Bicycle Accidents matters in Sacramento
Sacramento was built for bikes. The flat grid downtown and in midtown invites commuters and casual riders alike, and the American River Bike Trail — the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail — runs for miles along the water as one of the region's signature rides. That bike-heavy culture is a good thing, but it also means cyclists are constantly sharing space with cars at intersections, on bike lanes, and where trail access points meet city streets.
When a driver passes too close, opens a door, or turns across a bike lane, the rider has no protection. We hold those drivers accountable and fight the lazy assumption that the cyclist must have done something wrong.
Why bicycle crashes happen in Sacramento
- Drivers passing too closely on the grid's narrow lanes
- Right-hook and left-cross turns across bike lanes
- "Dooring" from parked cars along midtown streets
- Conflicts at trail crossings and access points near the American River
- Distracted or speeding drivers failing to look for riders
The Three Feet for Safety Act
California's Three Feet for Safety Act, codified at Vehicle Code section 21760, requires a driver overtaking a bicycle in the same direction to pass with at least three feet of clearance. When three feet is not possible, the driver must slow down and pass only when safe. A violation of this statute is strong evidence of negligence. Cyclists have the same right to the road as drivers, and under California's pure comparative negligence rule you can recover even if you were partly at fault, with your award reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Common bicycle accident injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries, even with a helmet
- Fractured arms, wrists, and collarbones
- Facial and dental injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Wrongful death claims for surviving family
What your claim can recover
A bicycle injury claim can pursue both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages cover medical bills, future care and rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and the cost of a damaged bike and gear. Non-economic damages address pain, suffering, and the loss of an active lifestyle. We never promise a figure; the value of a case depends on the injuries, the evidence, the fault picture, and the insurance available.
Filing deadlines and the Sacramento courthouse
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 public entity contributed — for example, a dangerous roadway or trail condition — a much shorter six-month government claim deadline under Government Code section 911.2 may apply. Sacramento County bicycle cases are filed in the Sacramento County Superior Court and heard at the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse downtown.
How MMG Law Firm helps from Glendale
MMG Law Firm is based in Glendale and represents injured cyclists across California, including Sacramento. We handle cases remotely with phone, email, and a secure client portal, and we appear in Sacramento County court when a case requires it. Attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan offers free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency — no fee unless we win.
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.