Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles

Who is liable for a bicycle accident in California?

Usually a driver, but not always only a driver. Depending on how the crash happened, more than one party can be responsible, and each can bring its own insurance:

• The driver whose negligence caused the collision, such as a right hook, an unsafe pass, running a light or opening a door into a rider.
• An employer, when the driver was working, such as delivery vehicles and company cars.
• A public agency, for a dangerous road condition, a rail groove or a failed signal, under Government Code section 835. These claims carry the six month deadline.
• A manufacturer, when a defective part of the bicycle, such as a frame, fork or brake, caused the crash.

What rules decide a Los Angeles bicycle accident claim?

A handful of Vehicle Code sections settle most of these cases, and almost none of them come up in the first call with the insurer:

• Section 21200 gives a cyclist the same rights and the same duties as a driver.
• Section 22517 bars opening a vehicle door into traffic unless it is reasonably safe. When a cyclist is doored, the fault is with the person who opened it, even though this is the case where the rider is most often blamed.
• Section 21760 requires drivers to give a cyclist at least three feet when passing, and if that is not possible, to slow down and pass only when it is safe.
• Section 21202 says a cyclist does not have to ride at the right edge when there are obstacles, parked cars, a narrow lane or a turn ahead.

On helmets, it is worth being exact, because it is the first thing used against a rider. Section 21212 requires a helmet only for riders under 18, so an adult without one is not committing an offense. Under comparative fault it can reduce the part of a claim tied to a head injury, but it does not affect the collarbone, shoulder, hip or wrist injuries seen most often in these crashes.

California follows pure comparative fault, so partial responsibility reduces your recovery by your share instead of barring it. An early percentage from an insurer is an opening position, not a finding.

What insurance pays after a bicycle crash?

California’s minimum liability limits are $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident since 1 January 2025, which falls well short of a serious injury. The value of a claim often depends on finding the other layers:

• The driver’s liability policy, and any umbrella policy above it.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If a driver fled, or has too little coverage, your own policy or that of a relative you live with may respond, even if you do not own a car.
• Employer and commercial policies when the driver was working. If you were hurt while making deliveries, a separate workplace claim can also exist.

What compensation can you recover after a bicycle accident?

• Medical expenses, past and future, including surgery, therapy and long term care.
• Lost earnings and loss of future earning capacity.
• Property damage to the bicycle, helmet, phone and other belongings.
• Pain, suffering and emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages under Civil Code section 3294 where a driver acted with malice, oppression or fraud.
• Wrongful death damages for the family under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 when a collision is fatal.

A claim’s value cannot be known before the medical picture is clear, and nothing here predicts a result.

How long do you have to file a bicycle accident claim in California?

• Two years from the date of injury to file an injury lawsuit, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
• Three years for property damage only, under Code of Civil Procedure section 338.
• Six months to present a written claim if a street defect, a rail groove or any public entity is involved, under Government Code section 911.2. This shorter deadline governs, and missing it usually ends the claim.

Have your date confirmed at the start rather than assuming the two year rule applies. Under Los Angeles Superior Court Local Rule 2.3(a)(1)(A), a case is filed in the judicial district where the collision happened, which the Court’s filing locator identifies.

How much does a bicycle accident lawyer cost in Los Angeles?

No fee unless there is a recovery. Broukhim Legal PC takes bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee, so there is nothing to pay up front and the fee is paid out of what is recovered. If nothing is recovered, no fee is owed. The fee agreement is put in writing and signed before any work starts, as California law requires (Business and Professions Code section 6147). Your first conversation is free, confidential and carries no obligation.

Bicycle accident lawyers across Los Angeles County

Broukhim Legal PC represents cyclists hurt throughout Los Angeles County. Each city page covers the courthouse an incident there is filed in and how a claim against that city is presented:

See all locations we serve, or tell us about the crash for a free case review.

Meet your Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer

Bejan Broukhim, Founder and Lead Attorney
State Bar of California, license number 183036

Bejan Broukhim brings years of California legal experience to injury and mass tort cases and personally reviews each one. He earned his J.D. at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law, served as a judicial extern in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the Van Nuys Superior Court, and appeared in preliminary hearings as a certified law clerk with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Every case is prepared from day one as though it will go to trial.

Office: 550 S Hill Street, Suite 1390, Los Angeles, CA 90013, serving all of Los Angeles County and California. Get directions