Sunnyvale Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Hit on Your Bike? We Prove It Was the Driver, and That It Wasn't You.
After a bike crash, the driver’s insurer rarely argues that you weren’t hurt. It argues that you caused it. Our Sunnyvale bicycle accident attorneys build the evidence on both fronts: the driver’s negligence, and your own safe riding.
$75+ million
recovered for injured clients
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on Google and Yelp
No fee
unless we win
Available 24/7
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California Doesn't Automatically Blame the Driver. The Evidence Has To.
Riding a bike shouldn’t be any riskier than driving or taking the bus. In practice, a person on a bicycle has none of what protects someone in a car: no seatbelt, no airbags, no frame around them, maybe a helmet. When a driver hits a cyclist, the cyclist absorbs nearly all of the force.
Yet California courts don’t assume the driver was at fault just because the cyclist was hurt worse. Insurers know it. Expect to hear that you ran a light, swerved into traffic, or came out of nowhere, because every share of blame they can assign to you reduces what they pay.
You may have a bicycle accident claim if:
A driver failed to yield, ran a red light, was speeding, or didn't notice you
A road hazard or poorly maintained bike lane contributed to your crash
You suffered fractures, ligament tears, soft-tissue injuries, or anything else that needed medical care
The driver had no insurance, or not enough
The crash happened within roughly the last two years
Tell us what happened. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Crashed on Your Bike in Sunnyvale? Take These Steps
Call 911 and report the crash.
Get medical help and make sure the police document the scene, even if you think you can ride home.
Let a doctor check you over the same day.
Fractures, ligament tears, and soft-tissue damage can feel minor at first. Early records connect your injuries to the crash.
Show how you were riding.
Photograph your lane position, the bike lane or road markings, signals, and your lights or reflectors. This is how we answer the “cyclist’s fault” argument.
Get witness names before they ride or drive away.
A neutral account of how the driver behaved often decides fault.
Keep the bike and your gear exactly as they are.
Don’t repair the bike or throw out a damaged helmet; both are evidence, and their replacement is part of your claim.
Talk to us before you talk to the driver's insurer.
Don’t explain your speed, route, or where you were looking on a recorded call.
How We Prove Fault, Both Ways
Most injury claims are about proving the other side did something wrong. A bike claim also means proving you didn’t.
The driver’s side. Failing to yield, speeding, running red lights, distraction, and failing to notice cyclists are among the most common causes of bike crashes. We establish what the driver did with witness statements, traffic camera footage, accident reports, and, where needed, expert testimony.
Your side. We document how you were riding: where you were on the road, whether you had the signal, what you could see, and what the driver had time to see. If the insurer claims you disobeyed a traffic law or swerved suddenly, we answer with evidence, not argument.
The road itself. Sometimes the cause isn’t only the driver. Road hazards and poorly maintained bike lanes can bring another responsible party into the case, often with shorter deadlines.
If the insurer won’t pay what your claim is worth, we prepare your case for trial.
Where Compensation Comes From After a Bike Crash
Every case is different, and no honest attorney promises a figure. These are the sources and categories that matter most for cyclists:
The driver's liability insurance
The first source when a driver’s negligence caused the crash.
Your own uninsured motorist coverage
If the driver was uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to claim through your own policy even though you were on a bike.
Your medical and financial losses
Past and future medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages or working ability, and the cost to repair or replace your bicycle and other damaged property.
Your personal losses
Physical pain, psychological and emotional distress, and lost enjoyment of life, including the effect on your closest relationship (loss of consortium).
California Bicycle Law for Sunnyvale Riders
Fault can be shared
A cyclist who disobeyed a traffic law or swerved in front of a car before the driver could stop may be found partly, or even mostly, responsible. The driver doesn’t win by default, and neither do you.
Shared fault reduces an award, in proportion
California applies comparative fault: your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Under pure comparative negligence, it is reduced, not eliminated.
Helmets: required under 18, optional for adults
California law requires cyclists under 18 to wear a helmet; adults aren’t required to. An insurer may still argue that riding without one made your injuries worse. It never excuses the driver who caused the crash.
Two years to file
California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including bicycle accidents, is generally two years from the crash. A claim against a government entity, for example over a road hazard, can be due within six months.
Protect the Value of Your Bike Accident Claim
A bike crash can disrupt your life for weeks or months, and the insurer is watching for any sign that you’re recovering faster than your claim says. California law expects you to follow your doctors’ advice and attend therapy; gaps in treatment become the defense’s argument that you weren’t badly hurt.
Keep these habits:
- Follow your treatment plan through to the end. Physical therapy for ligament and soft-tissue injuries is part of the record.
- Keep an injury journal. Pain, mobility, missed work, and the rides, commutes, and activities you’ve had to give up.
- Hold on to every receipt. Medical bills, prescriptions, the bike repair or replacement quote, and damaged gear.
- Don’t post about the crash, or about getting back on the bike. One photo can be used against you.
- Route every insurer contact through us.
We coordinate with your medical providers so billing can wait until your case settles.
Adjusters offer more when they know a firm can prove its case — and take it to trial. Recent recoveries for our clients:
$275,000
San Jose e-bike crash
Rear-ended cyclist, caught on camera
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.
See More Case Results →What Our Clients Say
She helped our family through the most difficult times we had ever gone through. When I wanted to give up she pushed us and encouraged us to keep fighting. When…
Beth S.
I would like to share a good experience that I had with Ms. Jimin’s office and hopefully it will help people save time, frustration, and stress. Jimin is just very…
Claudia R.
If I didn't have Jimin and her people I would have been left with broken bones penniless and without a job. Prior to getting into contact with her my insurance…
Davina Barriga
Your Sunnyvale Legal Team
Founding attorney Jimin Oh has handled thousands of auto accident cases and is a member of Million Dollar Trial Lawyers. She founded this firm after her own husband was seriously injured in a car accident, and she knows how quickly one driver’s mistake can take over a family’s life. Each client gets an attorney, a case manager, and a treatment coordinator, so your recovery and your claim move forward at the same time. Our San Jose office at 1253 Park Ave handles Sunnyvale cases.
Sunnyvale Bicycle Accident FAQs
What should I do right after a bike accident?
Look after your health first: call 911, get medical help, and report the crash. Then document the scene with photos, collect witness contact details, and write down what happened. Call us before you speak with the driver’s insurer.
What are the most common causes of bike crashes?
Negligent and distracted driving, failure to yield, speeding, running red lights, and failing to notice cyclists. Road hazards and poorly maintained bike lanes play a part too. We investigate the cause and hold the responsible party accountable.
How do I prove the driver was at fault?
With witness statements, traffic camera footage, accident reports, and sometimes expert testimony. We gather that evidence and use it to show the driver’s negligence was the main cause of the crash.
I wasn't wearing a helmet. Does that hurt my claim?
California requires helmets only for cyclists under 18; adults aren’t legally required to wear one. The insurer may argue that going without a helmet made your injuries worse and try to reduce your compensation, but it doesn’t excuse the driver who caused the crash. We push back on that argument.
What if the driver was uninsured or underinsured?
You may still recover. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can file a claim through your own insurance. If not, we’ll explore other options.
What if my injuries are long-term?
Your claim should cover ongoing medical treatment, lost earning capacity, and the other lasting effects. We work with your medical providers to understand your future needs and make sure the claim reflects them.
What compensation can I get?
Medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, bike repair or replacement, and pain and suffering. Punitive damages are rare: they aren’t awarded for ordinary negligence, only for conduct the law treats as malice, oppression, or fraud.
How long do I have to file?
Generally two years from the date of the crash in California, and as little as six months if a government entity is involved. Call early so we can preserve the evidence.
Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7
The insurer is already building its story about how you were riding. Let us build yours. Call now or send the form; we respond fast, 24/7, in English, Spanish, or Korean. Your consultation is free and confidential. No fee unless we win.
Call (408) 256-2871Free Case Review
Solution Now Law Firm
1253 Park Ave
San Jose, CA 95126
Hablamos español · 한국어 상담 가능
