Bicycle Accidents matters in South Lake Tahoe
Cycling in the Tahoe basin and where crashes happen
The basin is built for bikes — the popular paved paths run along the lake and connect neighborhoods to the boulevard, and road cyclists climb US-50, State Route 89, and the west-shore routes by the thousands every summer. But that same network puts riders alongside a flood of seasonal traffic. Drivers searching for parking near the beaches, the casino corridor at the state line, and the shops along Lake Tahoe Boulevard frequently fail to check for cyclists. Right-hook turns, "doorings" from parked cars, and drivers drifting onto narrow shoulders are the most common ways riders are struck here.
Where a bike path crosses a road, the danger is acute. Motorists do not always expect a cyclist emerging from a separated path, and crossings along the boulevard see repeated collisions. Loose sand and gravel left over from winter sanding linger on shoulders and curves into the summer, and sudden mountain rain slicks the pavement. We investigate each crash with the specific roadway and conditions in mind, pulling the police report, locating surveillance or dashcam footage, and documenting the sightlines and pavement.
Confronting bias against cyclists
Insurance companies often assume the cyclist did something wrong — ran a stop sign, swerved, or "came out of nowhere." We do not accept those assumptions. California law gives cyclists the same rights and duties as drivers, and the state's three-feet-for-safety law requires motorists to give riders a wide berth when passing. We gather objective evidence — vehicle damage, the driver's statements, witness accounts, and any video — to show what really happened. Under California's comparative-fault rule, even a rider assigned partial blame can still recover, and we work to minimize any unfair share placed on you.
Many at-fault drivers in the basin are visitors insured out of state or driving rentals, which complicates identifying the right coverage. We track down every applicable policy so no source of recovery is missed.
Severe injuries, local care, and your case venue
A cyclist has little protection in a collision, so injuries are often serious — fractures, road rash, spinal damage, and traumatic brain injuries even when a helmet is worn. Emergency care in the basin is handled at Barton Memorial Hospital, with transfers to Reno or over the hill for specialized orthopedic or neurological treatment. We document the full course of your recovery, including future care and lost earning capacity, because those costs drive the value of a bicycle case and make sure they do not fall on you.
If your case is litigated, a Tahoe bicycle claim is generally filed in the El Dorado County Superior Court, South Lake Tahoe branch, keeping your case in the basin rather than over the pass in Placerville. Most claims settle through negotiation, but we prepare every file for trial, because insurers pay fair value only when they see a case built to win in court.
Our attorney
How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with bicycle accidents
Mihran M. Ghazaryan documents the bike-specific facts insurers prefer to ignore — door-zone collisions, unsafe passing, and right-hook turns — and counters the reflexive assumption that the cyclist was at fault. He gathers the scene evidence, witness accounts, and medical record that put the claim on solid ground, and handles the insurer directly so you can heal.
Types of bicycle accidents we handle
Door-zone collisions
California Vehicle Code §22517 makes opening a door into traffic the responsibility of the door-opener. We frame these cleanly.
Right-hook and unsafe-merge crashes
Drivers turning across a bike lane without yielding. Lane-position and bike-lane markings are central.
Hit-from-behind crashes
Often the most serious injuries. Visibility analysis and reconstruction matter here as much as in any motor-vehicle case.
Damages
What compensation can cover
Every bicycle accident claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.
Lost wages
Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.
Property damage
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.
Out-of-pocket costs
Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.
How we work
- 1
Free, no-pressure consultation
We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.
- 2
Investigation and evidence preservation
Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.
- 3
Treatment, demand, and negotiation
We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.
- 4
Litigation when necessary
Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.
What to do right away
- Get medical attention — concussion symptoms can take days to appear.
- Photograph the bike's resting position, the lane markings, and the vehicle.
- Save the bike, your helmet, and clothing without cleaning them.
- Identify witnesses; pedestrians and other riders often see what police miss.
- Call us before contacting either insurer.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Deadlines that matter
Most California personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Miss the window and the court will almost always dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Claims against government entities are much shorter — generally a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Crashes involving city vehicles, public buses, or dangerous public-road conditions can fall under this rule.
Exceptions exist in both directions — discovery rules, minors, continuing violations, out-of-state defendants — so don't assume your deadline has passed or that you have time to spare. Call (818) 539-7969 and we'll tell you exactly where you stand.