lawyers to every serious claim, and they value claims to control cost, not to make you whole. After a crash on White Lane, California Avenue or Panama Lane, an adjuster may call within days, and what you say can shape the rest of your claim.

Before you sign anything, ask yourself:

  1. Did a driver pass too close, turn across your path or open a door into you?
  2. Did a pothole or a broken stretch of the bike path play a part?
  3. Will the settlement cover your treatment and lost income months from now, not just today?

From one of our car accident cases

The insurer's best offer$410,000

What we won for our client$4.4M

A car accident that left our client with a neck injury. Most people would have taken the offer. We won more than ten times as much.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

Get my free case review
The Bakersfield sign arching over the road into town under a clear sky

Our office in Bakersfield

Local bicycle accident lawyers,right here in Bakersfield.

Not every firm that advertises in Bakersfield has an office here. We do.

We live and work here, and we know Bakersfield's streets and the Kern River bike path. Come to our office on California Avenue, or we'll come to you anywhere in Kern and Tulare Counties.

Nearby officesPalmdaleFresnoWoodland Hills

Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromour clients.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
After my bike accident, I called multiple places, but Valero Law was the only one that gave me comfort and reassurance from the very first call and throughout my entire case. Their team was professional, supportive, and always kept me informed.
PreciousGoogle review
Read all 400+ of our reviews
I was referred to Valero Law by a friend. I appreciated that they didn't rush me out the door and actually took the time to hear my case from beginning to end. They really fought for me and my case. Great law firm to work with.
Sandy M.Google review
Around the age of 23, I was caught in a bike accident, and with the help of this company, the amazing Ms. Ashley J. helped me gain the true justice that I deserved and needed.
OP GreensGoogle review

What you can recover aftera bicycle accident in California.

Whoever caused the crash, whether a driver, a passenger who opened a door or a public agency whose road or path was in a dangerous condition, can be held responsible for what it cost you.

Economic damages

The costs you can add up

  • Emergency care, surgery and hospital bills
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity
  • Repairing or replacing your bike and gear

Non-economic damages

The harm that has no receipt

  • Pain and physical suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of companionship
  • Lost enjoyment of life
  • 3 feetThe space a driver must give you when passingUnder California's Three Feet for Safety Act, a driver passing a bicycle must leave at least three feet, and must change lanes to pass when another lane going the same way is open.
  • 6 monthsTo claim against the City for a road or path hazardIf a pothole or a broken stretch of bike path inside city limits caused the crash, a written claim to the City of Bakersfield is usually due within six months, filed with the City Clerk.
  • 80%What you keep if you were 20% at faultCalifornia's pure comparative fault rule reduces your award by your share of the blame instead of erasing it.

After a bicycle crash in Bakersfield,what comes next.

The report, the bike, your care, insurance and deadlines, explained.

Valero Law Group attorneys meeting around a conference table
  • Getting the crash report
    On Bakersfield's streets it's usually Bakersfield Police, online or at headquarters on Truxtun Avenue; injury reports can take a few weeks. In Rosedale, Oildale, Lamont and other unincorporated communities around Bakersfield, it's usually the CHP's Bakersfield office, and you can request it online.
  • Keep the bike as it is
    Don't repair or throw away the bike, your helmet or the clothes you wore: they can help show how the crash happened. Photograph them, the car, the road surface and anything in the road, and ask nearby businesses early for any camera video.
  • Get checked, and keep your records
    Concussions and neck and back injuries don't always show up right away, so it's worth getting checked even if you felt fine at the scene. Wherever you were treated, from Kern Medical, the county's only Level II trauma center, to Adventist Health, Memorial or Mercy, you have a right to copies of your medical and billing records, even with a bill unpaid.
  • The driver's insurer has deadlines
    The claim usually goes to the insurance company of the driver who caused the crash. It must acknowledge your claim within 15 days, then accept or deny it within 40 days of receiving proof, or explain in writing why it needs more time (California claim rules). About one in five California drivers had no insurance in 2023 (Insurance Research Council); if the driver had none, your own insurance may help, and we'll check your policy.
  • Crashes on the Kern River bike path
    The City's 2013 bicycle plan says the Kern River Parkway has about 32 miles of paths, all but three inside city limits. If the path's condition caused your crash, the agency that owns that stretch can be responsible if it created the hazard or knew of it in time to fix it. City claims go to the City Clerk at 1600 Truxtun Avenue, by mail or in person, on the City's Liability Claim form.
  • Public agencies have shorter deadlines
    Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a GET bus, a city or county vehicle, or a road or bike path hazard was involved, a written claim to the City, Kern County, GET or Caltrans is usually due within six months.
A man and a boy in traditional Colombian hats and jerseys holding Valero Law Group signs at a community event

Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
Yesica H.Google review
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Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a Bakersfield bicycle accident.

How long do I have after a bicycle accident in Bakersfield?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. If a GET bus, a city or county vehicle, or a road or bike path hazard was involved, a written claim is usually due within six months, and if it's rejected, a lawsuit usually has to follow within six months of the notice. Call us early so no deadline slips by.
Do people on bicycles have the same rights as drivers?
Yes. On the road, a person riding a bicycle has all the rights, and the same duties, as the driver of a vehicle, except for rules that by their nature can't apply to a bike.
What is California's three-foot law?
Under the Three Feet for Safety Act, a driver passing a bicycle going the same way must leave at least three feet, and must change lanes to pass when another lane going the same way is open. If that isn't possible, the driver must slow down and pass only when it won't endanger the rider. If a too-close pass injures a rider, the driver faces a $220 fine.
I was hit by an opening car door. Who is responsible?
California law says no one may open a car door on the side of moving traffic unless it's reasonably safe and won't interfere with that traffic (Vehicle Code §22517). So the driver or passenger who opened the door can be held responsible. If you can, get their name and the car's plate, and photograph the door.
The driver says the crash was my fault. Do I still have a case?
Possibly. Fault is decided on the evidence, which is why the crash report, photos and witnesses matter. And even if you share some of the blame, California's pure comparative fault rule reduces your award by your share instead of erasing it.
I crashed on the Kern River bike path. Who is responsible?
If another rider or a driver caused it, a claim can be made against them. If the path's condition caused it, the public agency that owns that stretch can be responsible if it created the hazard or knew of it in time to fix it. Most of the path is inside city limits (City bicycle plan, 2013), so depending on where it happened, a written claim goes to the City or to Kern County, usually within six months. City claims go to the City Clerk at 1600 Truxtun Avenue, on the City's Liability Claim form.
Do you have an office in Bakersfield?
Yes. Our office is at 5100 California Ave, Suite 104, Bakersfield, CA 93309. Come in if you like, or we'll come to you, at home or in the hospital. Call (800) 985-9565 any time, 24/7.
What does a bicycle accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

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  1. Free consultationCall us 24/7 or fill out our form. We'll review your case at no cost.
  2. Review your caseOur experienced attorneys investigate and evaluate your case to build the strongest claim possible.
  3. Injury litigationWe fight for maximum compensation, in negotiation or in court.
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Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

(661) 426-8179

24/7 line: (800) 985-9565

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