When a car hits a bicyclist, the rider takes the impact and an insurance company may question what the rider did. The first weeks matter: the report, the evidence on the road and the deadlines. This page explains how those pieces work in Los Angeles, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles bicycle accident cases across Los Angeles, and the first consultation is free.
Getting your Los Angeles collision report
For crashes inside the City of Los Angeles, the LAPD Records and Identification Division releases traffic collision reports to authorized people, such as those involved in the crash and their representatives, as provided in Vehicle Code section 20012. The LAPD says you can request a report online through LexisNexis or by mail to Los Angeles Police Department, Records and Identification Division, Document Processing Unit, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030. Its recorded line for questions or a status update is (213) 486-8130. Fees change, so check the LAPD’s current instructions before you pay. Crashes on state freeways, such as the 5, 10, 101 or 405, are generally investigated by the California Highway Patrol instead.
Rules that come up in Los Angeles bicycle claims
- Three feet to pass. A driver may not pass a bicycle at less than three feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator. If the driver cannot, the driver must slow down and pass only when it is safe (Vehicle Code section 21760).
- Dooring. No one may open a vehicle door into moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so (Vehicle Code section 22517).
- Ordinary care. Everyone is responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care (Civil Code section 1714).
Evidence to protect after a bicycle crash
- Your bicycle, helmet and clothing, before repairs or disposal
- Photos of the road surface, bike lane markings, parked cars and the point of impact
- Ride data from a phone, GPS or cycling app, and any helmet or handlebar camera footage
- Witness information, repair estimates and medical records
When the City of Los Angeles or another agency may be responsible
A road defect, a blocked bike lane or a hazard the city failed to fix can make a public agency partly responsible for a rider’s crash. California does not allow a lawsuit against a public entity until a written claim has been presented and acted on (Government Code section 945.4), and a claim for injury or death generally must be presented within six months of the incident (Government Code section 911.2). The City of Los Angeles accepts claims through the Office of the City Clerk online, by mail or in person at 200 North Spring Street, Room 395, City Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90012; the city does not accept claims by email or fax (see also the City Attorney claims page). Claims involving state roads, LA County or LA Metro go to those agencies, so identify the right one early.
Fault, deadlines and what a claim can cover
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most California personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1).
- Six months for government claims. If a public agency may share the blame, the written claim deadline is much shorter (Government Code section 911.2).
- Shared fault reduces, but does not bar, your claim. California follows pure comparative fault, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804).
Depending on the facts, a claim can seek compensation for medical bills, future care, lost income, reduced earning ability, property damage and the pain and disruption the injury has caused.
How a Los Angeles bicycle accident case usually moves
- Free consultation. You tell us what happened and we explain your options. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
- Investigation. We gather the reports, photos, witness information, insurance details and your medical records.
- Claim and negotiation. We present the claim to the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- Government claim if needed. If the City of Los Angeles or another public agency may share responsibility, we prepare the written claim before the six-month deadline.
- Lawsuit if needed. If the case does not settle, we file a lawsuit in the proper California Superior Court and keep pushing toward trial.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Los Angeles
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Los Angeles in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer cost?
The consultation is free. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in Los Angeles?
Most California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, a written claim generally must be presented within six months (Government Code section 911.2).
How far must a driver stay from a bicyclist?
A driver passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction may not pass at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator, and must otherwise pass at a safe distance (Vehicle Code section 21760).
What is dooring and who is responsible?
California law says no person may open a vehicle door on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe and can be done without interfering with that traffic (Vehicle Code section 22517). If someone opens a door into a bicyclist, that rule can matter to fault.
What if I was partly at fault for the bicycle crash?
California follows pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Related pages and nearby areas
More ways we help injured people across Los Angeles County:
- Los Angeles car accident lawyer
- Los Angeles truck accident lawyer
- Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer
- Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer
- Los Angeles dog bite lawyer
- Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer
- Los Angeles wrongful death attorney
- California bicycle accident attorneys
- Los Angeles personal injury attorneys
- Santa Monica personal injury lawyer
- Culver City personal injury lawyer
- Hollywood personal injury lawyer
- Inglewood personal injury lawyer
- Glendale personal injury lawyer
- Long Beach personal injury lawyer
- All California and Nevada areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Los Angeles from our Los Angeles office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. The consultation is free, and we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (310) 424-5252 or send us your case details.
Attorney advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures, fees and data on this page were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.