![\"Bike](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bike-crash.jpg\"\/)
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\nDo I need to call the police if it\u2019s minor?<\/p>\nCooper pointed out that in California specifically (this may vary by state) an officer\u2019s conclusions are not admissible at trial, but the information gathered at the scene (witness statements, photographs, measurements) are. He advised me that having a police report on file could be the difference between having something to work with, or having nothing. Again, this is worth checking what applies to your area.<\/p>\n
What if I receive a ticket?<\/p>\n
Cooper\u2019s advice here was reassuring. First step, don\u2019t panic. According to him, receiving a ticket is rare and doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019re at fault. It means the officer made a determination and you have every right to contest it. In fact, sometimes the officer doesn\u2019t even show up to the court date in which your case is being presented. Which means (at least in California) the ticket is automatically dismissed.<\/p>\n
Cooper also flagged that if you don\u2019t contest a ticket, the incident is treated as a criminal misdemeanor. You can pay it and move on, but know that it will be a mark on your record and could impact your auto insurance rates. Yes, even though the incident happened on a bike. His recommendation is to consult with a lawyer before you do anything.<\/p>\n
I feel okay. Do I still need to see a doctor?<\/p>\n
Cooper\u2019s advice, with the caveat that he\u2019s a lawyer and not a medical professional, is to err on the side of caution whenever you\u2019re in any accident.<\/p>\n
In his experience, injuries from crashes (particularly soft tissue damage, concussions, and joint injuries) can take time to appear. Bruising and inflammation don\u2019t show up immediately (it can take up to 24 to 48 hours sometimes). The fact that you can stand up and walk around after an incident doesn\u2019t tell you the whole story about what\u2019s really going on inside your body.<\/p>\n
Cooper also made the point that from a legal perspective, medical records help establish a timeline and add concrete facts to your case. The simple fact that you were injured is now documented with the date, time, and extent of those injuries.<\/p>\n
If you wait two weeks and then try to make a claim, the insurance company could argue that whatever is bothering you had nothing to do with the crash (because of the time that\u2019s passed). A same-day or next-day medical evaluation helps boost your case.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind, you don\u2019t have to take an ambulance. A visit to urgent care or an emergency room trip works all the same.<\/p>\n
What are my rights if the driver drives away?<\/p>\n
This is why the first move of grabbing a photo of the license plate is critical. Memorizing the plate number works too. Worst case scenario, even if you don\u2019t get it 100% right, the more information you have, the better.<\/p>\n
Next step, call the police. Then call a lawyer.<\/p>\n
According to Cooper, here\u2019s what most people don\u2019t know. In California, lawyers and investigators have the right to gather owner information from the DMV based on license plate data. If you have that plate number (or at least part of it), there are ways to try and hunt that driver down. Check what applies in your state, but Cooper\u2019s advice is to call a lawyer immediately in a hit and run situation.<\/p>\n
To help support the timeline, in some cases, Cooper has even subpoenaed cell phone location data to demonstrate that a driver who claimed to be an hour away was actually at the scene.<\/p>\n
Plus, there are all sorts of other cameras that can be pulled in as video evidence. Bus cameras, ATM footage, red light cameras\u2014there are a lot more video sources than you might expect, and a good lawyer knows how to find them.<\/p>\n
The driver\u2019s insurance company called me. What should I do?<\/p>\n
Cooper was very clear here and it was important advice. Do not give a recorded statement. Do not accept a settlement offer. Do not have a friendly conversation with the very nice person from Oklahoma who is sorry about what happened and wants to make it right.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what Cooper says is really happening on this call. It\u2019s the insurance company\u2019s job to settle your claim for as little money as possible. He explained that they will call you early, before you know the full extent of your injuries, and offer you a settlement that sounds reasonable. If you accept it and sign a release, that\u2019s it. Case closed. You have no further recourse, even if you find out six months later that your injuries were far more serious than you first thought.<\/p>\n
So what do you do? If an insurance company calls you just say you\u2019ll be in touch. Always remember that just because you feel pressure from the opposing insurance to move quickly, that\u2019s an artificial timeline. Take the time you need to make sure you have your thoughts in order and a plan formed. Cooper suggests you hang up the phone and call a lawyer.<\/p>\n
Whatever you do, always remember that the opposing insurance is not your ally. That person on the phone is not working with your best interests in mind because that\u2019s not their job. The goal is to limit liability for the company that they work for and that is different than meeting your needs.<\/p>\n
When do I need a lawyer? And when do I not?<\/p>\n
According to Cooper, talking to a lawyer for the first time won\u2019t cost you anything. Injury lawyers work on contingency, which means they only get paid if you win. That\u2019s why that first phone call is free. If a lawyer does want to charge you for that initial consultation, this is a major red flag. Hang up and call someone else.<\/p>\n
So when do you really need a lawyer? Even if your injuries seem minor, a brief conversation can help illustrate if there\u2019s anything you might be overlooking, or risks you might not be aware of.<\/p>\n
Cooper has seen situations where a cyclist decided not to pursue any action, did nothing, and then received a letter from the driver\u2019s insurance company six months later demanding compensation from them for damage to the driver\u2019s car. Huh?! By that point the witnesses are gone, the video has been deleted, and the cyclist has no evidence to work with.<\/p>\n
Lawyers also have a lot of experience that you don\u2019t. How many times have you been involved in a crash and had to navigate the system? The lawyer you are talking to may have helped thousands of people through exactly what you are trying to navigate for the first time. That expertise alone can be a huge help when you find yourself dealing with what might be a major life event.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a free phone call; even if nothing comes from it, consider it for some peace of mind.<\/p>\n
Can I make a claim for my bike along with my injuries?<\/p>\n
Cooper reassured me that yes, you can claim damages to your personal property. In fact, your bike and your personal injury claims are handled separately, which actually works in your favor.<\/p>\n
Things like your phone, glasses, helmet, and kit are considered property damage and, in Cooper\u2019s experience in California, are typically resolved faster and from a different insurance bucket than any bodily injury claim. Which means you will probably get your bike stuff sorted out faster, while the personal injury side of things is still being worked out. Remember, laws vary by state, so it\u2019s worth investigating what applies in your location.<\/p>\n
When it comes to your bicycle, Cooper was firm on this: if it\u2019s a carbon bike, don\u2019t ride it again until you get it checked out at a reputable bike shop. He shared that carbon can fail catastrophically, and without warning. His advice is to take your bike to a professional bike mechanic and have them inspect it. They can document whether it\u2019s a total loss (or not) and then (if applicable) include that in your claim.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that every bike, not just carbon, should be inspected. If your bike was involved in a crash it should be checked thoroughly and everything should be documented. Nothing is too small to show up on the damage list. If there\u2019s new damage from the crash, document it as this is the beginning of the negotiation.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind, insurance companies will sometimes try to quote you a depreciated value based on a resale database. Don\u2019t freak out. Instead, say this: \u201cFine. Source me a replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n
You want the replacement value for your bike, not the resale value.<\/p>\n
Next, document all of this. Photograph every item that was damaged. Build a spreadsheet with links to current retail pricing. Include your bike fitting cost, labor for rebuilding, anything that was damaged (bike kit, helmet, computer). The more thoroughly you document it, the easier it is for the adjuster to justify writing you a check.<\/p>\n
What if the driver has no insurance?<\/p>\n
Get ready for the best piece of advice from our entire chat. And it\u2019s something you can (and should) do right now, before your next ride.<\/p>\n
Cooper recommends that every cyclist get uninsured\/underinsured motorist coverage on an auto insurance policy, even if you don\u2019t own a car.<\/p>\n
And he practices what he preaches. Cooper doesn\u2019t own a car and still carries auto insurance, for this very reason. He told me that a non-owner auto policy is inexpensive and extends coverage to you as a cyclist. His point is that if someone with no insurance hits you, your own policy covers the difference.<\/p>\n
For context, Cooper carries $1,000,000 worth of coverage himself. Laws and minimum requirements vary state by state, so you\u2019ll have to see what level of insurance makes sense for your situation but it tends to be worth upping it at least a little for most people. If you are involved in a crash on a bike, or in a car, that coverage could be all you have available. The lower mandated limit won\u2019t go far if you need to use it and increasing it a little typically costs almost nothing. Whatever you decide, it\u2019s worth a conversation to run the numbers and talk to your insurance provider.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the single most important thing to remember?<\/p>\n
When I asked Cooper this, he paused, genuinely took a beat, and really thought it through. Then he dropped these two gems.<\/p>\n
If there is an incident, even if it seems minor, document it. Something that appears small in the moment can turn out to be more serious than you realized.
\nThink about the thousands of rides you\u2019ve been on where nothing went wrong. Being prepared matters. However, don\u2019t let this ruin your ride. If you\u2019re constantly thinking about all the things that could go wrong, you\u2019re not enjoying all the things that are going right.<\/p>\n
So be prepared. Know your rights. Keep your bike in good condition. And go forth and ride.<\/p>\n
Miles Cooper is a co-owner of Bicycle Law, a San Francisco-based firm that exclusively represents cyclists in crash cases.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have been injured in a cycling accident, you should consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction promptly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Published June 22, 2026 06:49AM You know those days when it feels like you\u2019re spinning without a bike…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":753652,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,54263,82,269195,62576,54267],"class_list":["post-753651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-parent_category-road","tag-sports","tag-tag-bicycle-law","tag-tag-evergreen","tag-type-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/753651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=753651"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/753651\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/753652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=753651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=753651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=753651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/7538779716_2771a97315_k.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo: Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin