West Covina Bicycle Accident Lawyer

West Covina Bicycle Accident Attorney

You’re in pain and thinking about your bike that will not be repaired and medical bills that will not wait. The driver’s insurance company already called, hinting that the accident was your fault. You do not know if the police report will back you up, or if anyone will believe you.

That doubt is why cyclists in West Covina call our office. Christian J. Amendt has represented injury victims throughout the San Gabriel Valley since 1989. We know what evidence to look for when the bicyclist is blamed first and proven right later. As your Personal Injury Lawyer, we can help you understand where your case stands and what comes next. Contact us and tell us what happened.

Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle in West Covina

If you were hit while riding, the details of how it happened matter. We handle the full range of bicycle crashes we see across West Covina and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley, including:

• Left-turn and intersection collisions: where a driver fails to see a cyclist with the right of way
• Dooring accidents: when a parked car door opens directly into a rider’s path
• Hit-and-run collisions: where the driver leaves before anyone gets a license plate
• Road defect crashes: caused by potholes, broken pavement, or debris on city streets and bike paths

We also represent people hurt in e-bike and electric scooter collisions, an increasingly common source of serious injury.

What Insurance Companies Get Wrong About Bicycle Claims

Under California Vehicle Code 21200, a person riding a bicycle has the same rights and the same duties as the driver of a car. That means an insurance adjuster cannot dismiss your claim just because you were on two wheels instead of four.

Yet, adjusters still try to blame bicyclists. They point to a bike lane you had every right to leave, or a stretch of road, like the Azusa Avenue and Amar Road corridor, where bike lane coverage is thin and drivers are not looking for you.

Medical bills for a bicycle crash escalate fast, from emergency imaging and orthopedic follow-up to physical therapy and sometimes surgery for road rash, fractures, or a head injury. Every week you wait to document what happened is a week an adjuster spends building their version of events instead of yours.

Comparative Fault: What if I Was Partly to Blame?

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover money even if you share some of the blame for the crash. For example, if a jury or insurance company decides you were 20% at fault for riding without a helmet or crossing outside a marked crosswalk, your compensation is reduced by that percentage rather than eliminated entirely.

Insurance companies for the driver almost always try to shift as much fault onto the cyclist as they can, because every percentage point they win reduces what they have to pay. We have spent decades in San Gabriel Valley courtrooms and settlement negotiations pushing back on those numbers with photos, witness statements, and accident reconstruction when the facts call for it. The percentage the adjuster proposes first is rarely the number you are owed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accident Law

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in California?

California law generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1). If a city street, county road, or public bike path caused your crash, that window can shrink to a matter of months. Acting quickly protects your claim.

Do I need a lawyer if the driver’s insurance already contacted me?

That call is not a courtesy. It is the start of the insurance company building a case against you. Having a lawyer means every statement, photo, and medical record goes through someone whose only job is protecting your claim.

What happens if the driver who hit me did not have insurance?

You may still have options through your own uninsured motorist coverage or a claim against a negligent property owner or government agency, depending on how the crash happened. We review every policy involved before telling you what your case is worth.

Will my case go to trial, or will it settle?

Most bicycle accident claims settle before trial. If a fair settlement is not offered, we prepare every case as if it will go in front of a jury, so the option to fight is always there.

What kind of compensation can I recover after a bicycle accident in West Covina?

You can generally recover medical bills, lost income, the cost to repair or replace your bike, and pain and suffering tied to your injuries. If the crash left you with a permanent injury, future medical care and reduced earning capacity can also factor into what your case is worth.

Why do drivers cause bicycle accidents in West Covina?

Many crashes we see come down to driver behavior, such as speeding, distracted driving, failing to check mirrors before a turn, and driving under the influence. Poor lighting and bike lanes that disappear without warning can make an already risky moment worse.

What if the accident happened on a public bike path or trail in West Covina?

Crashes on a city or county-maintained bike path can involve a government claim with a much shorter deadline than the standard two years, sometimes just months. Telling us the exact location right away lets us identify who is responsible and file on time.

Where would my bicycle accident case be filed if it happened in West Covina?

Personal injury cases arising in West Covina are generally filed at the West Covina Courthouse on West Covina Parkway, which handles civil claims for the surrounding area.

Talk to a West Covina Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

You do not have to sort out fault, insurance, and medical bills by yourself while you are still healing. Contact Amendt Law today to schedule a free consultation, and let us tell you what your bicycle accident claim is worth before the two-year filing window starts working against you.