San Francisco is a major cultural, financial, and tech center in Northern California, built on a scenic peninsula with a population of over 800,000. With an extensive network of protected lanes and car-free routes, the city is considered extremely cycling-friendly. However, even with all of that, the city still sees a fair share of bicycle accidents every year.

Many cycling accidents in San Francisco occur due to improper lane changing, dooring, getting wedged between streetcar tracks, and more. Such accidents often lead to bicycle accident claims that can be quite complex to navigate. Factors like complex injuries, unclear liability, and different cycling laws mean victims need to have a qualified San Francisco bicycle accident lawyer by their side through the process.

Many San Franciscans turn to longstanding law firms like Northern California Bicycle Law that have been specializing in bicycle accident claims for over 60 years. The firm is a part of a well-known law firm based in San Francisco: Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. Combined with the lawyers’ experience and expert negotiation skills, the firm has helped recover millions for their clients.

Why Bicycle Accident Insurance Claims Can Become Disputed

California is an “at-fault” state, which means that if a bicycle accident was caused by another party, the victim can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. After a bicycle accident claim is filed, the insurance company will conduct its own investigation before determining whether and how much to pay.

Here are some of the reasons why insurance disputes may arise:

• They may disagree over who caused the crash.
• They might question whether either party violated any traffic rules.
• They could doubt the severity or cause of the injuries.
• They might question the medical treatment or expenses.
• They might disagree about the property damage or lost income.
• There may be multiple insurance policies involved.

How Liability Affects an Insurance Dispute

Like any personal injury claim, establishing liability is a crucial part of a bicycle accident claim. Many insurance disputes arise because the insurance company questions who was responsible for the crash. The insurer may argue that its policyholder was not liable or that the cyclist also contributed to the accident.

California follows a comparative negligence system, which means that a person’s recovery may be reduced based on their share of fault for the accident. California Civil Code § 1431.2 also addresses the allocation of liability for non-economic damages when multiple parties are responsible. Given these rules, an insurance company may argue that the cyclist was partially at fault.

Sharing fault could involve allegations that the cyclist or another party violated traffic rules involving traffic signals, lane changes, speed, or other road requirements. If the evidence establishes that the cyclist contributed to the accident, the amount they can recover may be affected. Evidence showing what both parties were doing before and during the crash can therefore be important when determining liability.

Evidence That Can Help Challenge an Insurer’s Position

When an insurance company disputes liability or the value of a bicycle accident claim, evidence can help establish what happened and support the cyclist’s position. Some useful evidence may include:

• Police or collision reports
• Photographs and videos
• Bicycle and vehicle damage
• Medical records
• Witness statements
• Traffic-camera or surveillance footage
• Lost wage and financial records

How Northern California Bicycle Law Helps With Insurance Disputes

Northern California Bicycle Law is a firm that has been around for over 6 decades, helping bicycle accident victims recover their rightful compensation. The firm has even helped recover 15 million for a client who was hit by a commercial vehicle, leaving them with permanent, life-altering injuries.

Their extensive experience has them well-versed in how bicycle claims go in the state of California and what to do if an insurance dispute arises.

Reviewing the Insurer’s Position

Northern California Bicycle Law can review the circumstances of the accident, available insurance coverage, and the reasons behind an insurer’s decision. Understanding whether the dispute involves liability, injuries, or the value of the claim can help determine how to respond.

Supporting Their Client’s Position With Evidence

The firm can help gather and organize evidence that supports the cyclist’s claim. This may include accident reports, medical records, photographs, witness statements, and documentation of financial losses. This evidence can be used to address specific arguments raised by the insurance company.

Addressing Disputes Over Liability

If an insurer argues that the cyclist contributed to the accident, the firm can examine the available evidence and applicable California law. This may involve reviewing traffic rules, witness accounts, accident records, and other evidence to respond to allegations of comparative fault.

Challenging the Value of the Claim

An insurance dispute may also concern how much compensation the cyclist should receive. An insurer may question medical expenses, lost income, bicycle damage, or other losses even when liability is not disputed. Supporting documentation can help establish the losses included in the claim.

Negotiating With the Insurance Company

Once the liability and damages are supported, Northern California Bicycle Law can communicate with the insurance company and negotiate on the cyclist’s behalf. If negotiations do not resolve the dispute, the firm can explain the legal options available for pursuing the claim.

Key Takeaways

• Bicycle accident insurance claims may be disputed over liability, injuries, expenses, or the value of the claim.
• California’s comparative negligence rules can affect compensation when a cyclist is found partially responsible.
• Police reports, medical records, photographs, witness statements, and financial records can help support a cyclist’s claim.
• Northern California Bicycle Law can help review disputed claims, address liability concerns, and support the value of the cyclist’s losses.
• The firm can also communicate and negotiate with insurers when disputes arise over a bicycle accident claim.