Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Los Angeles keeps promising to be a bike-friendly city, and every year riders keep paying the price for streets designed around cars. If a driver hit you while you were riding — a close pass, a left cross, a right hook, a car door flung open into the bike lane — our Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers can help you get compensated for every dollar of harm.

We handle these cases differently than a typical car accident claim, because they are different: the injuries are worse, the insurer bias is real, and the law that protects riders is one most adjusters hope you’ve never read.

Cycling Deaths Hit Record Levels

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 1,166 bicyclists were killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2023 — up 4% from 2022, which was itself the deadliest year for cyclists since federal fatality tracking began in 1975. NHTSA data also shows that about 81% of cyclist fatalities happen in urban areas — places exactly like Los Angeles, where riders share fast arterials with distracted drivers.

Injuries follow the same pattern. Riders have no crumple zones, so collisions that would dent a bumper produce brain injuries, shattered collarbones and wrists, road rash requiring skin grafts, and spinal trauma. In the worst cases, families come to us with wrongful death claims.

The Laws That Protect You on a Bike

The Three Feet for Safety Act (AB 1371)

California Vehicle Code § 21760 requires drivers to give a bicyclist at least three feet of clearance when passing in the same direction. When three feet isn’t available, the driver must slow to a safe speed and pass only when doing so doesn’t endanger the rider. A sideswipe or forced-off-the-road crash during a close pass is powerful evidence of negligence — if your lawyer knows to develop it.

Dooring

Vehicle Code § 22517 makes it illegal to open a vehicle door on the traffic side unless it’s reasonably safe. Dooring is one of the most common urban bike crashes, and liability usually favors the rider — but insurers respond by attacking damages instead. We answer with complete medical documentation and expert support.

Your Right to the Lane

Bicyclists have the same basic rights and duties as drivers. You may leave a bike lane — or take the full traffic lane — to avoid debris, parked-car door zones, or unsafe conditions. An adjuster who claims you “shouldn’t have been there” is usually wrong on the law.

The Insurer’s Anti-Cyclist Playbook

We’ve seen it from the inside: founder Tamar Miot is a former insurance defense attorney, and she knows adjusters are trained to lean on jurors’ (and their own) bias against riders. The playbook is predictable:

Claim you “came out of nowhere” — refuted by sight lines, camera footage, and reconstruction
Blame you for lane position that was actually legal
Argue your injuries came from cycling itself, not the crash
Rush a lowball offer before you know the extent of your injuries

The counter is evidence gathered fast: vehicle damage patterns, GPS and fitness-app ride data, helmet and bike damage, nearby camera footage, and witness statements. Then we build damages the way we would for trial — because insurers pay full value only when they believe you’ll go the distance. Our results include a $5 million wrongful death recovery and a $1.1 million car accident recovery. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.

Hit-and-Run Drivers and Uninsured Motorists

Cyclists are disproportionately victims of hit-and-run drivers — a rider on the ground can’t chase down a license plate. If the driver is never identified or carries no insurance, you may still recover through the uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy, or a policy belonging to a family member in your household. Most riders have no idea this coverage follows them onto the bike. We check every available policy in every case, because the difference can be six figures.

After a Bike Crash: Protect Your Claim

Get medical attention first, even if you feel “just shaken up.” Photograph the scene, the car, your bike, and your injuries. Get the driver’s information and any witness contacts, and report the crash to police. Keep your damaged bike, helmet, and clothing — they’re evidence. And before you talk to any insurance adjuster, talk to a lawyer. For prevention tips, see our guide to safety tips for bicycle riders in Southern California, and if you were on foot instead of on a bike, our pedestrian accident team can help.

Free Consultation — No Fee Unless We Win

From our downtown office at 633 W. 5th Street, Miracle Law represents injured riders across LA County and the Inland Empire. Founder Tamar Miot used to defend insurance companies; now she holds them accountable. Your consultation is free and you pay nothing unless we win. Call (888) 843-5290 or reach out online. Hablamos Español.

Frequently Asked Questions

The driver's insurer says I'm at fault because I was 'in the road.' Is that right?

No. Bicyclists generally have the same rights to the road as drivers under the California Vehicle Code. And even where a rider shares some fault, California's pure comparative negligence rule still allows recovery, reduced only by the rider's percentage of responsibility.

What is the three-feet passing law?

AB 1371, the Three Feet for Safety Act (Vehicle Code § 21760), requires drivers to keep at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist traveling in the same direction. If three feet isn't possible, the driver must slow down and pass only when it won't endanger the rider. A violation is strong evidence of negligence.

What if I was 'doored' by a parked car?

Vehicle Code § 22517 prohibits opening a car door into traffic — including bike traffic — unless it's reasonably safe. Dooring cases are usually clear liability, but insurers still fight the value of the injuries. We document everything from the door zone to your long-term medical needs.

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim?

Usually two years under CCP § 335.1. But if a dangerous road condition, pothole, or city vehicle contributed, a government claim may be due within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2) — so talk to a lawyer early.

Was I required to wear a helmet, and does it hurt my case if I didn't?

California requires helmets only for riders under 18. For adults, an insurer may argue a missing helmet worsened head injuries, but it doesn't excuse the driver's negligence and doesn't bar your claim.