You leave your house for a simple bike ride through Los Angeles—then suddenly, a driver swerves, and your life changes in seconds. What started as routine ends in impact, injury, and uncertainty. Car vs bicycle accidents are surging across California, especially in high-traffic urban areas like L.A.
According to UC Berkeley SafeTREC, over 100 bicyclists die and thousands more suffer injuries in California every year, most in collisions with cars. These crashes often lead to severe injuries, property damage, and long, painful recoveries.
This guide explains your rights, steps after a crash, and how our personal injury attorneys help you hold the responsible party accountable. Whether you’re dealing with insurance adjusters, medical records, or the emotional toll, knowing this gives you the power to take action.
Rights of Cyclists Under California Law
In California, cyclists are legally considered vehicle operators. This means that bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles under the California Vehicle Code.
Laws require motorists to share the road with cyclists and maintain a safe passing distance of at least three feet. Cyclists are also protected when using designated bike lanes, and drivers must yield the right-of-way when turning across a bike lane or at intersections.
Unfortunately, many auto accidents in Los Angeles happen when negligent drivers ignore these rules, leading to bicycle accidents, serious injury, or even wrongful deaths.
Common Causes of Bicycle-Car Collisions
In urban areas like Los Angeles, car vs bicycle accidents are often caused by motorist negligence. These collisions frequently result in catastrophic injuries to cyclists, especially in high-speed zones or intersections.
| Cause | Description | Risk to Cyclists |
| Distracted Driving | The driver gets distracted and uses a phone, GPS, or other device instead of watching the road | Sudden lane changes, failure to notice cyclists |
| Dooring | A parked driver opens a door into the path of a cyclist | Direct collision, risk of being thrown into traffic |
| Unsafe Passing | Motorists don’t allow the legal 3-foot distance when overtaking a cyclist | Sideswipes, loss of balance, contact with a moving vehicle |
| Right Hooks | The driver turns right without noticing a cyclist going straight | Cyclist struck or cut off in bike lane |
| Failure to Yield | Ignoring a cyclist’s right-of-way at intersections or crosswalks | T-bone crashes, head-on impacts, high-speed collisions |
Iihh data shows that over 75% of fatal bicycle crashes involve motor vehicles. Many result in traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, particularly when the cyclist is thrown from the bike or pinned beneath a car.
What to Do After a Bicycle-Car Accident (And Why It Matters)
Every step you take after a car vs bicycle accident matters—especially if you’re filing a personal injury claim later.
🔹 Step-by-Step Immediate Actions:
- Move to safety: Get out of traffic if possible.
- Call 911: Request medical help and a police report.
- Take photos: Your bike, the vehicle, injuries, road conditions, signs, and traffic lights.
- Talk to witnesses: Get names and contact info.
- File an official report: This will be key for insurance adjusters and future legal action.
Immediate and accurate documentation is essential in all pedestrian and cyclist accidents.
How to Document and Preserve Evidence
Evidence can make or break your case after a car vs bicycle accident. Insurance companies often minimize injuries or shift blame—unless you have substantial proof. Use this checklist to stay protected:
🧾 What to Document (and Why)
| What to Collect | Why It Matters |
| Photos of the scene | Prove vehicle position, damage, road conditions, weather, and visible injuries |
| Medical records & bills | Demonstrate injury severity and treatment cost |
| Bike repair estimates | Show property damage and repair/replacement costs |
| Police report | Provides an unbiased documentation report of the fault and witness statements |
| Dashcam or security video | Can capture the moment of impact and traffic law violations |
| Witness statements | Strengthens your claim if the insurance company disputes liability |
Failing to gather this evidence may allow the insurance provider to underpay your losses or deny your accident claim, even if you’re the injured party.
How Liability Is Determined in Car vs Bicycle Accidents
The comparative negligence principle governs car vs bicycle accidents in California. More than one party can share responsibility, and injured cyclists may still recover financial compensation even if they were partially at fault.
For example:
- A driver may be primarily liable if they open a car door into a cyclist’s path without checking.
- However, if the cyclist was riding too fast for the road conditions, they could be partially to blame.
The cyclist’s percentage of fault will reduce the compensation awarded. So, if you’re found 20% at fault, your settlement will be reduced by 20%.
The Medical Treatment You Need and the Money You Deserve
Injury victims may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages after a car vs bicycle accident. This includes medical bills, lost wages, bike repairs, and treatment for spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or emotional distress. For those facing permanent injury, compensation may also cover long-term care and loss of mobility.
However, getting fair compensation isn’t automatic—insurance companies often challenge claims, delay payouts, or minimize your pain. Working with our personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles is essential. Our skilled accident attorney will collect medical records, handle communications with insurance adjusters, and build a robust case for maximum compensation.
At Farahi Law Firm, our legal team understands California’s traffic laws and has extensive experience holding the negligent party accountable. We’ll navigate the complexities of your accident claim, manage every step of the legal process, and fight for a fair settlement or take your case to trial if needed.
📞 Contact Farahi Law Firm – Los Angeles today for a free case review.We fight for “The Medical Treatment You Need and the Money You Deserve.”
