Hit while riding your bike in Oakland? Talk to a bicycle accident lawyer for free

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp represents bicycle riders hurt in crashes in Oakland. The phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

The firm has recovered over $350 million for clients since 2010. The sections below cover its vehicle crash results, what to do after a bike crash, the rights and duties of riders and drivers, how fault works, the deadlines and who handles a bike crash in Oakland.

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Can I make a claim if a parked car’s door opened into me while I was biking in Oakland?

Often, yes. California law says no one may open a vehicle door on the side next to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe and does not interfere with that traffic (Vehicle Code section 22517). The Law Offices of J. Chrisp offers a free consultation and works on a contingency fee, and there is no fee unless we win.

Vehicle crash results

Results from the firm’s vehicle crash cases include:

$5,250,000: Car Crash
$3,375,000: Hertz Rental Car Accident
$2,350,000: Airport Shuttle vs. Car
$2,350,000: Transport Van Crash
$2,350,000: Jury Verdict: Major Head-on Crash with Sheriff
$2,300,000: County Vehicle Crash

Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

What to do after a bike crash in Oakland

Call 911 if anyone is hurt. A driver involved in a crash that injures someone must stop at the scene (Vehicle Code section 20001).

Get the driver’s name, insurance company and license plate. If a door hit you, get the name of the person who opened it, too.
Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
Photograph the bike, the vehicle, the door, the lane markings and the road surface where you went down.
Do not repair or throw away the bike, helmet or clothing. Save any ride data from a bike computer or phone app.
See a doctor the same day, even if you feel fine.
Do not give the driver’s insurance company a recorded statement before you have legal advice.

Rights and duties of bicycle riders in California

Same rights and duties as drivers. A person riding a bicycle on a highway has all the rights, and is subject to the rules, that apply to the driver of a vehicle, except rules that by their nature cannot apply to a bike (Vehicle Code section 21200).

Three feet when passing. A driver passing a bicycle going the same way may not pass closer than three feet. If another lane is open, the driver must change lanes to pass when it is practical and legal. If traffic or the road makes three feet impossible, the driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and pass only when it will not endanger the rider (Vehicle Code section 21760).

Opening doors. No one may open a door on the traffic side unless it is reasonably safe, or leave it open longer than needed to load or unload passengers (Vehicle Code section 22517).

Bike lanes. Where there is a bike lane, a rider going slower than the traffic around them must ride in it. A rider may leave the lane to pass, to get ready for a left turn, to avoid debris or other hazards, or when approaching a place where a right turn is allowed. The rider may leave the lane only when it is safe and must signal first if a vehicle may be affected (Vehicle Code section 21208).

Helmets. Riders and passengers under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet on a street, bikeway or public bike path or trail (Vehicle Code section 21212). The law does not require a helmet for riders 18 and older.

How fault works in an Oakland bike crash

California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975). A rider who shared some of the fault can still recover, and the damages are reduced by that share. If you are found 10% at fault, you can recover 90% of your damages. When more than one person or company is at fault, such as a driver and the person who opened a door, each pays non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, only in proportion to its own share (Civil Code section 1431.2).

Deadlines for an Oakland bicycle accident claim

Deadline	What it controls	Source
6 months	Written claim against a public entity, such as the City of Oakland or Alameda County, for example over a road defect or a city vehicle. A late-claim application is possible within one year, within limits.	Government Code section 911.2; section 911.4
6 months after notice	Lawsuit after the public entity mails or delivers a written rejection of the claim	Government Code section 945.6
2 years	Most personal injury lawsuits	Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
3 years	Damage to the bike or other property	Code of Civil Procedure section 338

Who handles a bike crash in Oakland

Police. Crashes on Oakland city streets are generally handled by the Oakland Police Department. The California Highway Patrol’s Oakland Area office is at 3601 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609, near the junction of SR-24 and I-580. It serves Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, San Pablo, El Sobrante and Richmond.

A pothole or other road defect. A public entity can be liable for an injury caused by a dangerous condition of its property, such as a road, if the injured person proves the elements of Government Code section 835. A claim against the City of Oakland is filed with the Oakland City Attorney’s Office, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. A claim against Alameda County is filed with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Administration Building, 1221 Oak Street, Room 536, Oakland, CA 94612.

Court. A lawsuit over an injury in Oakland can be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda (Code of Civil Procedure section 395). Its René C. Davidson Courthouse, 1225 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA 94612, hears civil cases.

Offices, service area and recognition

The firm does not have an office in Oakland. Its closest office is across the Bay in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109. Its other offices are in Santa Rosa (3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403) and Lower Lake, its main office (9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457). The firm serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Founding attorney Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026. He was selected to Northern California Rising Stars from 2013 to 2021, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state. In 2018, he was one of four finalists for San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year. He is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College. Spanish-speaking staff are available.

A client testimonial on chrisplaw.com reads: “The team was very professional and responsive and helped me reach a speedy settlement based on my recovery time.” (Jonathan Miller)

Frequently asked questions

Do adults have to wear a bike helmet in California?

No. The helmet law in Vehicle Code section 21212 applies to riders and passengers under 18.

How much room does a driver have to give me when passing?

At least three feet when passing a bicycle going the same way. If that is not possible, the driver must slow down and pass only when it will not endanger you (Vehicle Code section 21760).

Do I have to ride in the bike lane?

If you are going slower than the traffic around you, generally yes. You may leave the lane to pass, to turn left, to avoid debris or hazards, or near a place where a right turn is allowed, as long as it is safe (Vehicle Code section 21208).

What if a pothole on an Oakland street caused my crash?

You may have a claim against the City of Oakland. A written claim generally must be presented within six months (Government Code section 911.2), and among other things you must show that a city employee created the dangerous condition or that the city knew or should have known of it in time to protect against it (Government Code section 835).

Where is the closest Law Offices of J. Chrisp office to Oakland?

The closest office is in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109. The phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

If you were hurt in a bike crash in Oakland or elsewhere in Alameda County, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.

Why choose the Law Offices of J. Chrisp?

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.