What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Sunnyvale
Make Sure the Report Tells Your Side, Not Just the Driver's.
What you do in the first hours after a bike crash can shape your right to compensation. Our Sunnyvale bicycle accident attorneys walk you through each step, and take over the insurance company so you can focus on getting better.
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Hit by a Car While Riding? Take a Breath, Then Take These Steps.
Being hit by a car while you’re on a bike is frightening, and the moments afterward can feel overwhelming. Try not to panic. Staying composed helps you make the choices that protect your health and your claim against the driver who caused the crash.
Cyclists face a problem drivers usually don’t: the motorist is often the one doing the talking. The driver may be uninjured, standing by their car, and ready to explain what happened, while you’re on the ground or on your way to the hospital. Sometimes the police only take the motorist’s account.
That’s why the steps below matter. They make sure the evidence reflects what really happened, including your version of it. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Step by Step After a Sunnyvale Bike Crash
Call the police, and stay at the scene.
The officer documents the crash and prepares a report that can support your claim. If the driver flees, stay put and give your statement to the officer who responds.
Give the officer your account.
Tell them exactly what happened. Don’t assume they’ll ask; make sure your version is in the report alongside the driver’s.
Don't make a deal with the driver.
They may apologize, admit fault, or offer to pay you out of pocket. Politely decline. The claim belongs with their insurance company.
Collect contact information.
The driver’s name, number, and insurance, plus the names and numbers of anyone who saw the crash. Eyewitnesses matter if the driver later disputes fault.
Record the details and take photos.
When and where it happened, the traffic and road conditions, and pictures of your injuries, your bike, and the car.
Get medical care, even if you're worried about the cost.
A record of your injuries supports your claim. Photograph visible injuries and keep notes on your symptoms as they develop.
How Each Step Protects Your Recovery
Your account on the record
A report that includes what you told the officer, backed by witnesses and photos, makes it harder for the driver to shift blame onto you.
A claim, not a handshake
Routing the claim through the driver’s insurance, instead of accepting cash at the scene, keeps your full losses on the table.
Medical records that match your injuries
Prompt, documented treatment is what turns your injuries into recoverable medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Compensation for everything the crash took
Medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and repair or replacement of your bike and gear.
Before You Talk to the Driver's Insurer, Talk to Us
The driver’s insurance company may call quickly, asking for a statement or offering to settle. It’s best not to discuss the claim with the adjuster until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. Once you’re represented, the insurer deals with us, not you.
Bicycle cases can involve complex questions, and proving fault against a motorist isn’t always simple, particularly when the driver’s story reached the police first. We review your claim for hurdles early, gather the evidence that supports your account, and bring in expert testimony when a case calls for it.
Our attorneys have experience working for insurance companies, and we bring that knowledge to our clients’ side of the table. We negotiate with the insurer for a fair settlement, and we’re prepared to file a lawsuit if one isn’t offered. Every case is different, and we give yours an approach built around it.
What California Law Means for Your Next Steps
The police report is evidence, not the final word
It carries weight with insurers, but if it’s incomplete or leaves out your account, witnesses, photos, and other evidence can fill the gap.
Sharing some fault doesn't end your claim
Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, any share of blame assigned to you reduces your compensation; it doesn’t eliminate it.
A fleeing driver doesn't end it either
If the driver left the scene, your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply even though you were on a bike, but it comes with strict, short notice requirements.
Two years to file a lawsuit
You generally have two years from the date of injury, and only six months for a claim against a government entity.
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After a Sunnyvale Bike Crash: FAQs
The police only talked to the driver. What should I do?
Make sure your version gets on the record. Give your statement to the responding officer if you can, and if you couldn’t, tell us. We’ll gather witness accounts, photos, and other evidence of what happened.
The driver apologized and offered to pay. Should I take it?
No. An out-of-pocket payment rarely covers the full cost of an injury, and it can complicate your claim. Handle it through the driver’s insurance company.
What if the driver drove away?
Stay at the scene and give your statement to the officer. Note anything you remember about the car. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may help, but notice deadlines are short, so call us right away.
I can't afford to see a doctor. What should I do?
Get care anyway. Delaying treatment because of cost is understandable, but a medical record of your injuries is key to your claim. Talk to us about how treatment can be handled while your case is pending.
The insurance adjuster called me. Do I have to talk to them?
It’s best not to discuss the claim until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. Once we represent you, the insurer contacts us instead.
Why would a bicycle case need an expert?
Some cases turn on questions a witness can’t answer, like how the collision happened or what an injury will need long-term. When a case calls for it, we bring in expert testimony.
How long do I have to take legal action?
Generally two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, and six months for a claim against a government entity. Evidence fades much faster, so don’t wait.
What does it cost to talk to you?
Nothing. The consultation is free, and we work on contingency: you pay a fee only if we recover for you.
Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7
The moments after a crash are critical, and so are the calls that follow. Let us take the insurer’s. 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
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