Bicycle Accident Lawyer in California
When a car hits a cyclist, the injuries are often serious — and the driver's insurer still tends to blame the person on the bike. Cyclists have the same right to the road as drivers. We handle California bicycle accident claims so you can focus on recovering, not on fighting for what you're owed.
Were you hurt in a bicycle accident?
Start with a quick, confidential case review — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
What to do after a bicycle accident in California
If you were hit by a car while cycling, the steps taken afterward matter. Call 911 so there is an official report and get medical care right away — cycling injuries are often serious, and some, like concussions or internal injuries, are not obvious at first. If you are able, photograph the scene, the vehicle, the bike lane or road, and your injuries, and get names and numbers for any witnesses. Keep your bike, helmet, and gear — do not throw them out, since they can be evidence. Be careful about giving a recorded statement to the driver's insurer before you have spoken with an attorney.
How we handle your California bicycle accident claim
You focus on healing; we handle the rest. We gather the crash report, your medical records, and the evidence, deal with the driver's insurer so you don't have to, and build the strongest version of your claim before demanding a fair recovery. We also confront the bias cyclists face — drivers and insurers often assume the cyclist did something wrong — with the proof of what actually happened. Every bicycle accident matter starts with a free, confidential review. Se habla español.
Why work with Woods Law Group
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to pay you as little as possible, and with cyclists they lean on the assumption that the rider was reckless or hard to see. Having your own attorney levels the field. We take these cases on a contingency basis for clients we represent, which means no fee unless we recover for you. You get straight answers, real communication, and a firm that treats your recovery as the priority.
How much is my bicycle accident case worth? →
Common bicycle accident cases we handle in California
- Right Hook Accidents
- Left Cross Accidents
- Dooring Accidents
- Intersection Accidents
- Unsafe Pass Accidents
- Bike Lane Accidents
- Distracted Driver Accidents
- Hit And Run Bicycle
- Uninsured Motorist Claims
- Settlement Value
Dealing with the insurance company
California deadlines and fault rules
In California, the deadline to file most bicycle injury claims is generally two years from the date of the crash, and a much shorter deadline — often about six months — applies before you can sue a government agency, such as a crash caused by a dangerous road or bike lane. California follows a pure comparative-fault rule, so you may still recover even if you were partly at fault, with your share deducted — and cyclists generally have the same rights and duties as drivers, plus a three-feet-for-safety passing law. These deadlines are strict; do not wait.
- Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)
- Comparative fault in California
- Claims against a government agency
- Evidence that builds your claim
California injury law: deadlines, fault and caps
California injury law shapes your case in a few specific ways worth knowing early.
- Filing deadline: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file — and only about six months to put a government entity on notice before you can sue.
- Fault: California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if you were partly — or mostly — at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of the blame.
- Damage caps: An ordinary California injury case has no cap on damages; medical-malpractice claims are the main exception.
- Uninsured drivers: California sets minimum auto-insurance limits and uninsured/underinsured-motorist rules that affect what coverage is available.
Free tools and guides
- Bicycle accident FAQs
- Settlement & deadline calculators
- Free downloadable guides
- Checklists
- Calculators & estimators
- Side-by-side comparisons
- Questions & answers
Articles
- What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in California
- Do Cyclists Have the Same Rights as Cars in California?
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in California?
Deadlines vary by state and by who is involved, and they can be short — especially if a government vehicle or dangerous road caused the crash. Because a missed deadline can end a claim entirely, the safest step is a free review right away.
The driver says the cyclist is always at fault. Is that true?
No. Cyclists generally have the same right to the road as drivers, and fault is decided by what each person did — not by an assumption about cyclists. Insurers lean on that bias, which is why building the evidence matters.
How much is my California bicycle accident case worth?
It depends on your injuries, your medical treatment, lost income, and other factors — and it is exactly what our attorney evaluates for free. Cycling injuries are often severe, which can affect value, but we will not quote a number sight unseen.
How much does a bicycle accident lawyer cost?
We handle bicycle accident claims on a contingency basis for cases we take, which means no fee unless we recover for you, and the initial review is always free. Cost should never stop you from finding out where you stand.
Ready to find out where you stand?
The case review takes about two minutes. It's free and confidential, with no obligation.