When you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident in California, you’re likely facing a tough road ahead. You’re dealing with injuries, medical bills, and potential loss of income, all while trying to recover.
Whether your accident occurred at a busy San Francisco intersection, in a high-traffic neighborhood that lacks proper bikeways, or near one of the many popular tourist attractions in the area, a bicycle accident lawyer can help you understand your options for seeking compensation. The legal team at Berg Injury Lawyers provides services to help protect your rights as you seek the compensation you deserve.
If you don’t win, you pay nothing. There’s also no cost or obligation to hire simply to speak to one of our lawyers. We call that our No Fee Guarantee®. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Understanding California’s Bicycle Laws
In San Francisco, 469 bicyclists were injured and 43 killed in traffic accidents in 2024, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Statewide, more than 10,000 are injured and over 100 killed annually.
Cyclists in San Francisco share the same rights and many of the same responsibilities as motorists. Here’s what every rider should know about California bicycle laws:
- Rights and Responsibilities: Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. This includes obeying all traffic signs and signals.
- Helmet Use: California law mandates helmets for cyclists under 18, while San Francisco encourages helmet use for everyone to prevent head injuries.
- Braking System: Bicycles must be equipped with functioning brakes.
- Signaling: Bicyclists must use hand signals before making turns or changing lanes:
- Left turn: Extend the left arm out horizontally.
- Right turn: Hold the left arm up with the elbow bent or extend the right arm out horizontally.
- Slowing or stopping: Extend the left arm downward.
- Nighttime Visibility: When riding at night, bicyclists are required to have:
- A front lamp that emits a white light visible from 300 feet.
- A rear red reflector or a solid/flashing red light visible from 500 feet.
- White or yellow reflectors on each pedal, shoe, or ankle that’s visible from 200 feet.
- White or yellow reflectors on the front wheel and a white or red reflector on the rear wheel, or reflectorized tires.
- Lane Positioning: Bicyclists should ride in the same direction as traffic and may use the entire lane when:
- Passing another vehicle or bicycle
- Preparing for a left turn
- Avoiding hazards
- The lane is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side
- Bicycle Lanes: Use marked bicycle lanes where available, especially the green lanes in San Francisco, for better visibility. Always yield to pedestrians and signal when leaving the lane.
- Obeying Traffic Signals: Bicyclists must stop at STOP signs and red traffic lights and follow basic right-of-way rules.
Despite these regulations, bicycle accidents can still occur due to factors like distracted driving, failure to yield, and “dooring” accidents. According to the San Francisco Standard, a decade of city records revealed dooring as one of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in the city. Many neighborhoods in the Bay Area still lack the infrastructure needed to protect cyclists from such hazards.
In such cases, determining liability is crucial for pursuing compensation. Liability could fall on the negligent driver, the cyclist, or even third parties, such as municipalities responsible for maintaining safe road conditions.
California follows the comparative negligence rule, meaning even if you were partially at fault, you may still be eligible for compensation. However, your compensation may be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
If you are involved in a bicycle accident, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention, contact the police, gather evidence, and notify your insurance company. As a victim, you could be entitled to compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in San Francisco
San Francisco’s busy streets present unique risks for cyclists. Here are some of the most common reasons bicycle accidents occur:
- Distracted and Aggressive Driving: Motorists using phones or speeding can fail to notice cyclists, especially on dense urban roadways.
- Dooring Incidents: Streets like Mission and Market see frequent “dooring,” where a parked car’s door opens suddenly into a cyclist’s path.
- Dangerous Intersections: High-traffic zones, including Market Street & 5th, Valencia Street, Polk Street, and Fell Street, are recognized by the SFMTA as hotspots for bicycle crashes.
- Intersection Left Turns: Drivers making quick or illegal left turns at intersections pose a serious threat, often leading to “T-bone” or “side-impact” bike collisions.
- Collisions With Muni Vehicles: Sharing the road with buses and streetcars, cyclists on streets like Market and Geary must be especially vigilant. Muni vehicles making frequent stops can obscure sight lines or create unpredictable hazards.
If you’re involved in a bicycle accident, prioritize your safety and recovery by seeking medical attention immediately. Next, make sure the police take an official report, and obtain a copy of that police report. If possible, document the scene by collecting driver and witness information, and taking photos of vehicles, injuries, and the scene. Notify your own insurance company of the incident, but refrain from making recorded statements until you speak with a California bicycle accident attorney.
Helping Bicycle Accident Victims Across Northern California
Berg Injury Lawyers has been helping injured people in Northern California since 1981. We’re committed to making our clients’ lives easier during the personal injury claims process. We have offices located throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
Our Modesto Office
Berg Injury Lawyers has a Modesto office located at 1317 Oakdale Rd. Suite 500, Modesto, CA 95355. Our Modesto bicycle accident lawyers are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Schedule your free consultation today.
Our Sacramento Office
Our Sacramento office is located at 2277 Watt Ave., 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95825. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers to schedule a free consultation. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you.
Alameda
Our Alameda bicycle accident lawyers are also ready to help, at 2440 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda, CA 94501.
Fresno
We also a Fresno office at 516 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 200, Fresno, CA 93704, where our Fresno bicycle accident lawyers offer free consultations.
Let Our California Bicycle Accident Lawyers Help
At Berg Injury Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of cyclists in California. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, we offer a free consultation to discuss your case.
Our team of California bicycle accident lawyers will evaluate your situation, explain your legal options, and talk through how to proceed. Contact us today for a free consultation.
