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The Law Offices of J. Chrisp represents bicycle riders hurt in crashes in San Francisco. The firm has an office in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D. 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 the firm’s vehicle crash results, the first steps after a bike crash, a rider’s rights and duties, how fault works, the claim deadlines and the San Francisco agencies and court involved.
Yes. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp offers a free consultation to people hurt while riding a bike in San Francisco, including riders hit by a car door. The firm works on a contingency fee, and there is no fee unless we win.
The firm’s published results do not include a bicycle case. These are results it has obtained in vehicle crash cases, as listed on its case results page:
Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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. Under the Three Feet for Safety Act, a driver passing a bicycle going the same way may not pass with less than three feet between any part of the vehicle and any part of the bike or rider. If another lane going the same way is open, the driver must change lanes to pass when it is practicable and allowed. If traffic or the road does not allow three feet, the driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and pass only when it will not endanger the rider (Vehicle Code section 21760).
Car doors. No one may open a vehicle door on the side next to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe and can be done without interfering with that traffic. No one may leave that door open longer than needed to load or unload passengers (Vehicle Code section 22517). The rule applies to “any person,” so it covers passengers as well as drivers.
Bike lanes. A rider moving slower than the traffic around them must use a bike lane where there is one. A rider may leave the lane to pass, to get ready for a left turn, to avoid debris or another hazard, or when approaching a place where a right turn is allowed. The rider may leave only when it is safe and must signal if another vehicle may be affected (Vehicle Code section 21208).
Helmets. Riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet (Vehicle Code section 21212). State law does not require adult riders to wear one.
California uses pure comparative fault, set out by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). A rider who was partly at fault can still recover, and the award is reduced by the rider’s share. If a jury finds you 10% at fault, you can recover 90% of your damages.
A bike crash can involve more than one at-fault person, such as a passenger who opened a door and a driver who passed too close. Each defendant then pays non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, only in proportion to its own share of fault (Civil Code section 1431.2).
| Deadline | What it controls | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | Written injury claim against the City and County of San Francisco, including Muni, or another public entity. It is due within six months after the claim arises (accrues). 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 bike and other property | Code of Civil Procedure section 338 |
Who investigates. The San Francisco Police Department handles crashes on city streets. Its vehicle crash policy (Department General Order 9.02) calls for a report on injury crashes involving bicycles and on bicycle crashes on a roadway, and a complaint of pain is enough to count as an injury. Request a copy from the SFPD Report Management Section, 1245 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158. Crashes on the freeways through the city, such as I-80, I-280 and the freeway sections of US 101, are covered by the California Highway Patrol’s San Francisco Area office at 455 Eighth Street.
Claims against the city. If a city vehicle, a Muni bus or train, or another city department was involved, the claim goes to the Controller’s Office Claims Division, 1390 Market Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102, on the city’s “Claim form for injury, property damage, or loss.” It must be mailed or delivered by hand. If the city delivers or mails a written rejection, a lawsuit generally must be filed within six months after that notice (Government Code section 945.6).
The court. Subject to exceptions, the superior court in the county where the injury occurred is a proper court for the lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure section 395). In San Francisco, civil cases are filed with the Civil Clerk’s Office at the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102.
The firm serves the San Francisco Bay Area and Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. Its offices are:
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 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)
You may be able to. State law requires helmets only for riders under 18. If an insurer argues that something you did added to your injuries, comparative fault reduces your recovery by your share rather than barring it.
The door rule applies to any person, so a passenger who opened a door unsafely may be responsible. Rideshare crashes also raise their own insurance questions. See the firm’s Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer page.
Damage to your bike, helmet and gear can be part of your claim against the person at fault. A lawsuit for property damage generally must be filed within three years.
The consultation is free, and the Law Offices of J. Chrisp works on a contingency fee. There is no fee unless we win.
The San Francisco office is at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109. The firm answers the phone 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).
If you were hurt riding a bike in San Francisco, 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.
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.
San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer
Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer in Santa Rosa and San Francisco
Vehicle Code section 21200, section 21208, section 21212, section 21760 and section 22517, California Legislative Information
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, section 338 and section 395, California Legislative Information
Government Code section 911.2, section 911.4 and section 945.6, California Legislative Information
Civil Code section 1431.2, California Legislative Information
Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804
Department General Order 9.02, Vehicle Crashes, and Request for Incident Report for General Crime and Traffic Collisions, San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco Area office, California Highway Patrol
File a claim, City and County of San Francisco (sf.gov), and Claim Against the City and County of San Francisco form, Controller’s Office Claims Division
Civil Division, Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco
Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers
Case results, Jesse Chrisp attorney profile and client testimonials, chrisplaw.com
Attorney Advertising. This page provides general information about California law and is not legal advice for any specific situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last updated November 2026.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who has been continuously recognized as a leader in personal injury law since starting his law firm in 2010.
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