Los Angeles has some of the worst traffic in the country, and bicycle-car collisions are an almost daily occurrence on its streets. Bikes weigh a handful of pounds; cars weigh more than a ton. When they collide, cyclists come out with the worst of it, and California bicycle accident laws exist specifically to make sure that imbalance does not become a legal disadvantage too.
If you were injured because a driver ignored your right to the road, you deserve compensation for every hardship the crash has cost you. Haffner Law holds those drivers accountable.
Cyclists Have a Driver’s Full Rights and Duties
Under California Vehicle Code section 21200, a person riding a bicycle has all the rights and is subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, with only a few narrow exceptions.[1] You have every right to be on the road. When a driver forgets that and causes a crash, you have a right to compensation.
The Three Feet for Safety Act
California’s Three Feet for Safety Act requires a driver passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction to leave at least three feet of clearance.[2] When three feet is not available, the driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and pass only when it is safe to do so. A violation of this rule is powerful evidence in the fault analysis, and insurers routinely ignore it when a rider is hit from behind or sideswiped.
Common Causes of Bicycle Crashes
- Not Yielding Right-of-Way: a driver going the opposite direction turns left directly across a cyclist’s path who has a green light.
- Dooring: because cyclists are required to ride near the right edge of the road, they often travel beside parked cars. California law prohibits opening a vehicle door into moving traffic unless it can be done safely, and a driver who swings a door open into a rider’s path can be held accountable.
- Drunk, Distracted, and Drowsy Driving: each poses a compounded danger to cyclists, who have no exterior protection and are frequently harder for an impaired or inattentive driver to see.
- Traffic Law Violations: speeding, running red lights, and similar violations cause a large share of bicycle crashes.
Bike Lanes and the Rules of the Road
Where a bicycle lane exists, a cyclist traveling slower than surrounding traffic must generally ride within it, but California law recognizes several situations where leaving the lane is required and lawful: passing another cyclist or obstruction, preparing for a turn, avoiding debris or a hazardous condition, or approaching an authorized right turn.[5] A cyclist who leaves the lane for one of these reasons is not violating the law, and insurers sometimes get this wrong when assigning fault after a crash.
One rule that has not changed despite years of advocacy: California does not allow cyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield. Riders must still come to a full stop, the same as any other vehicle, even though several other states permit a rolling stop.
E-Bikes Are Bicycles Under California Law, With Real Rules of Their Own
California defines an electric bicycle as one with fully operable pedals and a motor under 750 watts, divided into three classes: Class 1 (pedal-assist only, capped at 20 mph), Class 2 (throttle-assist, capped at 20 mph), and Class 3 (pedal-assist, capped at 28 mph, requiring a speedometer, a minimum rider age of 16, and a helmet).[6] A rider on a compliant e-bike has the same rights and duties as any other cyclist. A device marketed as an e-bike but modified to exceed these limits, most commonly an illegally derestricted throttle bike, may fall outside that protection entirely and be treated as an unregistered motor vehicle, which can affect both traffic liability and available insurance coverage.
Effective January 1, 2026, California also requires e-bikes, powered mobility devices, and their lithium-ion batteries to be tested by an accredited laboratory before sale, specifically to address battery fire risk.[7] A battery fire or failure involving a non-compliant, uncertified battery can support a product liability claim against the manufacturer or seller, separate from any claim against a negligent driver.
California’s Youth Helmet Law
Unlike motorcyclists, adult cyclists on a standard bicycle face no statewide helmet mandate in California. Riders under 18 are a different story: Vehicle Code section 21212 requires every rider under 18 to wear a properly fitted helmet meeting ASTM or CPSC standards, whether they are operating the bike or riding as a passenger in a child seat or trailer.[8] As with the motorcycle helmet law, a missing helmet on a minor does not defeat an otherwise valid claim. It can only reduce recovery for the specific injuries a helmet would have prevented, under California’s comparative negligence rule, and has no bearing on unrelated injuries like a broken leg or road rash.
Who Can Be Held Liable
The driver who caused the crash is the most common defendant, but not the only one. A city or county can share liability for a poorly designed bike lane, a pothole on a marked route, or a missing warning sign, subject to the shorter six-month government claim deadline. A bicycle or component manufacturer can face a product liability claim when a frame, brake system, or battery fails and contributes to the crash, not only in the e-bike battery scenario above.
California Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Claims
Standard injury claims: generally two years from the date of the crash under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.[4]
Property damage: generally three years under Code of Civil Procedure section 338(c).[9]
Government entities: if a public entity’s road design or maintenance contributed to the crash, a formal administrative claim is generally required within six months under the Government Claims Act, not the standard two years.[10]
Types of Bicycle Accidents
- Intersection Left-Turn Crashes: a driver turns across a cyclist’s right of way at a green light.
- Dooring: a parked driver opens a door into a cyclist’s path without checking for oncoming traffic.
- Right-Hook Collisions: a driver passes a cyclist and then turns right directly across their path.
- Rear-End Crashes: a distracted or speeding driver strikes a cyclist from behind, often in violation of the Three Feet for Safety Act.
- E-Bike and Battery Incidents: crashes or fires involving a defective or non-compliant e-bike battery, which can raise a product liability claim alongside any driver negligence claim.
Compensation for a California Bicycle Claim
- All medical bills, past and future
- Damage to your bike and equipment
- Lost income during recovery and any reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, scarring, and disfigurement
- Wrongful death, when a crash takes a cyclist’s life
Comparative Negligence Protects Partial-Fault Claims
Every California driver owes a duty of ordinary care to others on the road.[3] When a driver breaches that duty and causes your crash, California vehicle accident laws reduce your recovery by your percentage of fault, but never eliminate it. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the cyclist to minimize payout; an experienced bicycle accident lawyer pushes back against unfair fault assignments with evidence.
How Haffner Law Builds Your Bicycle Accident Case
Drivers and insurers often default to blaming the cyclist, so we move fast to lock down the evidence that proves otherwise: nearby business and doorbell camera footage before it is overwritten, the responding officer’s account before memories fade, and the physical evidence on your bike itself, from the impact marks to the wheel and frame damage that shows exactly how the crash happened.
When a bike lane defect or an e-bike battery failure is part of the picture, the evidence trail runs somewhere different: the public entity’s road maintenance records, or the battery’s own certification and manufacturing history. We know which records to request and how quickly they need to be requested before they disappear, and we handle the insurance negotiations so you can focus on your recovery.
California Bicycle Accident Law FAQs
How much compensation can I get for a bicycle accident?
There is no single average. Value depends on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your daily life, covering both economic damages like medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages for pain and suffering.
What is the timeline for a bicycle accident claim?
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit.[4] Missing this deadline usually means losing your right to compensation entirely, so start the process early to preserve evidence.
Can I sue if I was hit by a car while riding a bike?
Yes. Vehicle Code section 21200 grants cyclists the same rights and responsibilities as drivers, so a driver who was speeding, ran a red light, or drove distracted can be held liable the same as in any other crash.
Do I have to ride in the bike lane at all times?
No. California law requires using an available bike lane only when riding slower than traffic, and it allows leaving the lane to pass, turn, avoid a hazard, or approach a right turn. Fault is not automatic just because a rider was outside the lane at the moment of a crash.
Is my e-bike treated the same as a regular bicycle?
If it meets California’s Class 1, 2, or 3 definition and has not been modified beyond those limits, yes. An e-bike that exceeds the wattage or speed limits, or has had its speed restrictions removed, can be treated as an unregistered motor vehicle instead, which changes both liability and insurance analysis.
What if my e-bike's battery caused a fire or failure?
That can support a product liability claim against the manufacturer or seller, separate from any claim against a driver, particularly if the battery was not properly tested and certified as California now requires.
Speak With a California Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Most bicycle accidents come down to a driver who forgot cyclists have an equal right to the road. Haffner Law holds that driver accountable. Our attorneys handle the evidence, the paperwork, and every insurance call so you can focus on healing, and we represent injured cyclists across our California locations, headquartered in Sherman Oaks.
Call (213) 514-5681 for a free case evaluation. We will get you back on the road and fully compensated.
