Despite safety improvements, bicycle accidents are common in San Francisco

Since 2000, the percent of people who biked to work in San Francisco increased from 2.0 percent to 3.4 percent, according to 2008-2012 statistics from the American Community Survey. San Francisco had among the highest percent of commuters who bike to work.

According to the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles:

Ride on the Street - You have a right to ride on the street. You are NOT required to ride on the sidewalk. Exception: Freeways and some bridges may have signs posted forbidding bicyclists.

Obey All Signs, Street Markings, and Signals - Bicycle riders must obey the same rules as vehicle drivers. This includes stopping at red lights and stop signs.

Avoid Riding on Sidewalks - Each city in California has its own rules about riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. Some cities allow sidewalk riding, some don’t. Check with your city’s municipal code.

Ride to the Right, But Within Limits - When riding slower than the normal speed of traffic, you are required to ride as far right as “practicable” (meaning safe). You are not required to ride as far right as possible, which may not be safe. You are allowed, but not required, to ride on the shoulder. 

Take the Lane - If a travel lane is too narrow to safely share side by side with a motor vehicle, you can prevent unsafe passing by riding near the center of the lane. On two-lane roads where it’s illegal or unsafe to pass, you must turn off the roadway at a designated or safe location to allow a line of 5 or more vehicles behind you to pass.

Ride With Traffic, Not Against It - You must ride on the right half of the roadway, with the flow of traffic. Exception: you can ride on either the left or right side of one-way streets.

Look and Yield Before You Go - You must yield to traffic before entering the roadway. 

Ride Outside the Door Zone - It’s the responsibility of motor vehicle drivers to make sure it’s clear before opening a door. Despite this, a practical guide is to ride at least 3 feet from parked cars.

Get information here on bicycle crashes and San Francisco law enforcement

The San Francisco Police Department offers information on traffic and accidents, and also provides information on filing a police report after a serious bicycle crash, or on obtaining a police report. The department is a good resource for local residents and visitors alike to get information and assistance after a bicycle accident.

San Francisco bicycle crashes have common causes and deadly outcomes

While helmets and proper reflective gear make bicycling safer, riding a bicycle is riskier than driving a car. Maintaining control is more difficult on two wheels, and when collisions happen, bicyclists are at greater risk of serious injury or death because they don't have an enclosed vehicle for protection. Common causes of bicycle crashes include: Motorist turning across path of cyclist; Cyclist riding into the path of a motor vehicle; Cyclist turning right from a major road and from a minor road; Child cyclist playing or riding too fast.

When someone is injured in a San Francisco bicycle accident, what needs to happen next?

In an injury bike crash, it is crucial to get appropriate medical treatment, regardless of the financial cost. The major hospitals in the area include: SAN FRANCISCO

• California Pacific Medical Center
• Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
• San Francisco General Hospital
• St. Mary's Medical Center
• UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital

OAKLAND

• Highland General Hospital
• Children's Hospital & Research
• Alameda Health System

SAN JOSE

• Regional Medical Center of San Jose
• Good Samaritan Hospital
• Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center
• O'Connor Hospital
• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
• El Camino Hospital Los Gatos

As soon as possible, an injured person visiting from out of town should contact their insurance company to find out how treatment is covered under their insurance policy. Since insurance policies often have unique provisions to deal with bicycle-accident injuries, it is important to review the policy and speak with the insurance adjuster to get clarification on coverage.

When a bicycle collision is serious or fatal, it is important to find a San Francisco bike accident attorney

When an injury is serious or a death occurs, the next step is to find an experienced San Francisco bicycle accident attorney to start the financial recovery process by launching an insurance claim. Major injury or wrongful death claims are complicated and difficult to manage. Having a San Francisco accident lawyer on board is a great relief to injured people, or to the family left behind when an accident proves fatal.