Bicycle Accident Claims in California

Bicycles: the California Driver Handbook says bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers, must obey traffic signs and signals, ride with traffic, yield to pedestrians, and wear a helmet if under 18. Bicyclists slower than traffic must ride as close as possible to the right curb or edge, with exceptions for passing, left turns, hazards, lanes too narrow to share and one-way roads. A driver who cannot change lanes to pass a bicyclist must allow at least three feet and may not pass until three feet of clearance can be given. Bicyclists may not ride on the sidewalk unless the city allows it.

Minimum liability insurance is $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage (30/60/15). Low-income drivers may qualify for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program.

A lawsuit for injury to a person (for example, accidents, assault, battery, or negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress) must generally be filed within 2 years from the date of the injury. If the injury was not discovered right away, the time generally starts when it was discovered or should reasonably have been discovered.