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

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp takes bicycle accident cases from Sacramento. 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, riders’ rights and duties, how fault works, the claim deadlines and the Sacramento reports, trails and claims that may come up.

Table of Contents

Can I get compensation if someone opened a car door into my bike in Sacramento?

Often, yes. California law bars opening a car door on the side facing traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so (Vehicle Code section 22517), so the person who opened the door may be responsible for your injuries. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp takes cases from Sacramento, 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 Sacramento

Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and get the driver’s name, address, license and insurance details.

Get medical care the same day, even if you rode home.
Photograph your bike, the vehicle, the door or lane where it happened, and your injuries.
Write down the names and numbers of witnesses, and ask the officer for the report number.
Keep the bike, helmet and clothes as they are. Do not repair the bike until it has been photographed and inspected.
If you record rides on a phone or bike computer, save the ride file.
Do not give the driver’s insurance company a recorded statement before you have legal advice.

Riders’ rights and duties in California

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

Drivers have specific duties toward riders:

Three feet when passing. A driver passing a bicycle going the same way must leave at least three feet. If another lane is available in the same direction, the driver must change lanes to pass when it is practicable and legal. If traffic or the road makes three feet impossible, the driver must slow to a reasonable speed and pass only when it will not endanger the rider (Vehicle Code section 21760).
Doors. No one may open a vehicle door on the side facing moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe and can be done without interfering with traffic, and the door may not stay open longer than needed to load or unload passengers (Vehicle Code section 22517).

Riders have duties too:

Bike lanes. A rider going slower than traffic must use a bike lane where one exists. A rider may leave it to pass, to prepare for a left turn, to avoid debris or other hazards, or when approaching a place where a right turn is allowed, after making sure the move is reasonably safe (Vehicle Code section 21208).
Helmets. Riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet that meets safety standards (Vehicle Code section 21212). State law does not require riders 18 and older to wear one.

How fault works after a bike crash

California uses pure comparative fault, set out by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). If you were partly at fault, for example by leaving a bike lane when no exception applied, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault rather than barred. If you are found 30% at fault, you can recover 70% of your damages.

When several people share fault, such as a driver and a person who opened a door, each pays non-economic damages only in proportion to its own share (Civil Code section 1431.2).

Deadlines for a Sacramento bicycle accident claim

Deadline	What it controls	Source
6 months	Written injury claim against a public entity, such as the City of Sacramento or Sacramento County over a city or county vehicle or a dangerous road condition. A late-claim application is possible within limits.	Government Code section 911.2; section 911.4
2 years	Most personal injury lawsuits	Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1
3 years	Damage to your bicycle and other property	Code of Civil Procedure section 338

Sacramento crash reports, trails and claims

The Sacramento Police Department takes a report at the scene when someone is seriously injured or killed, a driver is under the influence, a driver leaves without exchanging information and the license plate is obtained, or city property is involved. Other collisions that meet its criteria can be reported online, and the department says those reports are not investigated. Collision reports can be bought online for $5.

Crashes on freeways and unincorporated county roads are handled by the California Highway Patrol’s North Sacramento Area (5109 Tyler Street, Sacramento, CA 95841) and South Sacramento Area (6 Massie Court, Sacramento, CA 95823) offices.

Sacramento County Regional Parks describes the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail on the American River Parkway as a 32-mile trail from Discovery Park to Beal’s Point, with a 15 mph speed limit. Riders are asked to stay on the paved path to the right of the yellow line and to pass on the left with a verbal warning.

If a pothole, broken pavement or another road or trail condition caused the crash, the claim goes to the agency that owns that stretch:

City of Sacramento: City of Sacramento Claim Form, filed with the Office of the City Clerk, 915 I Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, in person or by mail.
Sacramento County: Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 700 H Street, Room 2450, Sacramento, CA 95814, by mail or in person only.

A lawsuit is generally filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento (Code of Civil Procedure section 395), whose downtown courthouse is the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse, 720 9th Street.

Offices, service area and recognition

The firm does not have an office in Sacramento. It takes cases from Sacramento, and its core service area is Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its offices are:

San Francisco: 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109.
Santa Rosa: 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.
Lower Lake (main office): 9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457.

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. He has represented thousands of injured clients and holds the record for the highest personal injury verdict in Lake County. Spanish-speaking staff are available.

A client testimonial on chrisplaw.com reads: “I had an excellent experience working with Jesse Chrisp.” (Whitney Stevenson)

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a claim if I was not wearing a helmet?

You can bring a claim either way. California requires helmets only for riders under 18 (Vehicle Code section 21212), and fault for the crash is decided under the comparative fault rules above.

Can I recover if I was riding outside the bike lane?

Possibly. A rider may leave a bike lane to pass, turn left, avoid hazards or approach a right turn (Vehicle Code section 21208). Even if no exception applied, pure comparative fault reduces your recovery rather than barring it.

What if a driver passed too close and I crashed without being hit?

A driver must leave at least three feet when passing, or slow down and pass only when it is safe (Vehicle Code section 21760). Witnesses and video can matter a great deal when there was no contact, so collect them early.

What if I crashed on the American River Parkway trail?

The same fault rules apply to a crash with another rider or a pedestrian. If the trail’s condition caused the crash, a claim against the public agency that owns that section is generally due within six months (Government Code section 911.2).

Does the Law Offices of J. Chrisp have an office in Sacramento?

No. The offices are in San Francisco, Santa Rosa and Lower Lake (main office). The firm takes cases from Sacramento, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

If you were hurt in a bicycle crash in Sacramento or elsewhere in Sacramento 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.