Bicycle Accidents

More Than $350 million Won for Our Clients

Review our case results now and then contact us for a free case evaluation to get the process started.

Modesto Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Over $425 Million Recovered. More Than 40 Years Fighting for Injured Cyclists.

Modesto ranked 10th among 62 comparable California cities for bicycle crash victims in 2023, with 73 cyclists killed or injured that year alone. Over the five years prior to 2024, the city averaged roughly 76 bicycle accidents involving injury annually. When a negligent driver strikes a cyclist, the consequences are rarely minor. Traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and severe fractures are common outcomes for riders who have no physical barrier between themselves and a vehicle.

When a driver’s carelessness causes those injuries, the injured rider or their surviving family may pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim. We’ve recovered more than $425 million for clients across personal injury and wrongful death cases, drawing on more than 40 years of legal experience. We serve clients throughout Modesto and Stanislaus County on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Free consultations are available.

If you or a family member was injured in a bicycle collision, call us today at (415) 275-3008 to speak with a Modesto bicycle accident lawyer at no cost.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents on Modesto Roads

Most bicycle collisions trace back to a specific driver behavior or road condition. Corridors carrying significant bicycle traffic alongside motor vehicles, including McHenry Avenue, Coffee Road, Briggsmore Avenue, and Tully Road, see repeated crash patterns tied to the same underlying failures.

Driver behaviors that frequently cause bicycle crashes include:

Failure to yield at intersections: Drivers turning left or right without checking for cyclists in the lane or crosswalk
Distracted driving: A driver focused on a phone or other distraction misses a cyclist in the lane until it’s too late
Dooring: A driver or passenger opens a vehicle door into the path of a passing cyclist, a recurring crash type near commercial strips and parallel parking zones
Blind spot failures: Drivers changing lanes or merging without checking for cyclists riding alongside
Driving under the influence: Impaired drivers have slower reaction times and reduced awareness of cyclists sharing the road
Improperly secured cargo: Debris falling from commercial vehicles can create sudden hazards for cyclists

Why Injured Cyclists in Modesto Choose Our Firm

Bicycle accident claims attract aggressive insurer tactics. Carriers routinely minimize payout offers to injured cyclists, and they adjust their approach based on who is across the table. A firm with trial experience and a verified record of significant recoveries can carry negotiating leverage that matters.

Our credentials and record:

More than $425 million recovered for clients across personal injury and wrongful death cases
Steven A. Fabbro holds the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating, one of the highest peer-reviewed credentials in the legal profession
Recognized by Northern California Super Lawyers
Listed on the San Francisco Top Rated Lawyers list

Beyond credentials, we provide ongoing personal attention at every stage of your case. You won’t be handed off to a junior associate or left waiting for updates. Our contingency fee structure means no upfront costs and no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your situation and understand your options.

You don’t have to face the insurance company alone. Contact Law Offices of Steven A. Fabbro for a free consultation with a Modesto bicycle accident lawyer. Call (415) 275-3008 or schedule your consultation online.

California Bicycle Law & Your Rights as a Cyclist

California law gives cyclists the same rights and responsibilities on public roads as motor vehicle operators. Under Vehicle Code section 21200, a person riding a bicycle on a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the same provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle. Drivers who fail to respect those rights and cause an injury may be liable for the resulting harm. Several specific Vehicle Code provisions govern the situations that most commonly injure cyclists, and violations of those provisions can support liability more directly than a general negligence claim.

Key Vehicle Code Provisions

Three Feet for Safety Act (VC 21760): Drivers overtaking a bicycle must pass at a safe distance of not less than three feet. A violation that causes injury is negligence per se, meaning the violation itself supports the driver’s breach of duty without requiring additional proof of careless conduct.
Dooring Prohibition (VC 22517): No person may open a vehicle door into moving traffic without first ensuring it is safe to do so. A dooring crash can be negligence per se under this section.
Bike Lane Restrictions (VC 21209): Motor vehicles may not travel in a marked bicycle lane except to park where permitted, to enter or leave the roadway, or to prepare for a turn within 200 feet of an intersection.

Comparative Fault & the Statute of Limitations

California follows a pure comparative fault system. If a cyclist shared some responsibility for the collision, any damages recovered are reduced proportionally by the cyclist’s percentage of fault. A cyclist found 20 percent at fault, for example, can still recover 80 percent of their damages. Partial fault doesn’t bar recovery.

The standard deadline for filing a personal injury claim in California is two years from the date of the incident under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a government entity’s roadway design or maintenance contributed to the crash, a separate claim generally must be filed with that entity within six months of the incident under Government Code section 911.2. Missing either deadline may bar recovery. Bicycle accident lawsuits involving Modesto and Stanislaus County residents are filed in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

Injuries & Damages in Bicycle Accident Claims

The injuries cyclists sustain in collisions with motor vehicles tend to be serious. Common harm includes traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, bone fractures, road rash requiring surgical treatment, and internal injuries. Under California’s eggshell plaintiff rule, a negligent driver is responsible for the full extent of harm caused or aggravated, including injuries worsened by a pre-existing condition.

Recoverable Economic Damages

Economic damages compensate for specific financial losses the injury caused or may cause, including:

Past and future medical expenses, including rehabilitation and ongoing care
Lost wages during recovery
Reduced earning capacity if the injury affects the ability to work long-term
Bicycle repair or replacement costs

Non-Economic and Additional Damages

Beyond financial losses, injured cyclists may pursue non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. When a cyclist is killed by a negligent driver, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. In cases involving reckless or intentional driver conduct, punitive damages may also be available.

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THE FABBRO DIFFERENCE

A reputation built on experience, results, and relentless client advocacy.

FREE CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE TO POTENTIAL CLIENTS
OVER $425 MILLION RECOVERED FOR OUR CLIENTS
YOU DON'T PAY US ANYTHING UNLESS WE WIN FOR YOU

NORTHERN CA SUPER LAWYERS® (TOP 5% OF ATTORNEYS)
MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF PROVEN LEGAL EXPERIENCE
TOP-RATED ETHICS & SKILL (AV PREEMINENT® RATING)

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What Our Clients Say

A Trusted Advocate for the Injured in San Francisco

With over 35 years of legal experience and more than $350 million recovered, we’re here to help you pursue justice.

"His professionalism, hard work and nurturing character helped me and my husband succeed in our lawsuit."
His professionalism, hard work and nurturing character helped me and my husband succeed in our lawsuit.

- R. Stabile, Medical Device / Product Liability
"His professionalism, discretion, and skills made the very difficult situation we experience much more tolerable. "
His professionalism, discretion, and skills made the very difficult situation we experience much more tolerable.

- H. Smith, Premises Liability Injury Client
"I am very happy with his services. I would recommend him to any person who has serious problems."
I am very happy with his services. I would recommend him to any person who has serious problems.

- M. Morales, Pedestrian / Auto Injury Client
"He was very understanding, listened to our needs and Mr. Fabbro was very truthful and honest with all of us."
He was very understanding, listened to our needs and Mr. Fabbro was very truthful and honest with all of us.

- L. Maryland, Wrongful Death of Parent Client

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