Bicycle accident?Talk to a lawyer for free.

For most injury lawsuits, two years, counted from the day of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1), and for a rider under 18 the clock is generally paused until their 18th birthday (§352). A claim against a public agency, whether a city, a county or the state, is different: it comes first, in writing, usually within six months, minors included. For a rider who was under 18 the whole six months, a request to file late, made within a year of the crash, generally has to be granted (Government Code §911.6). Calling early keeps every option open.

No. We take bicycle accident cases all over California. Our offices run from Stockton to Palm Desert, and when getting to one isn't practical, we'll travel to you, whether you're home or still in the hospital.

Not wearing one doesn't stop a claim. California requires helmets for riders under 18, on bikes, e-bikes, scooters without motors and skateboards, and for everyone on a class 3 e-bike. If an insurer argues a helmet would have made your injuries less serious, that's a comparative fault argument: it can reduce a recovery, not erase it.

It may come up, but it doesn't decide the claim. Riders slower than traffic generally use the bike lane or keep to the right, with exceptions for passing, left turns, hazards and lanes too narrow to share, and must ride with traffic. Riding on the sidewalk is regulated city by city. Where a rule was broken, comparative fault reduces your recovery by your share, and what the driver did wrong still weighs in.

Largely, no. California law treats an e-bike as a bicycle and not as a motor vehicle, so the bicycle rules govern and riders need no license or insurance. Riders of class 3 models, with pedal assist up to 28 mph, must be at least 16. The picture changes if the bike was altered to go faster than 20 mph using only the motor, or above 750 watts: it then falls outside the e-bike definition, so give us the make, the model and any changes.

There can be. A driver whose carelessness causes an accident can be responsible for it whether or not the car touched you, which makes witnesses and video even more important. Contact matters in one case: if the driver left and can't be found, uninsured motorist coverage generally requires physical contact with that car.

The driver who caused the crash, usually through the property damage coverage on their policy, the same coverage that pays for another driver's car. Proof of what the bike, its upgrades and your gear cost (receipts, order emails, photos) helps set the amount. One gap to know: if the driver had no insurance, the "uninsured motorist property damage" on a car policy covers only the insured car, so it won't pay for a bike.

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.