What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in California

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in California

• September 27, 2025
• Categories: Personal Injury

After a bicycle accident in California, immediate steps need to be taken to ensure your safety and preserve your right to pursue legal action in the future. Bicycle accidents pose significant dangers due to cyclists’ physical vulnerability, high-speed collisions, and infrastructural inadequacies. Nationally, more than 1,000 cyclists die annually, with California accounting for a disproportionately large number of those compared to fatalities in the other 49 states. California regulations govern bicycle operation, including e-bike classifications, helmet requirements, and recent legislative updates aimed at enhancing rider safety. Following are the steps a bicyclist should take after a bike accident in California:

1. Ensure Your Physical Safety

If you are able, make sure you move out of the path of oncoming traffic and sit or lie a safe distance away.

2. Call 911

Call 911, tell the dispatcher there’s been a bike collision with injuries, and ask that a police officer respond to the scene.

3. Seek Medical Attention Right Away

Whether you receive medical treatment from first responders at the accident scene, go to an emergency clinic, or follow up with your family doctor promptly, it’s very important that you receive immediate medical care, both to treat injuries and to create a paper trail for future legal action should you decide to file a personal injury claim.

4. Take Pictures of the Accident Scene

With your smartphone, take pictures of your injuries, damaged bicycle, any motor vehicles involved in the crash, the accident scene including debris and road impediments, and any other objects that provide context for the accident.

5. Get Driver’s License and Insurance Info from Motorist

If a car, truck, or SUV was involved in your bicycle collision, get their name, driver’s license and insurance information from them.

6. Get Witnesses’ Contact Info

If there are bystanders who witnessed the accident, get their names and contact info so your bicycle accident attorney can interview them later.

7. Make Note of Surveillance Video and Weather Conditions

Take a look around at buildings and lamp posts to determine if there are surveillance cameras in the area. If so, jot down their location so your lawyer can get the footage.  Also, make note of weather conditions, especially if they could have contributed to the accident.

8. Hire a Lawyer

To preserve your legal rights and potential recovery of financial damages, hire a skilled personal injury lawyer to file a legal claim on your behalf.

Cyclists and pedestrians who are injured or killed in bicycle accidents are often entitled to financial compensation under California law. Consulting a skilled bicycle accident lawyer is a critical step in understanding your legal rights after a collision.

Why Choose Neale & Fhima to Represent You?

At Neale & Fhima, our personal injury attorneys have more than 40 years of combined experience in handling bicycle collision cases in California. Our law firm has recovered more than $50 million in rightful compensation for accident victims throughout Southern California. We know the complexities of fault, liability, and insurance under California law, and we use this knowledge to pursue the highest compensation possible for our clients. Attorney Aaron Fhima is among the best and the brightest when it comes to negotiating aggressively with insurance companies and winning cases. We’re not afraid to take a case to trial, if necessary. Our legal team is transparent and will explain to you the legal process, potential challenges, and estimated value of your claim before you make a decision about hiring us. We have many satisfied clients who refer friends and family to our law firm.

Bicycle Accident Statistics: National and State Trends

In 2023, 1,377 cyclists died in accidents on U.S. roads, and more than 340,000 bike riders sustained serious injuries, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Of these deaths, 937 were caused by collisions with motor vehicles. Cyclist fatalities jumped 53% nationwide during the decade leading up to 2023. Males accounted for 89% of all cyclist deaths — nearly nine times the fatalities of women — reflecting demographic disparities in cycling participation.

Meanwhile, California led the nation in cycling fatalities with 177 deaths in 2022, predominantly in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Sacramento counties. E-bike collisions have surged in recent years due to rising ridership and higher-speed models. The economic impact of bicycle accidents is staggering.

Contributing Factors to California Bicycle Crashes

The increase in injuries and fatalities among bicyclists can be attributed to several factors, including:

• Rising popularity of cycling: More people than ever are choosing bicycles for commuting and leisurely enjoyment, leading to higher exposure to road dangers.
• Lack of designated bike lanes: Many American cities, including some in California, lack adequate cycling infrastructure, forcing riders to share roads with fast-moving cars, trucks, and SUVs.
• Distracted driving: Motorists’ use of smartphones and in-car navigation and entertainment systems has led to an increase in crashes caused by drivers who are not paying attention to the road.
• Alcohol and/or drug impairment: About 37% of fatal bicycle crashes involve alcohol, consumed by either the cyclist or the motorist.  Drug use also increases the likelihood of injuries and deaths from crashes.
• Speeding and reckless driving: Higher vehicle speeds, erratic lane changes, road rage, and other careless driving increases the severity of bicycle-related collisions.

Neale & Fhima Fights for Bicycle Injury Victims

At Neale & Fhima, we’ve recovered more than $50 million in rightful compensation for accident victims throughout Southern California. Our bike injury attorneys fight hard for crash victims, and we’re tough when negotiating with insurance companies because we know the tactics they use to try to deny claims. We keep our clients informed on the progress of their case every step of the way throughout the legal process. Our trained legal staff are compassionate, caring, and supportive. For a free consultation about your bicycle accident case, call us at 888-407-2955.