Bianca Babaians
Los Angeles has invested significantly in protected bike lanes and cycling infrastructure, but collisions between cyclists and vehicles remain one of the city’s most serious injury problems. A los angeles bike accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm uses California Vehicle Code violations, preserved surveillance footage, and accident reconstruction to build the case that holds the driver accountable and pursues full compensation for injured cyclists.
Los Angeles has more miles of bike lanes and cycling infrastructure than any city in California. The Metro Bike Share network, the protected lanes along major corridors, and the coastal path networks from Santa Monica to Long Beach have made cycling a legitimate transportation choice for hundreds of thousands of Angelenos. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Los Angeles County records more bicycle injuries than any other county in the state.
When a driver fails to share that infrastructure, the cyclist absorbs the full force of vehicle impact with no protection. The injuries are serious, and the insurance company’s first response is almost always to blame the rider. Babaians Law Firm fights that response with evidence from day one. For our full bicycle accident practice, see the Bicycle Accident Practice Page.
California Vehicle Code Section 21200. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers. A driver who injures a cyclist faces identical civil liability as one who injures another vehicle’s occupants.
California Vehicle Code Section 21760 (Three Feet for Safety Act). Drivers passing a cyclist must maintain at least three feet of clearance. If three feet is not possible, the driver must slow and pass only when safe. Violation is negligence per se.
California Vehicle Code Section 21801. Left-turning drivers must yield to oncoming cyclists exactly as they must yield to oncoming vehicles.
California Vehicle Code Section 22517. Drivers and passengers may not open vehicle doors into the path of a cyclist. Dooring is a vehicle code violation creating full civil liability.
California Vehicle Code Section 21208. Cyclists may leave a designated bike lane for safety, to pass, or to prepare for a turn. Riding outside the marked lane does not establish fault.
Each violation establishes negligence per se, removing the burden of proving the standard of care was breached. Babaians Law Firm maps every applicable vehicle code violation to the facts of your crash.
Get emergency medical care. Head injuries, internal trauma, and fractures may not be fully apparent at the scene. Your medical record from the crash date is the foundation of your claim.
Call law enforcement. A police report creates the official record of parties and initial conditions.
Photograph the scene before anything moves. Road position, bike damage, vehicle damage, tire marks, traffic controls, lane markings, and visible injuries.
Preserve your helmet and gear. Do not repair, clean, or discard anything.
Collect witness contacts. Names and numbers before witnesses leave.
Do not speak to the driver’s insurer. Refer all contact to your attorney. See 5 Things You Should Never Say to an Insurance Adjuster.
Dooring on Protected Lane Edges. Venice Beach, Abbot Kinney, Melrose, and Sunset Boulevard are among the most frequent dooring corridors in LA. California Vehicle Code Section 22517 makes dooring a direct vehicle code violation.
Left-Turn Crashes at Intersections. Drivers turning left across cycling paths in Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and the Westside fail to yield under California Vehicle Code Section 21801. These are the most frequently litigated bicycle crash scenarios in LA.
Right Hook Crashes. A driver overtaking a cyclist and then turning right immediately in front of them. Common on commercial corridors in Hollywood, Koreatown, and Downtown LA.
Distracted Driver Strikes. Babaians Law Firm subpoenas phone records to establish active use at impact. See Texting While Driving Accidents in California.
Bus and Commercial Vehicle Strikes. AC Transit and LADOT bus corridor crashes, delivery vehicle bike lane incursions, and commercial vehicle blind spot incidents. See Los Angeles Bus Accident Lawyer.
Hit and Run. A fleeing driver does not end your right to recovery. Uninsured motorist coverage under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 extends to cyclists.
“The cyclist was not in the bike lane.” California Vehicle Code Section 21208 provides multiple lawful reasons to leave the marked lane. Not being in the lane is not an automatic fault.
“The cyclist came out of nowhere.” Drivers have a legal duty to observe the full road, including adjacent lanes and paths. Failure to see a cyclist is a failure to look, not a defense.
“The cyclist was not wearing a helmet.” Adult cyclists over 18 are not legally required to wear helmets in California. Lack of a helmet may affect head injury damages under comparative fault but does not eliminate recovery for other injuries.
“The cyclist was riding at night.” Legal with proper lighting and reflectors under California Vehicle Code Section 21201. Nighttime riding with compliant equipment is not contributory negligence.
Two years under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 for private vehicle defendants. Government entity defendants (LADOT buses, city vehicles) require a tort claim within six months under Government Code Section 911.2. See California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Guide.
Business surveillance along LA’s cycling corridors overwrites in 24 to 72 hours, traffic camera footage from LADOT’s network has finite retention, and driver phone records age toward carrier retention limits. Babaians Law Firm must send preservation demands within the first days of being retained. This is the single most time-sensitive step in any bicycle crash case.
Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyer at Babaians Law Firm pursues every vehicle code violation, preserves every piece of available evidence, and fights for the full compensation California law allows. No upfront cost. No fee unless we win. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
California Vehicle Code Section 21760 requires drivers passing a cyclist to maintain at least three feet of lateral clearance. Violation is negligence per se.
Yes. California Vehicle Code Section 21208 permits cyclists to leave a designated bike lane for multiple lawful reasons. Not being in the marked lane does not establish fault.
Your uninsured motorist coverage under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 may provide recovery. Physical contact between the vehicle and the bicycle is generally required.
No. Adult cyclists are not required by California law to wear helmets. Lack of a helmet may reduce head injury damages under comparative fault, but does not bar recovery for all other injuries.
Yes. No upfront cost. You pay nothing unless we obtain a recovery.
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This distinction matters enormously for what your case is worth, and getting it wrong can cost an injured person real money. At Babaians Law Firm,
At Babaians Law Firm, we represent injured clients throughout Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Empire, from the foothills neighborhoods near the 210 to the busy commercial
We take on fewer cases to give every client the focus they deserve. Unlike high-volume firms where cases get lost in the shuffle, we prioritize quality over quantity, delivering the attention and results your case deserves. Experience the difference with our dedicated team.
Great female led personal injury firm with good results and settlements. I highly recommend this law firm for personal injury related matters in Los Angeles and California in general.