Van Nuys Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a bicycle accident in Van Nuys, CA?

At Cohen Injury Law Group, we stand with injured cyclists and hold the drivers who fail to share the road accountable.

If you were struck by a vehicle while riding, a Van Nuys, CA bicycle accident lawyer can establish fault and pursue the compensation you are owed, even when the driver’s insurer tries to place the blame on you. Trial experience matters in these disputes, and our founding attorney, Wayne Cohen, has represented injured people since 1991. We take bicycle cases on contingency. Reach out today to learn where you stand.

Bicycle Accident Lawyer Van Nuys, CA

A bicycle accident case involves a rider injured in a collision with a motor vehicle. Cyclists have the same right to the road as drivers under California law, yet they bear the full force of any impact, and the injuries that follow are frequently serious, from fractures and road rash to spinal damage and head trauma.

These cases often turn on a dispute over fault. Drivers and their insurers regularly claim the cyclist swerved, ran a signal, or rode where they should not have, even when the driver was speeding, turning without looking, or passing too closely. Our Van Nuys bicycle accident attorneys gather the evidence that shows what took place, from witness accounts and traffic video to the position of the vehicles, and hold the responsible driver to account. Because a cyclist is so exposed, the medical costs of even a moderate crash can climb quickly, and we account for that from the start.

Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle in Van Nuys

Cyclists are struck in many situations across the San Fernando Valley. In 2023, more than 1,160 traffic crashes each involved the death of a bicyclist or other cyclist, according to NHTSA bicyclist data. We handle bicycle claims of many kinds throughout Van Nuys, CA. Each scenario turns on a different question of fault, and each rewards early investigation.

• Right-hook collisions. A driver who turns right across a cyclist’s path gives the rider no room to stop. These crashes are common where bike lanes cross busy intersections along the Valley’s main corridors.
• Left-cross collisions. A driver turning left may fail to see an oncoming cyclist and cut directly into their path. Failure to yield is often the cause.
• Dooring crashes. A parked motorist who opens a door into the bike lane leaves the rider no time to react. The driver is frequently at fault.
• Car accidents. A cyclist struck by a car on Van Nuys Boulevard or Sherman Way absorbs the full force of the impact. These crashes cause many of the most serious injuries.
• Unsafe passing. A driver who passes too closely can clip a rider or force them off the road. California law requires drivers to give cyclists a safe berth.
• Scooter accidents. Bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters often share the same lanes, and a collision between them can cause significant harm. Fault turns on who had the right of way.
• Brain injuries. A rider thrown to the pavement can suffer lasting head trauma, even with a helmet. These injuries often drive the value of the claim.
• Hit-and-run crashes. When a driver leaves the scene, uninsured motorist coverage may provide a path to recovery. We know how to pursue it.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as my Bicycle Accident Attorney in Van Nuys, CA?

Trial Experience That Answers the Blame

Bicycle cases often come down to a fight over fault, and that fight rewards preparation. Our founding attorney, Wayne Cohen, is among the more recognized personal injury trial attorneys in the country and has represented injured people since 1991. He graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan and earned his law degree, cum laude, at the University of Miami School of Law, and he has recovered millions of dollars for seriously injured clients. We build each case to meet the insurer’s blame with evidence rather than argument. Over decades of trial work, our founding attorney has learned how insurers construct a fault defense against a cyclist, and how to take it apart.

Rooted in the San Fernando Valley

We know the roads where these crashes happen and how they are investigated in Los Angeles County. As a personal injury lawyer in Van Nuys, CA, we move quickly to secure traffic camera footage, witness statements, and the physical evidence at the scene before it is gone. That early work often decides which side the fault falls on. We also know which corridors and intersections see the most crashes and how local investigators approach them.

What Is Important to Understand About a Bicycle Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Bicycle Accident Cases

A cyclist absorbs the full force of a collision, and the resulting injuries can be both serious and costly. California law allows a recovery that generally includes:

• Medical treatment from emergency care through rehabilitation.
• Income lost to the injury and any lasting effect on your earnings.
• The physical pain and the loss of the activities you value.
• Ongoing medical care when the injury has lasting effects.

The true cost of a serious cycling injury reaches well beyond medical bills, and we account for all of it. When the crash involves an electric bicycle, e-bike liability can add a further layer to the claim. If the driver argues you share the blame, California’s partial fault rule reduces a recovery by your percentage rather than barring it, which makes an accurate account of the crash essential.

What Are Important Aspects of a Bicycle Accident Case?

A bicycle claim depends on establishing fault and documenting the injury before the evidence fades. The strongest claims tend to turn on a few points:

• The damaged bicycle and helmet, which can show the force and point of impact.
• Traffic video, witness accounts, and photographs of the scene.
• Prompt medical care that connects your injuries to the crash.
• The conduct of the insurer, since insurance adjusters look for reasons to shift blame onto the rider.

Camera footage is frequently recorded over within a week, and the physical evidence at the scene disappears fast. The sooner an investigation begins, the more of that proof survives.

What Is the Bicycle Accident Case Timeline?

Every claim is different, but most follow a recognizable order. Most cases follow this general sequence:

• We investigate the crash and preserve the evidence of fault.
• We gather your medical records as your treatment continues.
• We present a demand built on proof of both fault and harm.
• We negotiate, and file suit if the offer does not reflect the injury.
• The case resolves through a settlement or at trial.

California places firm filing deadlines on injury claims, and a shorter window applies when a government vehicle or a poorly maintained public road contributed to the crash.

What Should You Bring to Your Bicycle Accident Consultation?

A few materials are useful to have on hand:

• Any police report or the responding officer’s information.
• Photographs of the bicycle, the scene, and your injuries.
• The damaged helmet and any gear worn at the time.
• Medical records and bills connected to the crash.

Whatever you cannot gather, we can obtain for you. We will talk through how the crash happened, the injuries you sustained, and what a claim against the driver would involve. The consultation carries no fee and no obligation, and we can start securing video and witness accounts right away.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Bicycle Accident Cases?

California law sets the time you have to file, defines the duty drivers owe those who share the road, and describes what an injured person can recover. The references below are a place to begin, though how each applies depends on the facts:

• California’s statute of limitations allows most injury claims two years from the date of the crash.
• California’s duty of care law makes a driver who neglects ordinary care accountable for the harm.
• The state’s measure of damages law governs compensation for harm that does not arise from a contract.
• The California Courts self-help guide explains these deadlines, including the shorter windows for claims against a government agency.

For how these rules apply to your case, speak with an attorney directly.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

A cyclist injured by a careless driver should not have to fight the blame alone. Our attorneys will establish how the crash happened, pursue the driver and any other party at fault, and handle the insurer from start to finish. Our fee is a share of the recovery, owed only if we win compensation for you. Contact us to arrange a consultation, and we will review your case promptly.