How long do I have to file a Long Beach bicycle accident claim?

California generally allows two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a government entity may share fault, a much shorter claim deadline can apply. Speaking with a lawyer early helps protect your rights and preserve evidence.

How much is my Long Beach bicycle accident case worth?

Case value depends on the facts, including how serious your injuries are, your medical and future care costs, lost income, the lasting impact on your life, and available insurance. Each case is different, and no honest lawyer can promise a specific amount.

Does the driver have to give me three feet when passing?

Yes. Under California Vehicle Code section 21760, the Three Feet for Safety Act, a driver passing a cyclist in the same direction must allow at least three feet of clearance, and must slow and pass safely if that is not possible. A driver who violates this law may be found negligent.

Do I have to go to court for a bicycle accident case?

Often not. Many bicycle claims settle through negotiation with the driver's insurer. If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to file suit and take your case to court.

Which courthouse handles Long Beach bicycle accident cases?

Long Beach bicycle cases are handled within the Los Angeles County Superior Court, commonly at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in downtown Long Beach. The exact assignment depends on the case and current court rules.

How much does it cost to hire a bicycle accident lawyer?

We work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we win your case. The initial consultation is free and available in English, Armenian, and Russian.

Long Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Cyclists in Long Beach share the road with drivers who often forget that a bike rider has every right to be there, and a single careless pass or turn can leave a rider seriously hurt. If a driver hit you on the beach bike path, on Second Street in Belmont Shore, or in a downtown bike lane, you may be facing real injuries and an insurer eager to blame the rider. MMG Law Firm advocates for Long Beach cyclists and works to hold negligent drivers accountable.

Bicycle Accidents matters in Long Beach

Long Beach has built a reputation as a bike-friendly city, with its long beach bike path, the popular ride along Second Street through Belmont Shore, and a growing network of downtown bike lanes. That popularity means more cyclists on the road, and more chances for collisions with drivers who pass too closely, turn without looking, or open a car door into a rider's path. The very features that make Long Beach great for cycling also concentrate the conflict points where crashes happen.

When a driver hits a cyclist, the rider almost always takes the worse of it, and insurers frequently try to shift blame onto the person who was simply riding lawfully.

Why bicycle crashes happen in Long Beach

Drivers passing too closely on Second Street and other shared roads
Turns made across bike lanes without yielding
Car doors opened into downtown bike lanes
Conflicts where the beach path meets street crossings
Drivers who fail to see cyclists at intersections

The Three Feet for Safety Act

California Vehicle Code section 21760, known as the Three Feet for Safety Act, requires a driver passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction to give at least three feet of clearance. If three feet is not possible because of traffic or roadway conditions, the driver must slow down and pass only when it is safe. A driver who buzzes a cyclist or sideswipes them while passing may be violating this law, and that violation can be strong evidence of negligence in a Long Beach bicycle case.

Injuries and case types

Head and traumatic brain injuries
Broken collarbones, wrists, and other fractures
Road rash and deep lacerations
Spinal and neck injuries
Wrongful death claims after fatal crashes

What compensation may cover

Because California follows pure comparative negligence, an injured cyclist can still recover even if found partly at fault, with the award reduced by that percentage. A claim may pursue economic damages such as medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, and bicycle replacement, along with non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and the loss of activities you love. Every case depends on its own facts, and no outcome can be guaranteed.

Deadlines and the Long Beach courthouse

California generally gives an injured cyclist two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, and missing that deadline usually ends the claim. If a public entity, such as a transit vehicle or a roadway condition, may be involved, a much shorter government-claim deadline can apply. Long Beach bicycle cases are handled through the Los Angeles County Superior Court, often at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in downtown Long Beach.

How MMG Law Firm helps

From our Glendale office, roughly 25 miles from Long Beach, attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan represents injured cyclists across Los Angeles County. We gather evidence quickly, counter the insurer's attempts to blame the rider, and handle the claim so you can focus on healing. Consultations are free and available in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency, meaning no fee unless we win.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.