Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle Accident Attorney Los Angeles

Hit by a Car While Riding Your Bike in Los Angeles?

You were riding where you had every right to be. Then a driver turned across your path, passed too close, or opened a door without looking, and you went down with nothing between you and the pavement. Now you are hurt, your bike is wrecked, and an adjuster is hinting that cyclists take their chances. If you are looking for a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer, Ravan Law represents riders seriously hurt in bicycle accidents across Los Angeles County.

Common bicycle crash injuries include broken collarbones, shattered wrists, facial fractures, and head injuries. The first weeks decide much of the claim: what the police report says, whether the video still exists, and whether your bike and helmet were kept as they were.

Some bicycle accidents never involve a car. A pothole in a bike lane or a Metro bus pulling to the curb can put a rider on the ground. Those claims run against a public entity, with strict rules and a six-month deadline, and we take them on.

Call (424) 465-2500 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.

A Los Angeles Bike Accident Attorney Who Knows Your Case

We work from our office on San Vicente Boulevard in Los Angeles. You work with us directly, and we keep you updated at every stage. We work on contingency: no fee unless we win. Information is also available in Spanish.

Ted H. Ravan, a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, studied political science at UC San Diego and earned his law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law, where he gave more than 100 volunteer hours to the campus free legal clinic. Read more about attorney Ted H. Ravan.

Your Rights and Duties as a Cyclist Under California Law

Vehicle Code 21200: The Same Rights as a Driver

Under Vehicle Code 21200, a person riding a bicycle on a highway has all the rights, and is subject to all the duties, that apply to the driver of a vehicle. You may use the road, and you must obey signals and signs as a driver would. Vehicle Code 21650.1 requires riding in the same direction as traffic.

Vehicle Code 21202 and 21208: Where You Are Supposed to Ride

Vehicle Code 21202 applies only when you are riding slower than the normal speed of traffic. Then you ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge, with exceptions. You may move left:

to pass another bicycle or vehicle,
to prepare for a left turn,
to avoid hazards such as parked cars, debris, surface defects, pedestrians, or a lane too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side, and
when approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

Where a bike lane exists, Vehicle Code 21208 has you use it when riding slower than traffic, and lets you leave it for similar reasons, including debris. When an insurer says you rode too far left, we answer with the text of the law and the width of the lane.

Vehicle Code 21760: Three Feet, and a Lane Change Where Possible

Vehicle Code 21760, the Three Feet for Safety Act, bars a driver from passing a bicycle with less than three feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bicycle or rider. Assembly Bill 1909 amended the section effective January 1, 2023. A driver passing a cyclist in the same lane must now move into another available lane going the same direction before passing, if one is available and the change is practicable and not prohibited by law. A driver who cannot give three feet must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and pass only when it will not endanger the rider.

Vehicle Code 22517: Opening a Door Into Your Path

Vehicle Code 22517 bars anyone from opening a vehicle door on the side of moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe and can be done without interfering with that traffic. It covers drivers and passengers alike.

Vehicle Code 21212: The Helmet Rule and What It Means for Your Claim

Vehicle Code 21212 requires riders and passengers under 18 to wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet on a street, bikeway, or public bicycle path. State law does not require an adult on an ordinary bicycle to wear one. Riders of any age must wear a helmet on a class 3 electric bicycle under Vehicle Code 21213.

The helmet rule does not decide your case. Riding without a helmet did not cause the driver to turn into you, and it does not bar your claim. An insurer may argue under California’s pure comparative fault rule that a head injury would have been less severe with a helmet. That argument has no place when your injuries are a broken leg or a fractured pelvis. Where it is raised, we answer it with medical evidence.

Lights after dark. Vehicle Code 21201 requires a white front light visible from 300 feet and a rear red reflector or light when riding in darkness. If your crash happened at night, keep your lights with the bike.

Bike Accident Attorney Los Angeles: The Crashes Behind Most Serious Claims

The Right Hook

A driver passes you and then turns right across your path. Vehicle Code 22107 bars turning or moving right or left until it can be done with reasonable safety. Vehicle Code 21717 requires a driver who must cross a bike lane to turn to merge into the bike lane first, and Vehicle Code 21209 allows that only within 200 feet of the intersection. A driver who cuts across at the corner has skipped those steps.

The Left Cross

An oncoming driver turns left in front of you. Vehicle Code 21801 requires a driver turning left to yield to approaching vehicles close enough to be a hazard, and under Vehicle Code 21200 that includes you. “I never saw the bike” is an admission, not a defense.

Dooring

A parked driver or a passenger opens a door into the bike lane or the edge of the roadway. Vehicle Code 22517 puts the duty on the person opening the door. At a rideshare drop-off, the driver, the passenger, and the rideshare company’s insurance can all be in play. We cover that situation in what to do if you were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver as a pedestrian or cyclist in California.

Rear-End and Unsafe Passing Crashes

A driver who strikes you from behind, or clips your handlebar while squeezing past, has broken the three-foot rule in Vehicle Code 21760. Phone records can prove distraction once a lawsuit allows a subpoena.

Road Defects and Bike Lane Hazards

Potholes, sunken utility cuts, raised seams, and debris can throw a rider with no driver involved. Those claims are covered in the public entity section below.

Delivery Vans, Trucks, and Buses

When the driver was working, the employer is generally responsible too. See our pages on truck accident claims, bus accident claims, and Uber and Lyft accident claims, and our guide to delivery driver accidents involving Amazon, DoorDash, and UberEats.

E-Bike Accident Claims and Shared Scooters

The Three E-Bike Classes Under Vehicle Code 312.5

Vehicle Code 312.5 defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts, in three classes.

Class	How the motor works	Motor assistance ends at
Class 1	Assists only while the rider is pedaling	20 miles per hour
Class 2	Throttle can propel the bicycle without pedaling	20 miles per hour
Class 3	Assists only while the rider is pedaling; must have a speedometer	28 miles per hour

An e-bike rider is subject to the same bicycle rules, so the rights above apply to you. Class 3 e-bikes carry two extra rules under Vehicle Code 21213: the rider must be at least 16, and every rider must wear a helmet. Under Vehicle Code 312.5, a bike modified to go faster than 20 miles per hour on motor power alone, or to exceed 750 watts, is not an electric bicycle under the Vehicle Code. In an e-bike accident claim, the insurer will look at the class label, the speed, and any modification, so keep the bike as it was.

Shared E-Scooters

Motorized scooters have their own rules in Vehicle Code 21235: a 15 mile per hour speed limit under Vehicle Code 22411, no riding on sidewalks, no passengers, a valid driver’s license or instruction permit, and a helmet for riders under 18. An e-scooter case adds a question we have to answer first: whether a driver, the scooter company, or the street surface caused your fall. Our guide to e-scooter and micromobility accidents in Santa Monica and Los Angeles covers who pays.

Road Defects, Bike Lane Hazards, and Claims Against Public Entities

A car tire rolls over a pothole. A bicycle wheel drops into it. The street or bike lane usually belongs to a public entity.

Under Government Code 835, a public entity is liable for a dangerous condition of its property when the condition created a foreseeable risk of the kind of injury that happened, and either a public employee created it or the entity had actual or constructive notice in time to fix it or warn. Notice usually decides these cases, and prior 311 requests, Bureau of Street Services work orders, and earlier injuries at the same spot are the proof. The entity may argue the defect was trivial under Government Code 830.2. A gap that means little to a pedestrian can be dangerous to a narrow bicycle tire.

The Six-Month Claim

Before any lawsuit against a city, a county, a transit agency, or the State, a written claim must be presented to that entity within six months of the injury under Government Code 911.2. The same six months applies to the damage to your bike. The two-year statute of limitations does not extend it.

Which entity depends on where you fell:

City streets and bike lanes in Los Angeles: the City of Los Angeles. See filing a claim against the City of Los Angeles.
Pacific Coast Highway and other state highways: the State. Claims over $12,500 are generally presented to the Department of General Services Government Claims Program, and claims of $12,500 or less go to the Caltrans district claims office. See claims against Caltrans and the State of California.
A Metro bus: LA Metro. See how to file a claim against LA Metro after an injury.
Streets in Santa Monica, Long Beach, and other cities: that city.

Our Los Angeles government claims page explains the full process, including late claims.

Off-Street Bike Paths and Trail Immunity

Off-street paths are different. Government Code 831.4 gives public entities immunity for injuries caused by the condition of a trail used for recreation, and in Prokop v. City of Los Angeles (2007) the Court of Appeal applied it to a class I bikeway. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, the 22-mile beach path from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach, is maintained for most of its length by Los Angeles County Public Works. A fall caused by the surface of such a path faces that immunity. A crash caused by another person on the path, or by a vehicle crossing it, is a different claim.

Bicycle Accident Attorney Los Angeles: Where These Crashes Happen

Santa Monica and Venice. Lincoln Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway mix beach traffic, scooters, and cyclists with drivers coming off the 10. Riders share narrow lanes with delivery vans and opening car doors.
Downtown Los Angeles. One-way grids, buses, heavy pedestrian traffic, and left turns across multiple lanes.
Hollywood and West Hollywood. Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards mix nightlife traffic, rideshare pickups, and tourists.
Silver Lake and Echo Park. Sunset Boulevard and Glendale Boulevard add cyclists and stop-and-go traffic near Sunset Junction.
Koreatown and Mid-City. Wilshire Boulevard carries buses, turning traffic, and riders in the same lanes.

Where you crashed decides who writes the report: LAPD in the City of Los Angeles, the Sheriff’s Department in contract cities such as West Hollywood, and city police in places such as Santa Monica. Injured riders are often on the way to the hospital while the driver gives the only account, so make sure yours is added.

Hit-and-Run and Uninsured Drivers: Your Own Auto Policy May Cover You on a Bike

Leaving the scene of a crash that injures someone is a crime under Vehicle Code 20001. Some drivers leave anyway, and others carry no insurance.

The uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your auto policy can follow you onto your bicycle. Insurance Code 11580.2 defines the insured to include the named insured, a spouse, and relatives living in the same household, while occupants of a motor vehicle “or otherwise.” If you own a car with UM coverage, or live with a family member who does, that coverage may pay for your injuries when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver strikes you on your bike. Policies differ, so we read the policy itself.

When the driver is never identified, Insurance Code 11580.2 sets strict conditions:

- Physical contact between the unidentified vehicle and you or your bicycle. A driver who forces you off the road without touching you may not meet this test.
- A police report within 24 hours to the city police department, or to the sheriff or CHP in unincorporated areas.

A sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days.

Generally, within two years you must settle the UM claim, sue the uninsured driver, or formally begin arbitration. If the at-fault driver carried only the $30,000 minimum, underinsured motorist coverage may pay the difference up to your own limit when your limit is higher. See our explainer on uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, our article on how compensation works when an uninsured driver hits you in Los Angeles, and our article on the phantom driver rule in Los Angeles hit-and-runs.

Serious Bicycle Accident Injuries

A cyclist has no bumper and no airbag. Common injuries include:

- Traumatic brain injury, including concussions with a normal first CT scan.

Facial and dental fractures.

- Broken collarbones, wrists, and elbows from the fall itself.
- Pelvic, hip, and leg fractures, often needing surgery and hardware.

Spinal cord injury and paralysis.

Road rash and deep abrasions that scar and sometimes need skin grafts.

We build serious cases on your physicians’ projections, a life-care plan, and an analysis of lost earning capacity. When a crash takes a rider’s life, Code of Civil Procedure 377.60 allows a spouse, domestic partner, children, and certain others to bring a wrongful death claim. Read more about Los Angeles catastrophic injury claims and Los Angeles wrongful death claims.

Evidence That Decides a Bicycle Accident Claim

The bike. Do not repair it, sell it, or let a shop discard the parts. A bent wheel and paint transfer on the frame show how the vehicle struck you.
The helmet and clothing. A cracked helmet is evidence of a head strike. Keep torn clothing unwashed.
Bike computer and app data. A GPS bike computer, a smartwatch, or a ride-tracking app can record your route, your speed, and the moment you stopped. It can answer a claim that you were speeding. Save the ride file unedited.
Video. Business, bus, and doorbell cameras are often overwritten within days. We send preservation letters right away.

Compensation in a Bicycle Accident Claim, Including Your Bike and Gear

Economic damages: emergency care, surgery, and rehabilitation; future medical care; lost wages; lost earning capacity; and in-home care. Property damage belongs here too: repair or replacement of your bicycle, helmet, lights, bike computer, clothing, and anything else damaged, such as a phone. Get a written estimate from a bike shop.

Non-economic damages: physical pain, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and the loss of the activities that made up your life, including riding. See our article on economic and non-economic damages.

California follows pure comparative fault. If you are found partly responsible, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. Insurers raise it often: you were too far left, or you had no helmet. As your Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer, we answer each point with the Vehicle Code and the evidence. Our article on who is at fault in a car accident explains how fault is assigned.

California Bicycle Accident Deadlines

Claim	Deadline	Authority
Personal injury lawsuit against a driver or other private party	Generally 2 years from the date of injury	Code of Civil Procedure 335.1
Wrongful death lawsuit	Generally 2 years from the date of death	Code of Civil Procedure 335.1
Damage to your bicycle and gear (private party)	Generally 3 years	Code of Civil Procedure 338
Claim against a public entity, for injury or for damage to your bike	6 months from the date of injury, before any lawsuit	Government Code 911.2
Hit-and-run uninsured motorist claim	Police report within 24 hours; sworn statement within 30 days	Insurance Code 11580.2
Injured minor	Generally tolled until age 18; the six-month government claim is not paused, though late-claim relief may be available	Code of Civil Procedure 352; Government Code 911.4, 911.6

The shortest deadline controls. See the full guide to California personal injury time limits.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Los Angeles

If you are able:

Call 911 and make sure your account is in the report.
Get medical care the same day, and say whether your head struck anything.
Photograph everything: the vehicle and plate, the door or pothole, the bike where it landed, and your injuries.
Get names and numbers for the driver, the insurer, and every witness, and look for cameras.
Keep the bike, helmet, and clothing as they are, and save your ride data.
If the driver left, report it to police within 24 hours and notify your own auto insurer.
Do not give the driver’s insurer a recorded statement. You are not required to.
Write down the date. If a road defect or a public vehicle was involved, the six-month clock has started.

How We Handle Your Bicycle Accident Case

Free consultation. We tell you plainly whether there is a claim worth pursuing.
Preservation. We send letters for video and records, and we have the bike and helmet stored and photographed.
Insurance review. We identify every policy: the driver’s, an employer’s or rideshare company’s, and your own or your household’s UM and UIM coverage.
Government claim, if needed. We present it inside the six-month window under Government Code 911.2.
Demand and negotiation, once your medical picture is clear. Many claims resolve by settlement here.
Litigation where needed. If an offer does not reflect the harm, we file suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court and prepare for trial. For other injury claims, see our car accident page, pedestrian accident page, and personal injury practice.

Motor Vehicle Results From Our Practice

A bicycle accident claim against a driver is a motor vehicle claim. These are our results in motor vehicle and bus cases. They are not all bicycle cases.

Recovery	Case type
$3,500,000	Motor vehicle accident with a county vehicle
$500,000	Motor vehicle accident
$275,000	Bus accident
$200,000	Motor vehicle accident

In his first year of practice, attorney Ted H. Ravan obtained more than $1 million for his clients. Clients rate our firm 4.9 on Google across 65 reviews. Every settlement depends on the injury, the evidence, the available insurance, and the facts of the claim.

Every result depended on the facts of that case, and results will differ based on different facts. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict the outcome of your matter.

Speak With a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

If you were seriously hurt in a bicycle accident in Los Angeles, the first weeks matter. A hit-and-run claim can turn on a report made within 24 hours. A claim over a pothole, a broken bike lane, or a Metro bus must be presented within six months under Government Code 911.2, and that clock started on the day of the crash. We can handle the legal side while you recover.

Call Ravan Law at (424) 465-2500 for a free consultation with a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer. You work with us directly, and we keep you updated at every stage. No fee unless we win.

6310 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 401, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Attorney Advertising. Ted H. Ravan, Esq., Ravan Law, Los Angeles, CA. This content is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.

Every result depended on the facts of that case, and results will differ based on different facts. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict the outcome of your matter.

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What Our Clients Are Saying

    
 
 
         
   Terri Smith 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great communication from start to finish. I’d recommend at least giving him a call, explaining your situation, and asking a few questions or setting up a consultation. Ted Ravan is a great attorney and has already helped me with two cases, both very successfully.
  
 
        
   Arianna Vincent 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ted Ravan is a very knowledgeable and experienced attorney. I’m really glad I found him because I needed help obtaining compensation after being hit in a traffic accident, and the case was complicated due to certain issues. In the end, everything was resolved successfully.
  
 
        
   Dennis Langford 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The best law firm. They helped me with a case that seemed very difficult to get any accident compensation from, but they managed to secure a very favorable outcome. Thank you!
  
 
        
   Florence Addis 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ravan Law went above and beyond for me. They were always available, kept me updated, and handled everything with professionalism. The settlement outcome was fantastic. Highly recommend their services to anyone looking for strong legal representation.
  
 
        
   Ruth Gardiner 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’m very impressed with the service I received from Ravan Law. They were professional, responsive, and achieved a great settlement for my case. I felt supported the entire time. I highly recommend them.
  
 
        
   Angelica Orozco 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience working with Raven Law. Their office helped settle our case for the maximum possible outcome, and we truly felt supported throughout the entire process. All of our questions were answered promptly and clearly, which made a stressful situation much easier to navigate. The team was professional, knowledgeable, and attentive to our needs from start to finish. We are very grateful for their hard work and would absolutely recommend this law office to family and friends.,
  
 
        
   suraj chachale 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had an ongoing medical emergency and was fortunate to have Attorney Cesar from Ravan Law by my side. He was extremely supportive, professional, and attentive throughout the entire process. His guidance and follow-up made a stressful situation much easier to handle. I highly recommend Cesar and Ravan Law for anyone seeking reliable and compassionate legal assistance.
  
 
        
   Diana Castaneda 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ravan Law is the Best! If you are usually hesitant or nervous about lawyers, No Worries! Ted and his team have been nothing, but amazing! They removed liability from an accident that was not my fault, and closely assisted me through out the rest of the process! I highly recommend them! Thank you Ravan Law always appreciate all your hard work! <333
  
 
        
   Zack Nosrati 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you so much to everyone for helping me with my case and my settlement! I could not have won my uber case without you!
  
 
        
   Franklin X 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Son muy dedicados te acompañan en todo el proseso y están pendiente de tu caso eso me gusta de una firma puedo decir que ellos tienen un nuevo cliente
  
 
  
 
  
 
   Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 65 reviews 
 
    Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified that these reviews were published on Ravan Law's Google Business Profile. Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a bicycle accident lawyer cost?

We work on contingency. There is no fee unless we win, and the free consultation costs nothing.

I was not wearing a helmet. Do I still have a claim?

Yes. California requires a bicycle helmet only for riders under 18 and for anyone on a class 3 e-bike. Riding without one does not bar your claim, though an insurer may argue it made a head injury worse.

The driver says I should have been in the bike lane or farther right. Is that true?

Often it is not. Vehicle Code 21202 and 21208 let you move left to pass, to prepare for a left turn, to avoid hazards and narrow lanes, and when approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

The driver who hit me left. Who pays?

Your own auto policy's uninsured motorist coverage, or a household relative's, may apply even though you were on a bicycle. There must have been physical contact, a police report within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to the insurer within 30 days.

I do not own a car. Do I have any insurance?

Possibly. If you live with a relative who has an auto policy with UM coverage, Insurance Code 11580.2 may treat you as an insured under that policy.

A pothole or a broken bike lane caused my crash. Can I bring a claim?

Yes, if the public entity created the defect or had notice of it. A written claim must be presented within six months under Government Code 911.2.

I was making a delivery when I was hit. What applies?

If you were an employee, workers' compensation covers the job injury, and a separate claim may be possible against the driver who hit you. If you deliver for an app as an independent contractor, different rules can apply. See our guide to delivery driver accidents involving Amazon, DoorDash, and UberEats.