As a San Francisco bicycle accident law firm, Choulos, Choulos & Wyle Personal Injury Lawyers is a resource for bicyclists injured in crashes in San Francisco and throughout California, as well as for families facing claims arising from fatal bicycle accidents. We fight for the rights of injured cyclists, help preserve the evidence needed to prove fault, and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses that follow a serious bike crash.
We are also proud members of the Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco and California Bicycle Coalitions. In the sections below, we explain common causes of bicycle accidents, dangerous roadways, deadlines that can affect a claim, and how our bicycle safety advocacy supports riders beyond the courtroom. Because bicycle accidents are common and often cause catastrophic injury or death, knowing your legal rights early can protect both your recovery and your financial security.
As active motorcyclists and bicyclists ourselves, the dedicated legal professionals at our San Francisco personal injury law firm support many educational efforts and other initiatives that promote safer streets and roadways for all. We are:
Sponsors of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC)
Supporters of programs such as Safe Routes to School and Trips for Kids
Members of the Santa Clara-San Mateo Bicycle Coalition
Members of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
Claude A. Wyle is the Chair of the Consumer Attorneys of California, Bicycle Litigation Section
George’s unwavering determination, profound understanding, and sincere approach are unmistakable when he engages with clients and offers advice to those seeking assistance. George values all relationships equally, whether with clients, potential clients, individuals seeking guidance, or fellow lawyers. He provides direct and personalized service to his clients, ensuring they receive the attention they rightly deserve.
“The best thing about them is that they really care.” – Karen F.
Our San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers represented a 40-year-old man struck by a car while riding his bike in Lafayette, California. The driver, who also hit a telephone pole and died from chest trauma, allegedly had a heart attack before the crash. Our client suffered a severe head injury, resulting in a coma, permanent brain damage, and over $500,000 in medical bills. He required long-term care and was not expected to return home or work. Using experts from U.C. San Francisco, we proved the heart attack occurred after the crash. This led to a $3.5 million settlement, including $1 million for the client’s wife and an 80% reduction of the workers’ compensation lien, reflecting our track record of overcoming insurance company bias in serious bicycle accident cases.
If you have sustained an injury in a bicycle accident, you need help from experienced attorneys with vast experience handling these types of cases. At Choulos, Choulos & Wyle, we are ready to help today.
Bicycle Accident Resources:
A large part of our San Francisco bicycle accident law firm is devoted to representing people injured while engaged in traveling other than in cars, including cyclists, pedestrians, and MUNI passengers. We support alternative ways to commute because of the many benefits to the environment, as well as to the health of the traveler, and also because one less car decreases traffic and parking congestion. We also advocate changes to legal regulations and bicycle safety measures to make the roads safer for all users, not just trucks and buses and cars.
Because both CCW partners are avid cyclists, we attract many clients who have the same hobbies and interests, and we have handled hundreds of bicycle collision cases, many all the way through trial. We find people are much more comfortable consulting with an attorney who understands where they’re coming from, and who also has a passion for bicycling. Our lifelong joy of cycling also gives us a better understanding of the dynamics of bicycle collisions and a clear advantage over the opposition, who usually do not ride or understand how bikes work.
Our California bicycle accident attorneys know how to handle any claim. Under California law, bicycles are considered vehicles, and our team stays current on bicycle laws that affect riders’ rights and responsibilities. Cyclists must obey traffic signals just like motor vehicle drivers. This helps protect injured riders who have suffered:
As experienced bicycle accident attorneys in San Francisco, we have witnessed the tragic results, including cyclist fatalities, when automobile drivers, truck drivers, or bus drivers have failed to respect the bicyclists’ right to share the road. We represent injured bicyclists and have extensive experience representing injured cyclists throughout San Francisco. We are prepared to advocate vigorously through bicycle accident lawsuits for the right to compensation for bicyclists who have been harmed by the unreasonable conduct of others.
California law requires drivers to leave at least three feet when passing cyclists.
Many of our clients have recovered substantial settlements and verdicts after suffering a catastrophic injury such as brain damage or spinal cord injury. We also represent mountain bike riders whose bicycles have failed due to a defective part, and we represent families of riders who have been killed in hit-and-run cyclist/car collisions due to driver negligence, and we represent bicycle riders who have suffered serious injuries because of dangerous roadways. An injured cyclist may still recover compensation even if partially at fault. Cyclists over 18 are not legally required to wear helmets in California.
At Choulos, Choulos & Wyle, we know that victims of bicycle accidents are often in precarious financial situations due to the incident. That is why we are proud to take San Francisco bicycle crash cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients face no upfront or out-of-pocket costs for their case, and a personal injury attorney can handle the legal process from claim through resolution. Clients only pay legal fees if we recover compensation for them.
There are various types of compensation available to bicycle crash victims who have been injured due to another person’s negligence, and they may recover both economic and non-economic damages. While the specifics of each case will vary, the San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle Personal Injury Lawyers regularly help clients recover the following:
After you contact the police and file an official report, contact the San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers at Choulos, Choulos & Wyle. Seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor. We know how to properly preserve evidence after a bicycle accident in San Francisco so that it will be admissible and helpful in court if you ever need it. Oftentimes, the driver of the motor vehicle is at fault, and strong evidence and liability proof are often essential to a successful bicycle accident claim, so it’s crucial to take the following steps immediately after the bicycle accident to retain important pieces of information:
If your injuries are severe, have a family member or good friend help you to preserve the evidence, particularly the roadway evidence which is likely to disappear very quickly. By remaining calm and following these steps, you can help us to preserve the evidence needed to help ensure you receive the fullest compensation available. If you retain our firm, we also will send investigators to the scene to document all of the important evidence, preserve your medical records, and to get copies of any pertinent video evidence and to get statements from any witnesses.
There are actually many factors that can cause a San Francisco bicycle accident, and police reports often oversimplify the cause of a bicycle crash. Our team will conduct a thorough investigation to get all factors that have caused or contributed to a bike accident by looking beyond the police report, including how motor vehicle drivers and other vehicles played a role.
Our investigations include looking at other drivers who may have triggered the incident, dangerous road conditions, and defective components and products. Common causes also include drivers texting, speeding, and DUI. A car door can cause a dooring collision when someone opens it without checking for an approaching cyclist. Left-hand turns by drivers often lead to cyclist collisions. Sideswiping crashes can happen when drivers change lanes without checking. In our years of experience, we’ve seen bad pavement maintenance, inadequate signs and warnings along roadsides, ineffective guardrails, and even defective traffic lights create a trap for even the most careful of riders.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, we know that there were 155 bicyclist fatalities during the latest reporting year and that more than 11,000 bicyclists sustained injuries in crashes. Despite the Vision Zero initiative in San Francisco, bicycle accidents still regularly occur.
In many cases, a bicycle accident is caused by roadway hazards. Various government agencies (state, county, city) are responsible for maintaining roadways and ensuring the hazards are cleared or repaired. However, we know that bicycle accidents regularly happen due to:
The California statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is generally two years from the day an incident occurs. This means that bicycle accident victims will have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit against an alleged at-fault party.
Please note that the statute of limitations is lowered to six months for cases involving the negligence of a governmental agency (i.e., poor roadway conditions or if a bicyclist is struck by a city vehicle).
Due to the varying statutes of limitation for these cases, you should speak to a qualified San Francisco bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after a serious bike accident to protect the claim deadline and pursue justice.
We serve clients throughout San Francisco, the Bay Area, and northern California. We also help injured cyclists in nearby communities, including San Jose.
Pacific Heights | Nob Hill | North Beach | Chinatown | Marina District | Haight-Ashbury | Castro District | Mission District | SoMa (South of Market) | Financial District | Potrero Hill | Russian Hill | Richmond District | Sunset District | Noe Valley | Inner Sunset | Outer Sunset | Pacifica | Bayview-Hunters Point | Dogpatch | Bernal Heights | Twin Peaks | Hayes Valley | Civic Center | Japantown | Fillmore District | Ocean Beach | Inner Richmond | Outer Richmond | Cow Hollow | Visitacion Valley
We take pride in our track record as attorneys whose legal team helps injured cyclists navigate the claims process and broader legal process after a crash by exposing driver negligence, dangerous road conditions, and defective products that endanger bikers. Our efforts in insurance negotiations and courtrooms have enforced accountability for reckless driving behavior and led to roadway improvements, as well as enabling injured cyclists to recover badly needed compensation for medical care, medical attention, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
After a bicycle collision, get immediate medical attention even if injuries seem minor.
To discuss your options, request a free consultation with an experienced San Francisco bicycle accident lawyer. Call us or fill out our convenient online consultation request form.
If you are involved in a bicycle collision…Read more about protecting your legal rights.
