West Hollywood, California

West Hollywood Bicycle Accident Lawyer

A cyclist in California has the same rights and duties as the driver of a vehicle (Vehicle Code § 21200), and a driver who injures one is liable on ordinary negligence principles. West Hollywood is a small, flat, heavily parked grid where riders share arterials with regional traffic, which produces two classic patterns: the right-hook at an intersection and the door opened into the bike's path.

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No Fee Unless You Win · Serving injured people in Los Angeles County since 2000

West Hollywood at a glance

Who writes the report
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, West Hollywood Station, 780 N. San Vicente Blvd — the agency that responds to bicycle collisions inside the city.
Doorings are a Vehicle Code violation
Vehicle Code § 22517 makes it unlawful to open a car door into moving traffic. In a city with curb parking on nearly every block, that section is often the clearest statement of fault in the case.
Where riders get hit
Santa Monica Boulevard's curb lanes between Fairfax and Doheny, Fountain Avenue as a cut-through, and the La Brea, La Cienega and Fairfax crossings where riders meet drivers turning toward the 10 freeway.

The rules drivers most often break

California's Three Feet for Safety Act requires a driver overtaking a bicycle to leave at least three feet of clearance, and where that is not possible, to slow and pass only when it will not endanger the rider (Vehicle Code § 21760). A right turn made across a rider proceeding straight is a failure to yield, not a cyclist's error.

A rider is generally required to ride as near to the right as practicable, but § 21202 lists the exceptions that matter in West Hollywood: passing, preparing to turn left, avoiding hazards including parked cars and opening doors, and any lane too narrow to share safely. Insurers frequently ignore those exceptions when they argue a rider was out of position.

Fault arguments, and how they are answered

Expect the insurer to raise the helmet. California requires a helmet only for riders under 18 (Vehicle Code § 21212); an adult rider's choice is not a Vehicle Code violation, though comparative fault under California's pure comparative negligence rule may still be argued in relation to head injury.

The answer to that argument is physical: the resting positions of bike and vehicle, the damage pattern, paint transfer, the door's arc, and the camera on the nearest storefront. Those things are gathered in the first days or not at all.

How we help

  • We photograph and preserve the bicycle itself before it is repaired or discarded
  • We pull business and building camera footage along the corridor before it is overwritten
  • We answer helmet and lane-position arguments with the statutory exceptions in § 21202
  • We pursue uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage when the driver leaves or has no policy

Frequently Asked Questions

I wasn't wearing a helmet. Does that end my claim?

No. California requires helmets only for riders under 18 (Vehicle Code § 21212), so an adult rider is not violating the law. An insurer may still argue comparative fault as to head injuries, and California reduces recovery by a percentage of fault rather than barring it.

A parked driver opened a door in front of me. Who is at fault?

Vehicle Code § 22517 prohibits opening a door on the traffic side when it is not reasonably safe and interferes with traffic. That section commonly places fault on the person who opened the door, not the rider.

The driver left the scene. Is there anything to claim against?

Often yes, through the uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy, which in California generally protects you as a cyclist struck by a hit-and-run or uninsured driver. Report the collision to the Sheriff promptly — that report matters to the claim.

How long do I have to file a claim in California?

Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If a city, county, or state agency is a defendant — a municipal vehicle, a dangerous roadway condition, a public sidewalk — you generally have six months to present a written government claim first (Government Code § 911.2). Talk to a lawyer early so a deadline never decides the case for you.

What does it cost to hire the firm?

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney's fee unless we win your case, and the first consultation is free and confidential.

What clients say

On my way to LAX, a truck driver t-boned my car. I was in the hospital for a few days. Hollywood Law Center came to the hospital and took my information. They made sure my hospital bills were taken care of and got me the compensation I deserved.
Daniel A. — Los Angeles
What I loved about this firm is that they offer free consultations. They were very honest with me about my personal injury case and advised me of the good and the bad. They didn't just tell me what I wanted to hear — it was refreshing to have someone so honest.
Martha V. — West Hollywood

Our Hollywood Office

Hollywood Injury Law Center — Bash & Polyachenko P.C.

6253 Hollywood Blvd #205, Los Angeles, CA 90028

(323) 850-0101

Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm

Talk to a lawyer today — free

No fee unless you win. Consultations are free, confidential, and available in English and Spanish.

Call (323) 850-0101

Disclaimer: This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Hollywood Injury Law Center — Bash & Polyachenko P.C. is licensed to practice law in California.