Bay Area Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Redwood City is a great place to ride a bike to work or for exercise. Yet when collisions happen, cyclists pay the steepest price. Many roads lack dedicated bike lanes, and existing paths are often too narrow, poorly marked, or riddled with debris. Add in impatient drivers, distracted commuters, and increasing e-bike usage, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

If you or a family member gets into a serious bike or e-bike accident, the team at Danko Meredith can help. We understand the hazards that local cyclists face. Based in Redwood Shores, we look out for local cyclists as well as other bikers along the Peninsula who have been seriously hurt.

To request a free consultation with our bicycle and e-bike lawyers in Redwood City, CA, contact our Bay Area law firm today. You can also reach our law office by phone at (650) 453-3600.

Where Bike and E-Bike Accidents Happen in Redwood City

Redwood City and its nearby communities offer some of the most scenic bike routes in the state. However, even these trails and roads come with risks that cyclists need to be aware of. Local cyclists could get into accidents in these parts of Redwood City:

• Alameda de las Pulgas: Heavy traffic and inconsistent biking infrastructure make riding on Alameda de las Pulgas potentially dangerous.
• Cañada Road: While Cañada Road is popular with local cyclists and even has bike lanes, vehicles travel 50 mph along this scenic roadway.
• Veterans Boulevard: Many cyclists avoid Veterans Boulevard since it’s primarily built for cars. There are no bike lanes for long stretches, and just crossing the road can be dangerous even at crosswalks.
• Areas East of Downtown: Cyclists in Redwood City need to be careful while biking east of downtown since roads can be busy and bike lanes aren’t always present or protected.

Other Parts of the Bay Area Where Bike Accidents Could Occur

As part of San Mateo County, many people in Redwood City enjoy cycling in different parts of the Peninsula. Several notable biking routes in the county include:

• The Bay Trail, stretching along the Peninsula, is shared by cyclists, runners, and walkers
• Crystal Springs Regional Trail, popular for weekend bike rides
• Cañada Road, closed to cars on select Sundays for “Bicycle Sunday”
• The Stanford Loop, frequented by students and commuters
• Edgewood Road, a scenic but narrow climb with sharp curves
• State Route 84, whether it’s along the Bayfront Expressway or Woodside Road
• Skyline Boulevard, with scenic vistas along most of State Route 35

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Redwood City

Bicycle accidents are rarely “accidents” at all. They’re often the result of negligence by drivers, property owners, product manufacturers, or public agencies. At Danko Meredith, our bicycle accident attorneys thoroughly investigate each crash to understand what went wrong and who is legally responsible.

Dooring

Dooring occurs when a parked car’s door swings open into a cyclist’s path. It’s one of the most common urban crash types, and often leads to broken bones, brain injuries, or worse. California law requires drivers and passengers to check for cyclists before opening doors, but many still fail to look.

Unsafe Turns and Passing

Drivers may lose a cyclist in their blind spot before they attempt to make a right turn or merge into an adjacent lane of traffic. Other drivers may be aggressive while trying to overtake a nearby cyclist, or refuse to yield the right of way to someone on a bike or e-bike.

Speeding and Reckless Driving

Excessive speed, frequent lane changes, failure to use turn signals, and ignoring traffic lights or signs can all contribute to serious collisions with bicyclists, people on e-bikes, pedestrians, and fellow motorists who are trying to share the road.

Distracted Driving

Driver distractions refer to any actions that take a driver’s hands off the wheel or that divert attention from the road. Examples include texting while driving, looking up directions, making a call without a hands-free kit, relying too heavily on a vehicle’s self-driving mode, and rubbernecking.

Drunk/Intoxicated Driving

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts countless people at risk. When an impaired driver causes a bike or e-bike crash in Redwood City, our lawyers can hold them accountable. The DUI accident lawsuit is separate from any criminal charges the driver will face.

Bicycle/E-Bike Defects

A bike or e-bike crash may not involve another vehicle at all. Mechanical failures, such as faulty brakes, defective tires, or frame malfunctions, can send a cyclist crashing to the pavement at high speed. Helmets, when defective, may also fail to prevent severe head trauma. With e-bikes, the high speeds can make it easier for cyclists to lose control.

Hazards in the Road or with Road Design

Cracks, potholes, uneven pavement, obstructed views, and raised utility covers pose serious risks to cyclists. Poorly maintained roads, especially at intersections and along shoulders, can cause riders to lose control and crash. Municipal agencies are responsible for maintaining these roads and improving their safety. These authorities may be liable for injuries or deaths caused by their failure to do so.

Hazardous Trail or Bike Path Design

Poorly designed bike trails, inadequate signage, or dangerously placed posts and barriers can also contribute to serious injuries. When public entities neglect to maintain safe cycling infrastructure, they may be held accountable under California law.

Potential Injuries in a Bike Accident

Cyclists have little protection when struck by a vehicle or thrown from a bicycle or e-bike. Even when wearing a helmet, riders face a high risk of catastrophic injury.

Some of the most common and serious bike accident injuries include:

• Broken Bones and Joints: Wrists, arms, clavicles, ribs, hips, and legs are frequently fractured in crashes.
• Head Trauma and Brain Injuries: Even with a helmet, riders can suffer concussions, brain bleeding, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that causes long-term cognitive impairment.
• Face and Dental Injuries: Riders who go over the handlebars often suffer broken jaws, teeth, and orbital fractures.
• Road Rash and Other Soft Tissue Injuries: Severe lacerations, torn ligaments, and muscle damage can be painful and potentially disabling.
• Damage to Internal Organs: Blunt force trauma may cause damage to internal organs, internal bleeding, or punctured lungs.
• Neck, Back, and Spine Injuries: A hard fall or direct impact can result in a slipped disc, partial paralysis, or a spinal cord injury (SCI) that causes paraplegia or quadriplegia.

Compensation After a Bicycle or E-Bike Accident

Every bicycle accident case is unique, and the value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the circumstances surrounding the crash. At Danko Meredith, our Redwood City bicycle accident attorneys fight to recover the full spectrum of damages available under California law, which includes both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to the financial losses tied directly to the accident and your injury. This includes:

• Past, Current, and Future Medical Bills: Hospitalization, stabilizing care, surgery, physical rehabilitation, and occupational therapy.
• Damage to Property: Repair or replacement of a bike or e-bike, as well as any protective gear and personal belongings damaged in the accident.
• Lost Wages and Future Earnings: Loss of income while recuperating from your injuries and loss of future income if you are no longer able to continue down your career path.
• Accommodations for Disability: Changes to your home, transportation, and living situation if your injuries result in a long-term or permanent disability.
• Funeral Expenses: The cost of burial, cremation, and memorial services if you lose a loved one in a fatal bicycle or e-bike crash.

Non-Economic Damages

In addition to those tangible losses, you may also be entitled to non-economic damages. These cover the deeply personal and emotional consequences of your injuries.

• Pain and Suffering: Chronic pain is common after serious bicycle and e-bike accidents, as are emotional hardships such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.
• Reduced Quality of Life: The loss of enjoyment of daily activities and hobbies, as well as diminished feelings of overall contentment and happiness.
• Loss of Consortium: This is when serious injuries from the accident affect your ability to share love, affection, and intimacy with a partner or spouse.
• Loss of Companionship: In fatal bike and e-bike accidents, this addresses the loss of a loved one’s society, parenting, and help around the home.

Punitive Damages

In cases of gross negligence, such as drunk driving or willful recklessness, courts may award additional damages known as punitive damages. These are exemplary damages, meaning they focus on punishing the wrongdoer and deterring similar conduct rather than compensating the accident survivor or their family.

California’s Pure Comparative Negligence Rule

California operates under a pure comparative negligence rule. This means that you can still collect compensation even if you are partially or mostly at fault. Your share of liability is deducted from your compensation.

For example, if you are awarded $100,000 for a bicycle accident near Redwood Shores but were found to be 10% at fault, you would still receive $90,000.

Insurance companies may claim you were more at fault for a bike or e-bike accident than you really were in order to reduce their payout. Our lawyers can push back against these claims so you receive maximum compensation.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bicycle Accident in Redwood City?

Bike and e-bike accident liability depends on how and where the crash occurred. At Danko Meredith, our bicycle accident attorneys can identify every responsible party and hold them accountable.

Negligent Drivers

If a driver caused the crash through reckless or distracted driving, they can be held responsible under standard personal injury laws. Their insurance company may cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, but insurers rarely offer fair value without a legal fight.

Employers of Negligent Drivers

If the at-fault driver was on the job when the crash occurred, such as a delivery driver or contractor, their employer may share liability. This is often the case in accidents involving Amazon vans, Uber Eats drivers, or rideshare operators.

Bike/E-Bike Manufacturers

When a defective bike frame, helmet, tire, or component causes injury, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability law. The same applies to unsafe e-bikes that are capable of high speeds. These claims require detailed investigation and in-depth analysis, which we’re well-equipped to handle.

Local or State Road Authorities

If a dangerous road condition, a poorly designed bike lane, or a neglected trail caused your crash, you may have a claim against Redwood City, San Mateo County, or Caltrans. These cases require special notice under the California Tort Claims Act and have strict deadlines (often six months from the date of injury).

Real Bicycle Accident Case Results from Danko Meredith

Here are two of our past case results that involved cyclists and bike accidents. In both of these cases, the cyclists were harmed due to issues with road design and road maintenance.

$9.5 Million Verdict: Fatal Accident Involving a Cyclist

One of our past cases involved the death of a 62-year-old Redwood City man named Chris Chandler. Chris was struck by a car and killed while he was crossing El Camino Real. The police claimed Chris rode his bike into oncoming traffic and treated his case as a possible suicide.

In fact, eyewitnesses confirmed to us that Chris was in a marked crosswalk and walking his bike when he was killed. In uncovered state documents, we learned that this crosswalk was found unsafe because yielding vehicles could block a person’s view of oncoming traffic.

It turns out that the state of California had refused to fix this dangerous crosswalk because not enough pedestrians or cyclists were hurt to justify the expenditure.

The state’s best settlement offer before trial was just $100,000. The jury agreed with us that:

• The crosswalk was not safe
• Chris could not have avoided the fatal accident
• Chris was not to blame in any way

In a unanimous verdict, the jury awarded Chris’ family $9.5 million.

$2.2 Million Judgement: Cyclist Brain Injury

In another past case, a 41-year-old cyclist was training for a triathlon an hour before dawn. He lost control of his bicycle on Kalanianaole Highway and landed on his head. While there were no witnesses to the bike accident per se, we were able to reconstruct what happened using fibers that were left in the pavement and by examining two punctures in the bike’s front tire.

The cyclist fell near the shoulder of the road by some white reflector poles. One reflector pole was missing, leaving just the black base mount. The cyclist could not see this black base mount, ran over it (puncturing his tire), and lost control.

Our team also tracked down multiple witnesses who noted that the white reflector pole had been missing for months. Further research into safe road design found that the poles should not have been placed in the path of bicycle traffic to begin with.

While the state of Hawaii refused to accept responsibility for what happened, the judge agreed with our team, awarding our client $2.2 million.

What to Do After a Bicycle or E-Bike Accident in Redwood City

If you’re hurt in a bicycle or e-bike accident, the steps you take immediately afterward can affect your recovery and your legal case. Taking these steps can protect your health, preserve critical evidence, and strengthen your claim.

• Call 911: Always report the bike or e-bike accident and request that a police officer respond to the scene. A formal accident report provides an official account of what happened, documents the parties involved, and may include witness statements, all of which are imperative to proving liability.
• Document the Accident Scene: Use your phone (or ask someone to help) to take photos and videos of your damaged bicycle and helmet, any visible injuries, the crash location and the surrounding area, the involved vehicle(s), and other relevant details. These images help preserve evidence that might disappear or change.
• Exchange Information with Others: Get the insurance and contact information of the other driver at the accident scene. In addition, take down the contact information of any witnesses who saw the bike or e-bike crash.
• Keep/Maintain All Physical Evidence: Do not repair, clean, or dispose of any of your damaged gear. Your bicycle, e-bike, helmet, and even torn clothing may serve as physical evidence to support your case. Keep everything in its post-accident condition.
• Seek Medical Attention: Even if you believe your injuries are minor, get evaluated by a medical professional. Some conditions, like internal bleeding, soft tissue injuries, or head trauma, may not present symptoms right away. A prompt medical exam ensures your well-being and links your injuries to the bike or e-bike crash.
• Speak with a Redwood City Bicycle and E-Bike Accident Lawyer: Insurance representatives may contact you quickly after a crash, hoping you’ll accept a low settlement or provide a statement they can use against you. Politely decline to speak with any insurer, yours or theirs, until you’ve consulted a bicycle accident attorney from our firm.

Deadline to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in California

In the state of California, you typically have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit. Once that two-year statute of limitations has passed, you will not be able to file a legal action.

Exceptions to the Two-Year Statute of Limitations

There are exceptions to this two-year deadline to file a bike or e-bike crash lawsuit. Most notably, there is a shorter deadline when a bicycle accident involves a local, state, or federal government agency. In these situations, you typically have just six months to send your claim to the government agency.

Why It’s Best to Speak with a Bike Accident Attorney ASAP

It’s best to speak with our Redwood City bike and e-bike accident lawyers as soon as possible. The attorneys at Danko Meredith can start gathering evidence, building your case, negotiating a fair settlement, and meeting all important deadlines.

Why Choose Danko Meredith for Your Bike Accident Case in Redwood City

Based in Redwood Shores, the team at Danko Meredith understands the needs of local cyclists and their families. Our Redwood City law firm can help bike and e-bike accident survivors throughout the Bay Area seek compensation and a sense of justice.

• A Record of Handling Complex Accident Cases: Danko Meredith was founded in 2009 to represent people seriously harmed by powerful entities. We have a track record of success in high-stakes litigation, and our law firm is known for standing up to giants on behalf of working Californians.
• We’re Ready to Go to Trial If It’s Best for You: We don’t let corporations, insurance companies, or the state push our clients aside. Our attorneys are ready to go to trial if it’s best for you, and we have access to some of the leading expert witnesses in the country.
• If Our Lawyers Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay: Our firm offers free consultations, and our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means clients only pay if our attorneys can secure a settlement or win a verdict in court.

Contact Our Bike Accident Attorneys in Redwood City, CA

Cycling should be safe, empowering, and life-enhancing, not life-threatening. When negligence cuts your ride short, Danko Meredith is here to help you recover, physically, financially, and emotionally. For a free consultation with our bicycle and e-bike accident attorneys in Redwood City, CA, contact our Bay Area law firm today. You can also reach our lawyers by phone at (650) 453-3600.