Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorneys
Bakersfield Bicycle
Accident Lawyer
When a reckless driver hits you on your bike, you deserve more than an apology. We hold negligent motorists accountable and fight for the medical bills, lost wages, and recovery you’re owed.
“After searching for an attorney, they truly were the only ones that looked at me as a person, not just an easy case.”
Get a Free Case Evaluation
Biking Shouldn’t Cost You Everything
Bakersfield gives many people the freedom to ride to school or work, and the city keeps adding bike lanes to its roads. But biking still means sharing the pavement with motorists — and not every driver is cautious behind the wheel.
When a careless driver hits you, a Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyer can work on your behalf. You may be entitled to monetary compensation for your medical bills and emotional trauma. Call our injury attorneys today — your first consultation is free.
How Bicycle Accidents Happen in Bakersfield
Except on freeways, cyclists have the same right to the road as any driver. Most Bakersfield bike crashes aren’t the rider’s fault — they happen when a motorist ignores that right. These are the causes we see most:
Unsafe passing
Drivers who squeeze past without leaving the legally required three feet of space.
Distracted driving
Texting, phone calls, or fiddling with the dash means a driver never sees the cyclist.
“Dooring”
A parked motorist flings a door open into the bike lane, directly into a rider’s path.
Failure to yield
Drivers who roll through stop signs or pull out without yielding the cyclist’s right-of-way.
Unsafe left & right turns
The classic “left cross” and “right hook” — a driver turns straight into a cyclist’s line of travel.
Speeding & aggressive driving
Excess speed leaves no time to react and turns a near-miss into a catastrophic crash.
What Your Bicycle Needs on the Road
California law sets equipment rules for bicycles. Failing to meet them can hurt a claim for compensation after a crash — and properly equipping your bike helps drivers see you and prevents catastrophic collisions. Under California Vehicle Code §21201, cyclists must have:
A stable seat
The bicycle must be equipped with a permanent, regular seat.
A front white light at night
A white headlamp visible from 300 feet ahead is required after dark.
Handlebars at or below shoulder height
Handlebars may not rise higher than the rider's shoulders.
Working brakes
Brakes must let you make one braked wheel skid on dry, level pavement.
Frame sized to the rider
You must be able to stop, support the bike with one foot on the ground, and start again safely.
Reflectors visible at night
A rear red reflector, white/yellow pedal or ankle reflectors, and side reflectors must be visible to drivers.
California also requires cyclists to ride as near to the right side of the road as practicable in most situations under Vehicle Code §21202, with several exceptions for hazards and turns.
Who Is Usually at Fault in a Bike Crash?
Drivers are trained to watch for cars and trucks, but many never train their eyes to spot cyclists. By law, every motorist has a duty to watch for you and avoid an accident by driving responsibly. When they don’t, they breach that legal duty.
To recover damages, you must prove the driver was negligent and caused the crash. A skilled Bakersfield attorney knows how to identify the four elements of negligence — and prove every one of them.
Duty of care
Every motorist has a legal duty to watch for cyclists and share the road responsibly.
Breach of that duty
When a driver speeds, turns without looking, or fails to yield, they breach that duty.
Causation
We connect the driver’s careless act directly to the crash that injured you.
Damages
We document your medical bills, lost income, and the human cost of your injuries.
3 FT
Minimum by law
Drivers Must Give You Three Feet
Under California Vehicle Code §21760, a driver passing a bicyclist in the same direction must leave at least three feet of clearance. When three feet isn’t possible, the driver must slow down and pass only when it’s safe to do so.
A driver who buzzes a cyclist breaks this law — and that violation is powerful evidence of negligence. Cyclists carry the same rights and duties as drivers under Vehicle Code §21200, so riding a bike never means you forfeit your right to compensation.
Compensation After a Bicycle Accident
In a collision between a bike and a vehicle, the cyclist almost always comes out far more seriously hurt. Even a helmet can’t prevent every injury. Broken bones, head trauma, and spinal cord damage are expensive to treat — and the at-fault driver owes you for them. California law lets injured cyclists recover two kinds of damages.
Economic Damages
Calculable, out-of-pocket losses you can prove with bills and records.
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospital bills
- Ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Replacement of your bicycle and damaged gear
Non-Economic Damages
The human cost of your injuries — subjective, but very real.
- Pain and physical suffering
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Lost future enjoyment of life
Even If You Were Partly at Fault — You Can Still Recover
California follows pure comparative negligence. That means an injured cyclist can recover damages even if they were up to 99% responsible for the crash — your award is simply reduced by your share of fault. Don’t let an insurer convince you that you have no case. We’ll explain exactly how your compensation is calculated.
We Make Getting Legal Help Simple
Your recovery may be long and expensive, and the bills don’t stop just because you can’t work. We handle the legal fight so you can focus on healing.
Free case review
Tell us what happened. We’ll explain your options at no cost — and we can come to your home or hospital.
We investigate
We gather the police report, witness statements, and evidence of driver negligence and road conditions.
We handle the insurers
You never have to argue with an adjuster. We negotiate aggressively so they cannot lowball you.
We fight for full value
If the insurer won’t pay fairly, we are ready to take your case to court.
Why Injured Cyclists Choose Valero Law Group
We Speak Spanish
Hablamos Español. You’ll always understand your case and your options.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay nothing up front. We only get paid when we recover money for you.
Available 24/7
Day or night, a real person is here when you or your family need help.
Not a Volume Firm
You get our full attention — not a case number in an assembly line.
We Come to You
Injured and can’t travel? We’ll meet you at home or in the hospital.
$500M+ Recovered
Over 20 years fighting for the injured, including the largest PI settlement in Kern County.
See What Our Clients Are Saying...
“The first time I came into the office they welcomed me like I was family, and made sure to go over the whole process slowly and with great detail. My experience with this law firm was truly incredible and I can guarantee any client who decides to hire them will see exactly what I experienced.”
Jacob D.
Auto Accident
“Valero injury law firm made me feel comfortable like family and answered my questions no matter how small. They are completely committed to making sure you are taken care of. They are honest, they communicate with you, and they treat you like family.”
Elizabeth M.
Auto Accident
“After searching for an attorney, they truly were the only ones that looked at me as a person not just an easy case. Any question, no matter how small was answered. Any missed call was quickly returned. Even though they have many clients I never felt like I was not a priority.”
Nathan J.
Personal Injury
Serving Bakersfield Cyclists & All of Kern County
We live and work in Bakersfield and know its busiest cycling corridors and crash hot-spots. From the Kern River Parkway to the bike lanes along Panorama Drive, we help injured riders across Kern County.
Local Office
(661) 426-817924/7 Line
(877) 639-8888Bicycle Accident FAQ
Who is liable if I’m hit by a car while riding my bike in Bakersfield?
Can I still file a claim if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
What does California law require my bicycle to have?
How much space must a driver give me when passing on my bike?
What if the city’s road design contributed to my accident?
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in California?
How much does a bicycle accident lawyer cost?
Sources: Cal. Veh. Code §21201 (bicycle equipment) · Cal. Veh. Code §21760 (Three Feet for Safety Act) · Cal. Veh. Code §21200 (rights & duties) · Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1 (2-year personal-injury deadline).
Injured While Cycling? Let’s Talk Today.
A skilled Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company and the defendant’s attorney — and go to court if that’s what it takes. Your first consultation is free. Call now: there are legal deadlines.
This page provides general information about California bicycle accident law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney.