Mill Valley Bicycle Accidents Caused by Collisions with Cars and Buses

A bus passed too close to you on your bike in Mill Valley. You lost control, smacked into a curb, flipped over your handlebars, and suffered head and neck injuries. You are severely injured. Call Zinn Law Firm in Mill Valley for immediate legal assistance. We are top-rated Mill Valley personal injury attorneys, and we get results.

Our bicycle accident attorneys in Mill Valley at Zinn Law Firm are available for immediate assistance now at (415) 292-4100. We’ll determine your legal options and estimate your potential case value.

Why Choose Us? 

inn Law Firm is a highly-rated personal injury law firm serving Mill Valley and the greater San Francisco area. Zinn Law Firm has the community’s best personal injury attorneys, who are highly rated by Super Lawyers. Also, Attorney Carter Zinn boasts an impressive 9.4 Avvo rating, showing his skill in car, bus, and bicycle accident claims and litigation.

You can judge our attorneys’ skills by our bike accident case results: 

• $600,000 bike accident settlement for dooring accident 
• $595 bike accident settlement for fall on Caltrain tracks
• $525,000 bike accident settlement for fall in the Presidio 
• $2.5 million bike accident settlement after AC Transit accident 

Our personal injury offices are accessible at 591 Redwood Highway #4000 in Mill Valley, CA. The law firm’s office is on Silva Island next to Highway 101 and near Ferrari of San Francisco. We are only a short car drive away from Sausalito Ferry Terminal. Call us for a complimentary consultation at (415) 292-4100.

Bike Accident Claim Compensation 

If you were involved in a bike-bus crash in Mill Valley, the compensation you might be eligible for depends on the specifics of the incident, such as who was at fault, the extent of your injuries, and the financial losses you’ve experienced. Generally, compensation can fall into a few categories.

First, you can seek medical expenses. This covers costs like hospital bills, doctor visits, physical therapy, or any ongoing care related to injuries from the crash—say, if you broke a bone or suffered a concussion when a bus hit your bike. Even ambulance fees or medication can be included.

Second, you can receive lost income. If the crash prevents you from working, you might recover the income you missed out on. Compensation can also account for that long-term loss if your injuries are severe enough to affect your working ability.

Third, you can claim property damage. If your bike was mangled in the crash, you might be reimbursed for repair or replacement costs. Any other damaged gear, like a helmet or phone, can factor in, too.

Finally, there is your pain and suffering. This is trickier to pin down but covers the physical pain and emotional toll, such as anxiety or trauma from the incident. For example, if you’re too shaken to ride again, that impact on your life might be considered.

In rare cases, if the bus driver’s or car driver’s actions were blatantly reckless, such as drunk driving, punitive damages could come into play to punish that behavior, though that’s less common.

To determine your damages, who was at fault is key. If a bus company or transit system is at fault, more insurance coverage may be available than if a car driver is to blame. The best way to understand your claim value is to retain a Mill Valley bike accident attorney. They’ll understand what your claim is worth by talking to doctors and other experts.

Where Bike Crashes Happen In Mill Valley Area 

Many in the Mill Valley community love to ride their bikes and enjoy the sunny weather and beauty. Others use their bikes to commute to work to avoid driving. But this is a congested area, and bike accidents are common. Some common trouble spots for car and bus accidents with bikes are:

• Baywood Canyon Rd. and Sir Francis Drake Rd.
• Shoreline Hwy and Tennessee Ave
• East Blithedale and Ashford Ave
• Miller Ave and Camino Alto
• Luca Valley Rd. and Nicasio Valley Rd. 
• Alexander Ave. and Bunker Rd. 
• Pan Toll Rd and Panoramic Hwy
• Luca Valley Rd. and Nicasio Valley Rd. 

Serious cycling accidents with buses and cars can occur in any part of the San Francisco region. If it happens to you, call the police and a Zinn Law Firm attorney immediately. You may have severe injuries and not know it immediately. 

Types Of Bike Accidents In Mill Valley 

Mill Valley has many car and bus accidents, some involving cyclists. Common bike crashes include these types:

• Collisions with cars and buses: Mill Valley’s roads, like Camino Alto and Sycamore Avenue, see significant car and bike traffic. A frequent type of accident involves cars and buses turning into cyclists’ paths, such as right-turn collisions. 
• Dooring incidents: In areas with parked cars near bike lanes or narrow streets, “dooring” happens when a driver or passenger opens a car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist. 
• Intersection accidents: Busy intersections, such as those near schools like Mill Valley Middle School, are hotspots for accidents. Cyclists may be hit by vehicles failing to stop or misjudging their speed, especially during peak hours. 
• Pathway collisions: The Mill Valley-Sausalito Pathway, a popular multi-use trail, sees accidents involving cyclists colliding with pedestrians or other cyclists.
• E-Bike accidents: The rise of e-bikes has introduced a new dynamic. Their higher speeds and weight can lead to more severe collisions with pedestrians, other cyclists, or obstacles. 

Your Mill Valley bike accident attorney will investigate the accident to determine who was at fault. They will rely on surveillance video, photos and videos of the crash scene, police reports, witness statements, and more. If a bus was involved, there may be helpful accident evidence on the onboard data record.

Bike Crash Injury Types 

A car or bus hitting a Mill Valley cyclist can cause terrible injuries. Some of the most frequent bike crash injuries after a car or bus accident are:

• Head injuries: A cyclist can suffer concussions, skull fractures, or traumatic brain injuries. The head might strike the bus, the ground, or both, leading to anything from temporary disorientation to long-term brain damage. 
• Neck and spinal injuries: The sudden jolt from a bus impact can whip the neck around, causing whiplash or muscle strain. More severe cases might involve fractured vertebrae or spinal cord damage, potentially leading to paralysis. 
• Chest injuries: These can happen if the cyclist is struck directly or pinned. Broken ribs, bruised lungs, or even internal bleeding are possible, especially if the torso hits the bus or gets caught under it. 
• Leg and arm injuries: Cyclists might try to brace themselves, leading to fractures in the wrists, forearms, or collarbones. Legs can get tangled in the bike or crushed, resulting in broken bones, torn ligaments, or severe bruising. 
• Soft tissue injuries: Can include road rash, cuts, and lacerations. These can range from minor scrapes to deep wounds needing medical attention to avoid infection.
• Death: Sadly, some serious bus and car impacts on bikers lead to death. A Mill Valley bike accident attorney can help file a wrongful death lawsuit against the liable party. 

Taking On The Insurance Company

Fighting an insurance company after a bike accident with a car or bus in Mill Valley can be a nightmare. You are hurt – perhaps in the hospital – so you aren’t in a condition to fight with the insurance company.

• Fault determination: One of the most significant disputes is figuring out who’s to blame. Cyclists and drivers often have conflicting stories—did the car cut off the bike, or did the cyclist run a light? Insurance companies may argue the cyclist was negligent, especially if they weren’t following traffic rules or wearing visible gear.
• Uninsured drivers: If a cyclist gets hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage, disputes can erupt over how much the cyclist’s insurance should pay. Some policies have gaps that leave cyclists fighting for compensation.
• Medical expenses: Insurance companies might lowball the payout for injuries, claiming they’re not as severe as the cyclist says or that some treatments weren’t necessary. This gets messy when long-term rehab or chronic pain is involved.
• Property damage: Bikes, especially high-end road or electric models, can be expensive. Disputes happen when insurers undervalue the bike’s worth or refuse to cover accessories like helmets, lights, or racks damaged in the crash.
• Coverage denials: Some auto insurance policies try to wiggle out of paying by arguing the cyclist doesn’t qualify as a “vulnerable road user” or that the incident falls outside their liability terms. 
• Shared responsibility: In states with comparative negligence laws, insurers might blame the cyclist partially. There can also be several cars or buses involved, so there can be a big fight between multiple insurance companies. 
• Pre-existing conditions: If a cyclist had a prior injury, like a bad knee, insurers might claim the crash didn’t cause the current issue, even if it clearly aggravated it. Proving the crash’s impact becomes a sticking point.
• Hit-and-run cases: Liability is tough to pin down when a driver flees. Cyclists relying on their own uninsured motorist coverage might face disputes over evidence, like whether there’s enough proof a phantom vehicle was involved.

In summary, dealing with insurance after a bike crash can be overwhelming. Don’t worry: Our Zinn Law Firm bike accident attorneys know the insurance blame game and will handle any problems with the bus or car insurance company.

What To Do After A Bike Crash In Mill Valley 

A bus hit you, and you’re on the ground in a lot of pain. It’s hard to know what to do. You should take several critical steps to ensure your health and legal options. Of course, you should call an ambulance and the police, but there are other critical steps to have the best-case outcome:

First, avoid talking too much at the scene. Don’t apologize or admit fault, even casually; those words can be twisted against you later. Stick to exchanging necessary info with the driver and giving a factual account to the police. Also, don’t negotiate with the driver or accept quick cash offers; they might try to dodge liability down the line.

Second, keep everything related to the crash intact. Don’t repair your bike or toss damaged gear, such as your helmet or clothes. These show the impact of the crash. Write down everything you remember about the incident while it’s fresh: how it happened, what the driver did, road conditions, anything relevant. Memory fades, and details matter.

Third, contact a Zinn Law Firm bike accident lawyer immediately. A lawyer will guide you through the next steps: investigating the crash, dealing with insurance, and building your case. Don’t talk to the at-fault party’s insurance without your attorney: They’re trained to lowball you or trick you into weakening your claim.

Fourth, document your losses carefully. Save medical bills, receipts for bike repairs, and proof of missed work (like pay stubs). Beyond that, note how the crash affects your life, such as pain, emotional distress, or inability to ride again. These “pain and suffering” damages can boost your claim but need solid backing, like doctor’s notes or a journal of your recovery struggles.

Fifth, use caution when you get early settlement offers from the car or bus insurance company. They often push quick, low payouts to close the case before you realize the full extent of your injuries or costs. Let your bike accident lawyer negotiate; they’ll know what’s fair based on your damages and local laws, like comparative negligence rules that might reduce your award if you’re found partly at fault.

Speak To A Mill Valley Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today 

A Mill Valley bicycle accident with a bus or car can render you disabled and never the same. You can have hundreds of thousands in medical bills and lost earnings, and your loss of enjoyment of life has shattered you. Immediately call an attorney. You can speak to a Zinn Law Firm personal injury attorney at (415) 292-4100. Our Mill Valley bike accident attorneys will review your case immediately and determine if another party’s negligence caused your injuries.