Santa Rosa Bicycle Accident Lawyer
When a bicyclist is injured in a preventable accident, careless drivers are often involved. If you were hurt in a bike crash caused by a negligent motorist, you deserve compensation for your financial losses and suffering. Working with a trusted Santa Rosa bicycle accident lawyer means you have a professional on your side who can help you fight for what is owed to you.
Our family-owned personal injury firm is dedicated to helping injured cyclists pursue justice. As avid bicyclists ourselves, we know the dangers of reckless drivers on the road and are ready to hold them accountable for what happened to you.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options after a bike accident in Santa Rosa.
Why Hire a Santa Rosa Bicycle Accident Lawyer After a Crash?
It can be stressful to navigate a legal claim while trying to heal after a bike wreck, especially because bicycle accidents in California are uniquely challenging. You must consider complex negligence laws, recent changes to traffic rules, and potentially serious injuries with long-term effects.
Because California applies a pure comparative negligence system, you can still recover compensation if you share some blame for the accident. However, the amount awarded is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies often try to shift the blame to you to pay the least amount possible for your claim.
At Cutter Law, we understand the struggles you and your family may be facing. That’s why we’re committed to standing up for your rights, protecting you from unfair insurance tactics, and demanding the full value of your damages. Speak with our Santa Rosa lawyers right away to preserve crucial evidence that will support your claim.
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Featured Bicycle Accident Attorney
Brooks founded Cutter Law, P.C., with offices in Sacramento and Oakland, with a mission of providing injured people with great lawyers to help them get the compensation they deserve and the resources they need.
Great customer services and team! Father and daughter team were very personable and helpful!
How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Santa Rosa?
According to California’s statute of limitations for personal injuries, you generally have two years from the date of the bicycle accident to file a lawsuit to recover damages. However, this timeline can be different depending on who was involved.
Some exceptions to the two-year filing deadline include:
Claims Against Government Entities
If your accident was caused by a city bus, a poorly maintained road, or a government vehicle, you must file a formal administrative claim within six months under the California Government Tort Claims Act.
Property Damage Only
If you were not injured and are only seeking to recover the cost of your damaged bicycle, bike gear, or other personal property, you have three years to file a claim.
Victims Who Are Minors
If the cyclist was a minor at the time of the bike accident, the statute of limitations doesn’t start until they turn 18, giving them until their 20th birthday to file a claim.
Missing the deadline that applies to your case usually means you lose your right to recover any compensation at all. To avoid missing your chance to file your claim, consider contacting our Santa Rosa bicycle crash attorneys as soon as possible after your accident.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Santa Rosa, California
According to the City of Santa Rosa’s Vision Zero data dashboard, cyclists and pedestrians have a disproportionately high risk of being injured in an accident. Several recurring patterns have led to bike crashes, including:
- Speeding: High speeds on streets like Old Redwood Highway and 4th Street affect a driver’s ability to safely react to a cyclist.
- Distracted driving: Drivers may be looking at their phones, adjusting dashboard settings, or not paying attention when they cause the bike crash.
- Failing to share the road: Many accidents occur when drivers fail to notice a cyclist, such as turning right across a cyclist’s path.
- Dooring: Some drivers or passengers in parked cars open their doors into a moving bicyclist, causing a collision.
- Poor infrastructure: While Santa Rosa is working to become more bike-friendly, many areas still lack protected lanes or adequate infrastructure, leaving little separation between bicycles and vehicles.
Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Even with helmets and protective gear, bicyclists are highly exposed to the dangers of the road. When they’re involved in an accident, they often sustain different types of injuries ranging from mild to life-changing, such as:
- Road rash, lacerations, and skin abrasions
- Broken bones
- Facial and dental injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
Many of these injuries require lengthy treatments, which can affect your ability to work, support your family, or enjoy the activities you did before the crash. In some cases, the effects of your injury can be long-term or permanent, impacting every aspect of your daily life.
What Compensation Is Available in a Santa Rosa Bicycle Accident Claim?
If another person’s careless or reckless behavior led to your bike accident, you may qualify to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to the measurable expenses and financial losses caused by the accident, including:
- Current medical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings capacity
- Property damage
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are the subjective or intangible ways you’ve suffered as a result of the bicycle crash. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, depression
- Disfigurement or severe scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent impairments
A bike accident lawyer in Sonoma County can identify your damages and calculate their value, helping you get the compensation you deserve. It’s important to include the full scope of your losses, current and future, in your claim to receive the maximum amount available to you.
The attorneys at Cutter Law defended the rights of a motorcyclist who was seriously injured when a car failed to yield the right of way. A San Francisco jury awarded the motorcyclist $596,000.
The attorneys at Cutter Law defended the rights of a motorcyclist who was seriously injured when a car failed to yield the right of way. A San Francisco jury awarded the motorcyclist $596,000.
California Bicycle Laws That Protect Santa Rosa Cyclists
Many California laws prioritize bicyclist safety. These statutes aim to ensure that bicyclists on the road are recognized and to provide legal avenues if a driver fails to respect their space.
Here are some key legal protections for bicyclists in California:
Equal Rights to the Roadway
CVC 21200 states that bicyclists have the same fundamental rights as other motorists. This law recognizes bicyclists as legitimate travelers with a right to the road.
Mandatory Lane Changes for Safety
The Omni Bike Bill (AB 1909) updated the three-foot rule, requiring drivers to change lanes to pass a bicyclist rather than only providing three feet of space.
The Right to Use a Lane
While CVC 21202 generally suggests riding near the right curb, it grants bicyclists the legal authority to move into the center of the lane for protection, such as when the road is too narrow for a car to pass safely, when avoiding hazards like potholes or road debris, or when making a left turn.
Dooring
Under CVC 22517, the responsibility for safety is placed on the person inside a parked car. It is illegal for them to open their door unless it is absolutely safe to do so.
Bicycle Lane Exclusivity
To separate bicyclists from heavy traffic, CVC 21209 generally prohibits motor vehicles from driving in designated bike lanes. Drivers may only enter these lanes briefly in certain circumstances.
Bicycle Helmet Laws
Under CVC 21212, anyone under the age of 18 must wear a legally compliant helmet while riding a bicycle. Bike helmets are optional for adults, although they are encouraged to prevent serious head injuries.
These laws can support injured bicyclists filing personal injury claims and in situations where questions of fault may arise. If a driver violates any traffic laws, they may be held liable for injuries and damages.
401 Watt Avenue Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95864
1901 Harrison Street Suite 910 Oakland CA 94612
51 E St Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Get Legal Help From a Santa Rosa Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured while riding your bike in Santa Rosa, our California bicycle accident lawyers can help you claim the compensation you need to cover expenses and start to rebuild your life. We offer no-obligation consultations to explain your rights, determine if you have a valid claim, and explore legal options to move forward with your case.
Family-owned, California-based, and client-focused, Cutter Law is here when you need us. Call (888)285-3333 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.
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Start with a free consultation. We listen to what happened, how it’s affected your life, and what you need to move forward.
You’ll have a direct line to our attorneys. We keep communication open and ensure you always know what’s happening with your case.
From day one, we go all in—gathering evidence, negotiating with insurers, and preparing for trial if needed. You pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.
When you get injured because of a dangerous condition of public property in California, you may be eligible to file a claim against the responsible government agency.
California has a two-year statute of limitations that applies to the vast majority of personal injury lawsuits.
Yes, you can sue a government entity for poor road conditions if they fail to maintain the road safely, leading to an accident and injury, but you must meet strict deadlines and prove negligence.
As a family run California law firm we pride ourselves in providing every client personal attention and representation. The outstanding results we have gotten for our fire clients are a direct result of our commitment to understanding and presenting all aspects of their case.
Hear from our previous clients about the relationships we build together.
The attorneys at Cutter Law are knowledgeable and client-focused. They’re easy to work with and they deliver quality results. I highly recommend them if you’re looking for a personal injury attorney in California!
My experience with Cutter Law has been extremely positive. The staff are professional, responsive, and passionate about their clients. Highly recommend this law firm.
Brooks has a long-established, respected reputation as a skilled trial attorney and a record of proven success.