Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in San Mateo
You Rode Carefully. One Careless Driver Was Enough.
A helmet, the rules of the road, and your full attention can’t stop a driver who isn’t looking. Our attorneys identify what caused your San Mateo bike crash, and who should pay for it.
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Knowing the Cause Is How You Find the Responsible Party
You can wear a helmet, follow every rule, and ride with the utmost caution, and still get hurt because one motorist acted irresponsibly near you. The good news is that the law gives you a way to hold that person accountable.
When a driver acts recklessly or carelessly behind the wheel, that’s negligence, and a driver whose negligence causes a crash can be liable for the rider’s injuries. Not every bike crash comes from how someone drove, though. The most common causes we see include:
Drivers distracted by phones, passengers, or wandering attention
Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs
Drivers who fail to give a cyclist the right of way
"Dooring," when someone opens a parked car's door into a rider's path
Poorly maintained roads and bike lanes
Each cause points to a different kind of evidence, and sometimes a different defendant. We find out which applies to you.
Evidence to Capture for Each Kind of Crash
Distracted driver? Say what you saw.
Tell the officer exactly what you noticed: a phone in hand, a head turned toward a passenger, or no braking at all. Witnesses who saw it matter most.
Suspect impairment? Speak up at the scene.
Ask the officer to assess the driver. Note slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, or erratic driving before the crash.
Cut off or turned into? Capture the intersection.
Take pictures of the signs, signals, and lane markings, and note where each of you was heading. Right-of-way disputes are won with the layout.
Doored? Identify who opened it.
Get the name of the person who opened the door and the car’s owner, plus the plate. Photograph where the car was parked relative to your lane.
Road defect? Photograph it fast.
Get pictures of the pothole, crack, or debris right away, with something for scale. Road defects are often repaired quickly, and claims against a public entity have a short deadline.
Who Pays Depends on What Happened
A negligent driver
A distracted, impaired, or careless driver’s liability insurance is usually the main source of compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
The person who opened the door
In a dooring crash, the driver or passenger who opened the door without checking may be responsible, along with the coverage on that car.
A local government body
If an agency failed to keep a road or bike lane in safe condition, it may share, or even carry the main share of, the blame. Claims against a government entity generally must be filed within six months.
Another cyclist
When a crash involves another rider who was riding recklessly or carelessly, that rider may be responsible for your injuries.
How We Prove What Caused Your Crash
Even when it seems obvious someone else is to blame, getting compensated can be a fight. Drivers who cause bicycle crashes, and the insurers behind them, work hard to protect their own finances. They’ll say you came out of nowhere, swerved, or rode where you shouldn’t have.
We answer with evidence matched to the cause. For a distracted or impaired driver, that’s witness accounts, the police report, and camera footage. For a failure-to-yield or turning crash, it’s the intersection layout and each party’s path. For a dooring crash, it’s the position of the parked car and the lane you were in. For a road defect, it’s photographs, maintenance records, and a prompt claim against the agency responsible for the road.
We put our clients first, and we work to secure a fair settlement without a prolonged court battle whenever possible. When an insurer won’t be fair, we’re ready to go further.
The Rules Behind Common Bike Crashes
Drivers must treat cyclists like other vehicles
Drivers don’t always yield to bicyclists the way they must for pedestrians in crosswalks, but they are expected to give a cyclist the right of way where they’d give it to any other vehicle.
Impaired driving is illegal, and strong evidence of fault
Alcohol and drugs slow a driver’s reactions and control, which makes sideswipes, rear-end crashes, and failing to see a rider far more likely.
Opening a door into traffic can be negligent
A person who opens a car door without checking for an oncoming cyclist can be responsible for the crash that follows.
Shared fault doesn't bar recovery
Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, a cyclist who was partly at fault can still recover, reduced by their share.
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San Mateo Bicycle Crash Causes FAQs
What causes most bicycle accidents?
Driver negligence: distraction, impairment, and failing to yield to cyclists are among the most common. Dooring and poorly maintained roads cause crashes too.
Who is responsible when someone opens a car door into me?
Usually the person who opened the door without looking. Depending on the situation, the vehicle’s owner or driver and their insurance may also be involved.
Can I sue the city for a pothole or bad bike lane?
Possibly. A local government body that failed to maintain a road or bike lane safely may be partly or mainly liable. These claims generally must be filed within six months, so call quickly.
Does a driver have to yield to me like they would to a pedestrian?
Not in the same way. Drivers are expected to treat cyclists like other vehicles on the road, which means giving you the right of way whenever they would have to give it to another car.
Another cyclist caused my crash. Can I make a claim?
Yes. A rider who acts recklessly or carelessly can be responsible for injuries they cause, just like a driver.
The driver says I was partly to blame. Do I still have a case?
Yes. California reduces your compensation by your share of fault, if any is proven; it doesn’t bar your claim. We work to keep that share as small as the evidence allows.
How long do I have to file?
Generally two years from the date of injury for a lawsuit, and six months for a claim against a government entity.
Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7
Whatever caused your crash, the evidence that proves it won’t last forever. 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.
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