Bicycle Accidents matters in Bishop
A Cycling Destination on US-395
Bishop and the Owens Valley have become a favorite for cyclists, and it is easy to see why. The terrain offers everything from long valley road rides to demanding mountain climbs, and the area hosts riders training and touring throughout the year. But much of that riding happens on or alongside US Highway 395 and US Highway 6, where cyclists share narrow shoulders with fast-moving cars and heavy trucks. Visiting drivers focused on the scenery, long monotonous stretches that dull a driver's attention, and the speed differential between bikes and highway traffic all combine to put riders at serious risk.
The valley environment brings added hazards. Strong, gusty crosswinds can push a rider toward the traffic lane, sun glare can hide a cyclist from an approaching driver, and debris or a broken shoulder can force a rider into traffic. On remote stretches, a crash may happen far from help, and the nearest trauma care is Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop. The combination of popular cycling routes and high-speed rural highways makes vehicle-on-bicycle collisions a genuine danger here.
A Cyclist's Right to the Road
Under California law, a bicycle is a vehicle, and cyclists have the right to use the road. Drivers must pass at a safe distance, and a motorist who passes too closely, drifts onto the shoulder, or turns across a rider's path can be held responsible. Insurers sometimes try to blame the cyclist, claiming the rider was not visible or was riding improperly. We counter that with evidence, gathering the California Highway Patrol report, witness statements, and scene documentation to show what actually caused the crash.
How We Handle Inyo County Bicycle Claims
Cycling injuries are often serious, including fractures, head trauma, and road rash that require extended treatment. We document the full extent of your medical care, lost income, and the lasting effect on your life. California's comparative fault rule means you may still recover even if you are assigned part of the blame, with your award reduced by your share. If the driver carries little or no insurance, we pursue your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which can apply when a cyclist is hit by a car.
Glendale Base, Eastern Sierra Service
Working from Glendale does not limit our commitment to Bishop cyclists. We handle much of the case by phone, email, and video, and we travel to the Eastern Sierra when an in-person meeting matters. A bicycle accident lawsuit arising in Inyo County is filed at the Inyo County Superior Court in Independence. We never guarantee results, but we work to protect a cyclist's rights and pursue the full compensation the facts allow.
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.