Hurt on a Bike in Delano? Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers

Searching for a bicycle accident lawyer Delano residents can reach? This page explains what a claim can cover, how California law applies, and what to do next. Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield and represents cyclists across Kern County, including Delano.

Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Delano: What We Handle and Who This Is For

Colvin Accident Lawyers represents cyclists and families after bicycle crashes with cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles in Delano and Kern County.

This page is for three kinds of readers. An injured rider may be reading it. So may a parent of an injured child, or a spouse or adult child of a cyclist who died.

Donald Norman Colvin is the lawyer at the practice. Our team of assistants and office staff handles intake and case organization. The practice is based in Bakersfield and serves Delano, Fresno, Visalia, Lancaster, Palmdale, and Tehachapi, as well as Kern County.

Our practice also handles pedestrian, motorcycle, truck, bus, and wrongful death cases. If your crash involved one of those, the same team can review it.

If you have questions about your crash, call Colvin Accident Lawyers before you make decisions about insurance or repairs.

What a Bicycle Accident Claim Can Cover

A bicycle accident claim can seek two kinds of compensation: economic losses and non-economic losses.

California defines economic damages as objectively verifiable monetary losses, such as medical expenses, loss of earnings, and costs of repair or replacement (Civil Code § 1431.2). Non-economic losses are subjective harms, such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

Typical items include:

• Medical care: emergency treatment, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and future care tied to the crash.
• Lost income: time off work and a reduced ability to earn.
• Bike and gear damage: a frame, wheels, helmet, or e-bike battery.
• Pain and loss of enjoyment of life: these depend on the injury and how it affects daily life.
• For families: funeral costs, and loss of support and companionship.

Medical bills often arrive before a claim is resolved. Keep every bill, receipt, and record. Every claim turns on its own facts and records. No one can predict the outcome of a particular claim.

How California Law Applies to Bicycle Crashes

California holds people responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care. That rule reaches many bike crashes.

Under Civil Code § 1714, everyone is responsible for injury caused by want of ordinary care in managing their property or person. A driver who fails to use ordinary care can be responsible for a rider’s injuries. A cyclist can also be responsible for harm caused by careless riding.

Damages shrink by that person’s share of fault.

For non-economic damages, each defendant pays only its own share of fault (Civil Code § 1431.2).

California generally allows two years to sue for personal injury or wrongful death (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1).

Claims against a city or county often need a written claim within six months (Government Code § 911.2). A dangerous road condition can create liability for a public entity only when specific conditions are met (Government Code § 835).

If the at-fault driver has no insurance, uninsured motorist coverage may matter. Under Insurance Code § 335.1, one of the listed steps must happen within two years of the accident.

Common Ways Cyclists Are Hurt in Delano and Kern County

Many bicycle crashes happen when a driver does not see a rider at an intersection, driveway, or lane change. Common patterns include:

• Left turns and failure to yield at intersections and driveways.
• Rear-end and sideswipe crashes when a driver passes too close or drifts into a bike lane.
• Dooring, when a parked car’s door opens into a rider’s path.
• Right-hook and turning truck crashes, where large vehicles have blind spots.
• Road hazards such as potholes, debris, and poor lighting, which may involve a public agency.
• Hit-and-run crashes. A driver must stop immediately at the scene of a crash that injures someone.

Many of these crashes look ordinary on the day they happen. Details such as the lane, the signal, and the position of the car often matter later.

Commercial trucks and buses face extra rules. Federal rules may require drug and alcohol testing of commercial drivers after some crashes, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

How Your Bicycle Accident Case Works: Step by Step

Your case moves from a first conversation to evidence, medical care, a claim, and a lawsuit only if needed.

1. First consultation. Call Colvin Accident Lawyers. We review what happened, your injuries, and your deadlines. Your free first consultation is confidential, with no obligation to continue.
2. Evidence. Get the police report number. Gather photos of the scene and your bike, witness names, your helmet and gear, and any nearby video.
3. Medical care. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Keep every appointment, bill, and record of missed work.
4. Investigation. We identify each responsible party and insurer. We also review road and property conditions.
5. Claim. We present the claim to insurers and negotiate. This often takes months once treatment and losses are documented.
6. Lawsuit, if needed. We file within California deadlines when a fair resolution cannot be reached without one.

Timelines vary with the injury, the number of parties, and the insurers involved.

Why Choose Colvin Accident Lawyers for Your Delano Bicycle Case

Colvin Accident Lawyers is a bicycle accident lawyer Delano cyclists can reach from our Bakersfield office.

• Donald Norman Colvin is the lawyer at this practice. Our team of assistants and office staff supports each case.
• We are based in Bakersfield and represent cyclists in Delano and across Kern County.
• Our practice handles accident and injury matters, including bicycle, car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bus, dog bite, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases.
• Our team explains each step in plain language. We answer questions as they come up and tell you which records to keep.
• Past results do not predict what happens in your case. Results depend on the facts and law of each case, and results will differ with different facts.

If you are ready to talk, contact us now to schedule your first consultation.

Questions Cyclists and Families Ask Before Calling

Most people want to know their rights, their deadlines, and what to avoid before they call.

Can you sue someone on a bike? Yes. A cyclist can be responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care.

How long do I have to file? California generally allows two years for personal injury and wrongful death. Claims against public entities can need a written claim within six months.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault? Possibly. Your recovery shrinks by your share of fault, but it does not automatically end.

Who can bring a wrongful death claim? A decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and certain other relatives may bring it under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60.

What should I do first after a crash? Get medical care, report the crash to police, and keep your records.

What should I avoid telling an insurer? Avoid guessing about fault or downplaying injuries. Talk with us before giving any recorded statement.

Should I post about my crash online? Keep posts limited. Insurers can use posts to dispute injuries.

Talk to Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Delano Bike Crash Today

If you need a bicycle accident lawyer Delano crash victims can call, start with a conversation about your crash. You may be dealing with hospital bills, a damaged bike, or the loss of a family member. Insurers may already be calling, and deadlines keep running.

If a driver hit you on your bike in Delano, you may have a claim, and our team can review it with you in a confidential first conversation.

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