Hit on Your Bike in Visalia? Talk to Colvin Accident Lawyers.

Bicycle Accident Representation in Visalia and Tulare County

Injured riders in Visalia may need a bicycle accident law firm to handle the claim after a crash with a vehicle. Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California, and represents bicycle accident victims and the families of cyclists who die, including riders in Visalia and Tulare County.

We handle crashes involving cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. A bicycle claim often turns on a driver’s conduct, the same central question in our car accident work. When a cyclist dies, our wrongful death work applies. Whether the crash happened on a Visalia street or a county road, the questions are the same: who caused it, what losses followed, and which deadlines apply.

Donald Norman Colvin, a California lawyer, is responsible for this site and for the firm’s personal injury work. Our team, which includes support staff, handles the office work that goes with each case. Each legal point below links to its source, so you can see the law behind it.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Visalia

Bicycle claims often start with one of a few driver errors. Each pattern below can cause serious injury.

• Dooring. A driver or passenger opens a car door into a rider’s path. Riders who swerve to avoid it can be struck by other traffic.
• Following too closely. California law says a driver may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent (California Vehicle Code § 21703).
• Unsafe speed. A driver may not go faster than is reasonable for the weather, traffic, and road, and never at a speed that endangers others (California Vehicle Code § 22350).
• Failure to yield. A driver turns across a rider’s path or pulls out without seeing a rider who has the right of way.
• Distracted driving. Phone use or other inattention can lead to a rear-end strike or a lane-change crash.
• Large-vehicle blind spots. Buses and trucks can hide a rider from the driver, especially near turns.

Evidence adds weight to these claims. When a driver breaks a traffic law designed to prevent that kind of crash, California law presumes the driver failed to use due care. That presumption can be rebutted, so the facts still matter (California Evidence Code § 669).

What a Bicycle Injury Claim Can Recover

A bicycle injury claim can seek money for the losses the crash caused, such as medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Each category needs proof.

• Injury claims often involve medical care that has already been received and care that may be needed later.
• Injury claims may also involve lost income and time away from work for medical appointments, depending on the facts of each case.
• Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Damage to the bicycle, helmet, and riding gear.

Catastrophic injuries, such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations, often need long-term care planning. These claims rely on detailed medical records and opinions from treating doctors and other medical professionals about future needs.

Wrongful death claims follow different rules. California law lists who may bring the claim, including a surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children, either directly or through the decedent’s personal representative (California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60). A separate survival action, brought by the decedent’s estate, has its damages governed by California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.34.

The value of any claim turns on the facts of that case, and results will differ if the facts differ. Medical records, bills, and proof of lost wages support each category.

Fault, Deadlines, and Evidence in California Bicycle Cases

Generally, a bicycle injury lawsuit must be filed within two years, but a claim against a city or county can have a six-month deadline. Acting early helps you keep your options open.

The two-year rule for injury and death claims comes from California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. The California Courts Self-Help Guide explains that these deadlines are subject to exceptions and tolling, so each case needs a careful review of the dates.

Claims against public entities work differently. A claim for injury to a person must be presented within six months (California Government Code § 911.2). A road defect or dangerous condition on public property can create liability under California Government Code § 835 when the public entity knew, or should have known, about the condition in time to fix it.

How fault is shared between the parties can affect a rider’s claim, and every case depends on its own facts.

Gather the police report, witness names and contact details, photos of the scene and bicycle, any dashcam or surveillance video, and medical records. Keep the damaged bicycle and helmet. Do not repair or discard them before the claim is reviewed.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

The process starts with a conversation about your crash, and each step builds on the facts you share.

1. First consultation. The first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue.
2. Share the facts. Tell us how the crash happened, list your injuries, and send any letters from insurers. This helps us identify the at-fault driver and the insurers involved.
3. Gather evidence. We collect the police report, scene and vehicle evidence, medical records, and wage information.
4. Present the claim. We present the claim to the insurers and review every settlement offer with you before you decide whether to accept it.
5. Decide on a lawsuit. If the claim cannot be resolved fairly, we discuss whether to file a lawsuit and what that process involves.

Timelines vary with the injuries, the number of parties, and insurer response. No timeline can be stated for any case.

Why Work With Colvin Accident Lawyers

Colvin Accident Lawyers is a Bakersfield personal injury practice that handles bicycle, car, truck, motorcycle, bus, pedestrian, dog bite, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases.

• The lawyer. Donald Norman Colvin is a California lawyer and the attorney responsible for this site and the firm’s personal injury work.
• The team. Our team includes assistants and office staff who support the work on each case.
• The reach. The firm is based in Bakersfield and represents riders and families in Visalia and Tulare County. You can start by phone or through our online contact page.
• The scope. Our practice areas cover the crash types that can injure riders and families.
• The approach. This page explains each legal point in plain terms and links to its source.

Questions Visalia Cyclists Ask Before They Call

Here are short answers to common questions about bicycle claims in Visalia and Tulare County.

Can a bicycle accident law firm review my Visalia crash?

Colvin Accident Lawyers reviews bicycle crash facts for riders in Visalia and Tulare County during a consultation.

What if the driver’s insurer called me quickly?

You can talk with a lawyer about any insurer letter before you respond to it. An early offer may not account for future medical needs.

What if I was partly at fault?

Will I have to go to court?

Some claims settle without a lawsuit. We discuss filing only when the claim cannot be resolved fairly.

What if the driver had no insurance?

Uninsured motorist coverage comes from the injured person’s own auto policy or a household member’s policy, not the at-fault driver’s, and it can apply when the driver who hit you had no insurance. Under California Insurance Code § 11580.2, the policyholder may waive it in writing, and a rider with no applicable auto policy may have no uninsured motorist coverage.

Talk to Colvin About Your Visalia Bicycle Crash

Yes, you can contact Colvin Accident Lawyers now to talk through a Visalia bicycle crash. Our office is based in Bakersfield, and we represent riders and families in Visalia and Tulare County.

If a car door, a turning driver, or a close pass has left you hurt, or has left your family facing a loss, call Colvin Accident Lawyers or send us a message through our contact page to schedule your consultation. Bring the date, the location, and any photos you have.

Colvin Accident Lawyers, Donald Norman Colvin, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site.