Bicycle Accidents matters in Santa Monica
Few places in California see as much bicycle traffic as Santa Monica. The Marvin Braude beach bike path runs right along the sand, drawing cyclists of every level, while commuters and visitors share Ocean Avenue, Main Street, and the streets feeding the beach and the Pier. Where bikes, cars, beach parking, and pedestrians all meet, conflicts are inevitable.
When a driver hits a cyclist, the rider has little protection, and the consequences can be life-changing. California law gives cyclists the same rights as drivers and adds specific protections, but insurers do not always treat riders fairly.
Why bicycle crashes happen here
- Drivers passing too closely on Ocean Ave, Main St, and Lincoln Blvd
- Cars turning across bike traffic at busy beach-access intersections
- Vehicles pulling in and out of crowded beach parking lots
- Car doors opening into the path of riders near the Promenade and Main St
- Conflicts where the beach bike path meets street crossings
The Three Feet for Safety Act
California's Three Feet for Safety Act, Vehicle Code section 21760, requires drivers to give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing. When passing with three feet is not possible, the driver must slow down and pass only when safe to do so. A driver who clips a rider while squeezing past has often violated this law. California also follows pure comparative negligence, so even if a cyclist is found partly at fault, they can still recover, with the award reduced by their percentage of responsibility. Insurers frequently blame the rider, and we counter those arguments with the facts.
Injuries and case types
- Traumatic brain injuries, even when wearing a helmet
- Fractured collarbones, wrists, arms, and legs
- Spinal injuries and paralysis
- Facial and dental injuries
- Severe road rash, lacerations, and scarring
What you may be able to recover
A bicycle accident claim can include economic damages for medical treatment, future care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and the cost to replace your bike and gear. It can also include non-economic damages for pain, disfigurement, and the loss of activities you valued. Because every case turns on its own facts, we cannot promise an outcome, but we work to document each loss thoroughly so your claim reflects the real impact on your life.
Deadlines and the courthouse
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. If a public entity may share fault, much shorter notice deadlines can apply, so early advice matters. Santa Monica bicycle accident cases are typically filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court at the Santa Monica Courthouse on the Westside.
How MMG Law Firm helps
From our Glendale office, attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan represents injured cyclists throughout Santa Monica and across California. We investigate the crash, secure footage and witness accounts, and push back when insurers try to shift blame onto the rider. Consultations are free, we work on contingency so there is no fee unless we win, and we serve clients in English, Armenian, and Russian.
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.