Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Determining liability in bicycle accidents requires careful examination of multiple factors and potential responsible parties. While negligent drivers bear responsibility in most cases, liability can extend beyond the motorist who caused the collision. Here are some primary sources of liability that our bicycle accident lawyers serving Los Angeles can unentangle.

Motor vehicle operators: face liability when their actions directly cause bicycle accidents through:

• Distracted driving or speeding
• Failure to yield right-of-way
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Driving under the influence

Government entities: may share responsibility when poor road maintenance contributes to accidents. Hazardous conditions like unrepaired potholes, inadequate signage, or poorly designed intersections can create liability for municipal authorities.

Bicycle manufacturers: face potential liability when defective products cause accidents. Faulty brakes, defective wheels, or structural failures can make manufacturers responsible for resulting injuries.

Having these numerous parties liable for a bicycle accident is what can also increase payout and the number of avenues where compensation can be pursued.


Braff Law’s Los Angeles bicycle accident attorneys provide comprehensive legal support that transforms complex accident cases into compelling claims for compensation. Proving negligence and liability requires meticulous attention to detail and specialized expertise, which our personal injury lawyers provide.

Even if you are hit-and-run in a bike accident in Los Angeles, you may still have options to file for compensation. If you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your auto policy, it can apply even when the driver is never identified. Under California law, an unknown hit-and-run driver is treated as an uninsured motorist. UM coverage can help compensate you for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you don’t own a car, check whether a household family member’s policy extends to you.

Beyond insurance, our Los Angeles bicycle accident attorneys can move quickly to investigate before evidence disappears pulling traffic and security camera footage, canvassing for witnesses, and working with accident reconstruction experts if needed. Many hit-and-run drivers are identified through dashcam footage or nearby surveillance cameras that aren’t immediately obvious at the scene.

Filing a police report also opens an active investigation. In California, a hit-and-run involving injury is a felony, and law enforcement takes these cases seriously.
Even if the driver is never found, there may be additional avenues, like a dangerous road condition, a vehicle defect, or an employer’s liability if the driver was on the job. Our expert bicycle accident attorney serving Los Angeles will explore every option available to you.

This may affect your bicycle injury claim in Los Angeles, but it doesn’t disqualify you from seeking compensation. California classifies e-bikes into three tiers based on speed and motor assistance, each with different rules around helmet requirements, minimum age, and where the bike may legally operate. How you were riding at the time of the accident, such as whether you were compliant with those rules, may factor into how fault is allocated.

Scooters, both motorized stand-up scooters and mopeds, carry their own set of regulations under California law, including licensing and helmet requirements depending on engine size and speed.

That said, a driver’s negligence doesn’t become excusable because you were on an e-bike instead of a traditional bicycle. If a motorist failed to share the road safely, you still have the right to pursue full compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our bicycle accident attorney serving Los Angeles can assess how your specific situation affects your claim.