If you were hurt while riding your bicycle in San Francisco or the Bay Area, you have rights — and you deserve an advocate who will fight to protect them. Cyclists are among the most vulnerable people on the road, and when a car, truck, rideshare, or delivery vehicle strikes a rider, the results are often catastrophic. I represent injured cyclists across the city, and I handle every case personally, from the first call through settlement or trial.
I have recovered more than $25 million for injured clients and their families, and I prepare every case as if it will be tried — because that is what produces full settlements. I am also a bilingual personal injury lawyer, and I represent San Francisco’s Spanish-speaking cyclists in Spanish, directly — no interpreter, no handoff. The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless I win.
Why Bicycle Accidents Are So Dangerous in San Francisco
San Francisco’s roads present unique dangers for cyclists: steep hills, dense traffic, a surge of rideshare and delivery vehicles, inconsistent bike-lane design, and fog-reduced visibility. The California Office of Traffic Safety has repeatedly ranked San Francisco among the state’s higher-risk cities for bicycle injuries and fatalities. The mix of heavy vehicle traffic and growing two-wheeled traffic — bikes, eBikes, and scooters sharing the same lanes — makes serious collisions a daily reality.
The Most Dangerous Areas for Cyclists in San Francisco
Market Street. Even with car-free designations on parts of Market, cyclists still face delivery vehicles, Muni buses, and turning cars at intersections. Market accounts for a disproportionate share of cyclist injuries in the city.
The Embarcadero and waterfront path. Tourist foot traffic, e-scooters, and vehicles crossing the path create constant hazards. Dooring near the Ferry Building is frequent.
SoMa and the Mission. Dense traffic, double-parked rideshare and delivery vehicles, and frequent left-turn conflicts make these among the highest-risk areas for riders.
Geary and Van Ness. High-speed traffic, limited bike infrastructure, and aggressive lane changes make these corridors particularly dangerous.
The Golden Gate Bridge approach. Narrow lanes through the Presidio put fast-moving vehicles next to recreational cyclists — a frequent combination for serious crashes.
The Wiggle. The famous route through the Panhandle and Lower Haight carries heavy cyclist traffic and frequent conflicts at unmarked intersections.
Common Types of Bicycle Crashes — and Who Is Usually at Fault
Most bicycle cases fall into recognizable collision patterns. Insurers know these patterns and try to blame the rider in each one. Knowing how each crash works is the first step to proving the driver’s fault.
Dooring
A driver or passenger opens a car door into a cyclist’s path. California Vehicle Code Section 22517 makes it illegal to open a door into traffic when it is unsafe to do so — so the driver is almost always at fault. I document the bike-lane width, the driver’s sight lines, and whether the rider had any chance to avoid the suddenly opened door.
Right Hook
A vehicle passes a cyclist and then turns right across the bike’s path, cutting the rider off at an intersection or driveway. The turning driver has a duty to yield to a cyclist proceeding straight, and a right hook is one of the most common — and most provable — failure-to-yield crashes.
Left Cross
An oncoming driver turns left across the path of a cyclist going straight, often claiming they “never saw” the rider. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21801, the left-turning driver must yield. I use intersection sight-line analysis and any available video to establish the driver’s failure to yield.
Failure to Yield, Rear-End, and Sideswipe
Drivers run stop signs and red lights into a rider’s right of way, follow too closely and cause a rear-end collision, or sideswipe a cyclist while passing too close. California’s three-foot passing law governs the last of these, and each pattern has its own evidence trail that I work to preserve immediately.
Hit-and-Run
When a driver flees, the case is not over. Your own uninsured motorist coverage can apply, and I work to identify the driver through video, witnesses, and physical evidence while pursuing every available source of recovery.
eBikes, Delivery Riders, and the Gig Economy
San Francisco’s streets have changed. Electric bikes now share the road with traditional cyclists, and a large and growing number of riders are delivery workers — many of them on eBikes, working for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Amazon. These riders face the same dangers as every cyclist, plus a layer of insurance complications that most people never untangle on their own.
If you were injured while making deliveries, the company you ride for, the at-fault driver’s insurer, and your own coverage may all come into play. Proposition 22 classifies many gig workers as independent contractors, which creates real gaps in coverage — gaps the companies are not eager to explain. I sort out which policies apply and pursue every one of them. The same analysis I use for rideshare and delivery coverage applies directly to injured delivery cyclists.
Bilingual Representation for San Francisco’s Spanish-Speaking Cyclists
Many of San Francisco’s cyclists — and a large share of its delivery riders — are Spanish-speaking, and too often they do not get the representation they deserve. I am a bilingual attorney, and I represent Spanish-speaking clients in Spanish, personally. You will not be passed to staff or routed through an interpreter. You discuss your case, your strategy, and your settlement directly with the lawyer handling it.
Your immigration status does not affect your right to recover. California civil courts decide injury cases on the facts, not on immigration status, and California Government Code Section 7284 limits state agencies from sharing immigration information with federal authorities. Your conversations with your attorney are protected. You have the same right to full compensation as any other injured cyclist on the road. If you would prefer to read about your rights in Spanish, see my abogado de accidentes de bicicleta page.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Bicycle injuries are often severe. You may be entitled to compensation for emergency and ongoing medical care, future medical costs and rehabilitation, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent scarring or disfigurement, and damage to your bicycle and equipment. Catastrophic cases — particularly those involving traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury — carry the highest value, and I have recovered results including a $6 million pedestrian TBI settlement and a $2,185,000 brain injury settlement for Bay Area clients.
How Insurance Companies Fight Bicycle Accident Claims — and How I Fight Back
“The cyclist ran a stop sign or red light.” This is the first line of defense. Even if you did, California’s pure comparative negligence rule means you can still recover — your award is reduced by your share of fault, not erased. I investigate the full picture to establish what the driver did wrong.
“You weren’t wearing a helmet.” California does not require adult cyclists to wear helmets. Insurers still argue it makes you partly responsible for head injuries. I counter with medical evidence about the actual nature of your injuries and whether a helmet would have changed anything in your specific crash.
“The dooring was your fault for riding too close.” When a driver doors a cyclist, Vehicle Code Section 22517 is clear that the driver is at fault. I document the lane width, the driver’s sight lines, and the rider’s lack of any reasonable ability to avoid the door.
“The road defect was open and obvious.” When poor road conditions contribute to a crash, the City of San Francisco may be liable — but a government claim can carry a deadline as short as six months. Insurers and public entities argue the cyclist should have avoided the hazard. I document prior complaints and maintenance records to establish liability before the deadline runs.
How I Handle Your Bicycle Accident Case
- Free case review. I listen to what happened, explain your options clearly, and give you an honest assessment — at no cost and no obligation.
- Immediate investigation. Evidence disappears fast. I move to preserve traffic and business surveillance video, secure the vehicle and your equipment, photograph the scene, and lock down witness accounts.
- Identifying every liable party. The driver, an employer, a rideshare or delivery company, a vehicle or component manufacturer, or the City — I pursue every source of recovery, including your own coverage.
- Documenting your full losses, then demanding payment. I work with medical and economic experts to quantify every category of harm, present a complete demand, and try the case if the insurer refuses fair value.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in San Francisco
- Call 911. A police response and report create an essential official record.
- Get medical care immediately. Adrenaline masks concussions and internal injuries; a treatment gap is the first thing an insurer will use against you.
- Document everything. Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, your bicycle, and your injuries before anything is moved.
- Get driver and witness information. Insurance, license plate, and contact details, plus the names and numbers of any bystanders.
- Preserve your equipment. Do not repair your bicycle or helmet before they can be inspected.
- Talk to me before any insurer. Do not give a recorded statement until you have legal advice.
Serving Injured Cyclists Throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area
Whether your crash happened in SoMa, the Mission, the Marina, the Richmond, near Civic Center, or anywhere else in the city, I represent cyclists across San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. I also handle the car and rideshare collision cases I handle, motorcycle crash representation, and cases for those hit while walking.
Why Choose Me
I am a trial-tested attorney with extensive trial experience and a 9-for-9 verdict record, practicing in San Francisco since 2009. I have recovered more than $25 million for injured clients, I am recognized as a Super Lawyer every year from 2021 through 2026, I am bilingual in English and Spanish, and I handle every case personally. No fee unless I win.
Contact a San Francisco Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love was hurt while cycling, do not let the insurance company decide what your case is worth. Call (415) 851-4557 or schedule a free case review today. Available 24/7. Se habla español. No fee unless I win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually the at-fault driver, but liability can extend further. A rideshare or delivery company may be responsible if its driver caused the crash, an employer may be liable for a commercial driver on the job, the City of San Francisco may be liable for a dangerous road or defective bike lane, and a manufacturer may be liable for a defective bike or component. I investigate every angle to identify all liable parties.
Dooring, right-hook turns, left-cross turns, failure to yield at intersections, rear-end and sideswipe collisions from passing too close, and hit-and-run. Each follows a recognizable pattern, and in most the driver is at fault even though insurers try to blame the rider.
You may have several sources of recovery: the at-fault driver’s insurance, the delivery company’s coverage, and your own policies. Proposition 22 creates coverage gaps for gig workers that companies rarely explain. I sort out which policies apply and pursue all of them.
No. California civil courts decide injury cases on the facts, not immigration status, and Government Code Section 7284 limits state agencies from sharing immigration information with federal authorities. Your conversations with your attorney are protected, and your right to recover does not depend on your status.
Yes. California does not require adult cyclists to wear helmets, and pure comparative negligence means you can still recover even if helmet use is raised. It may slightly reduce a head-injury award, but it does not bar your claim. I push back with evidence focused on the driver’s negligence.
Generally two years from the date of the crash. But if a government entity is responsible — for a dangerous bike lane, defective road, or malfunctioning signal — you may have as little as six months to file a government claim. Contact me immediately so no deadline passes.
It depends on the severity of your injuries, the clarity of liability, and the coverage available. Cases can include medical costs, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and bicycle replacement. I have recovered $6,000,000 and $2,185,000 in catastrophic Bay Area injury cases. The consultation is free, and I will give you an honest evaluation.
Nothing up front. I work on a pure contingency-fee basis — no hourly charges and no fees unless I recover compensation for you. My fee is a percentage of the final settlement or verdict, explained in writing before you sign anything.