Hit While Riding Bicycle on a Sidewalk in Santa Monica?

Bicycle Riding on Sidewalk on some Santa Monica Streets Feels Safer

Some streets in Santa Monica are so busy that bicyclists may choose to ride on the sidewalk instead of the street because they feel safer on the sidewalk. Lincoln Blvd., Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica Blvd., and Pico Blvd. are just some of the busy streets that cause bicyclists to opt for sidewalk riding over street-riding. If you are hit by a car while riding on one of these busy streets, an argument can be made that it was safer for you to ride on the sidewalk rather than the street, thus your sidewalk riding should not be used against you.

For children, in particular, a much stronger argument can be made that it was safer for the child to ride on the sidewalk. In some California cities, including San Francisco, it is legal for children to bicycle on the sidewalk, but in Santa Monica, sidewalk riding is illegal, regardless of the bicyclist's age. The argument that it was safer to ride on the sidewalk than the street is much more compelling for children, especially young children, however, fault may be placed on the child's parents for failure to supervise.

Dangers of Bicycle Riding on Sidewalk

Though riding a bicycle on a sidewalk may feel safer than riding in the street, sidewalk-riding has its own dangers:

• Getting hit by a driver exiting a driveway. The quietness of hybrid and electric vehicles poses a particular hazard to a bicyclist riding on the sidewalk because there is no auditory cue to alert the bicyclist to the exiting motorist.
• Colliding with a pedestrian.
• Getting hit by a right-turning car as you ride from the sidewalk into a crosswalk. Drivers don't anticipate a bicyclist, and the driver's view of the approaching bicyclist may be obscured by parked cars, poles or trees on the sidewalk, or the vehicle's blind spots. A right-turning driver's attention is focused on vehicles approaching from the left, not on bicyclists (or pedestrians) coming off the sidewalk to their right.

Will an Attorney take your Case if you were Hit while Riding your Bike on a Sidewalk in Santa Monica?

As attorneys, we know that 99% of the time, if our client was bike riding on the sidewalk at the time of the accident, we are looking at a comparative negligence case. We know that the bike rider will be deemed partially at fault for the accident, and the value of his or her claim will be diminished accordingly.

For that reason, in order for our firm to be able to take the case, the injuries must be significant. The more serious the injuries, the more likely we can represent you. You are welcome to call our office and we can discuss whether we can take your case. If we can't represent you, we are happy to give you advice at no charge.