Bicycle Accident Complaint

COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES (BICYCLE COLLISION) — CALIFORNIA

[ATTORNEY NAME], Esq. (State Bar No. [____])

[LAW FIRM NAME]

[STREET ADDRESS]

[CITY, STATE ZIP]

Telephone: [(___) ___-____]

Email: [____________]

Attorneys for Plaintiff, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME]

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

Case No.: [____________]

COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES (BICYCLE COLLISION)

1. Negligence
2. Negligence Per Se
3. Negligent Entrustment / Vicarious Liability (optional)

[UNLIMITED] CIVIL CASE — Amount in controversy exceeds $35,000

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] ("Plaintiff") alleges as follows:

1. PARTIES

1. Plaintiff is, and at all relevant times was, an individual residing in the County of [COUNTY], State of California, and was the lawful operator of a bicycle (the "Bicycle") upon the public roadways of this State at the time of the collision described below.

2. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that Defendant [DEFENDANT DRIVER FULL NAME] ("Defendant Driver") is, and at all relevant times was, an individual residing in the County of [COUNTY], State of California, and was the operator of a [YEAR / MAKE / MODEL] motor vehicle (the "Defendant Vehicle").

3. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that Defendant [DEFENDANT OWNER FULL NAME] ("Defendant Owner") is, and at all relevant times was, the registered owner of the Defendant Vehicle and entrusted it to Defendant Driver with permission, express or implied.

4. The true names and capacities, whether individual, corporate, associate, or otherwise, of Defendants sued herein as DOES 1 through 50, inclusive, are unknown to Plaintiff, who therefore sues these Defendants by such fictitious names pursuant to Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 474. Plaintiff will amend this Complaint to allege their true names and capacities when ascertained.

5. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that at all relevant times each Defendant was the agent, servant, employee, joint venturer, and/or permissive user of each remaining Defendant and was acting within the course and scope of that relationship.

2. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

6. This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction because Plaintiff's damages exceed the jurisdictional minimum for an unlimited civil case, exclusive of interest and costs (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 85–89).

7. This Court has personal jurisdiction over each Defendant under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 410.10 because each Defendant resides in, and/or operated a motor vehicle within, the State of California.

8. Venue is proper in this Court under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 395(a) because the collision giving rise to this action occurred in the County of [COUNTY] and/or because one or more Defendants reside in that County.

9. This action is timely commenced within the two-year limitations period prescribed by Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1.

3. GENERAL FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

10. On or about [__/__/____] at approximately [TIME], Plaintiff was lawfully and prudently operating the Bicycle, traveling [DIRECTION] on [STREET / HIGHWAY] at or near its intersection with [CROSS-STREET / LANDMARK] in [CITY], California (the "Collision").

11. At all relevant times, Plaintiff was riding the Bicycle in compliance with the California Vehicle Code, including riding in the same direction as traffic and as near to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway as was practicable under the conditions then existing, except where departure was permitted by law. Pursuant to Cal. Veh. Code § 21200, Plaintiff possessed all the rights, and was subject to all the duties, applicable to the driver of a vehicle.

12. At the same time and place, Defendant Driver was operating the Defendant Vehicle in the vicinity of Plaintiff and the Bicycle.

13. Defendant Driver caused the Collision by negligently engaging in one or more of the following acts or omissions:

• [Unsafe pass / 3-foot violation] Defendant Driver overtook and passed Plaintiff's Bicycle proceeding in the same direction at a distance of less than three feet, and/or without first changing into an available adjacent lane, and/or without slowing to a reasonable and prudent speed when three feet could not be maintained, in violation of Cal. Veh. Code § 21760 (the "Three Feet for Safety Act");
• [Dooring] Defendant Driver (or an occupant of the Defendant Vehicle) opened a vehicle door on the side available to moving traffic into Plaintiff's path of travel when it was not reasonably safe to do so, in violation of Cal. Veh. Code § 22517;
• [Left-turn / left-cross] Defendant Driver turned the Defendant Vehicle left across Plaintiff's lawful path of travel and failed to yield the right-of-way to the oncoming Bicycle, which was close enough to constitute an immediate hazard, in violation of Cal. Veh. Code § 21801;
• [Right-hook] Defendant Driver overtook the Bicycle and then turned right across Plaintiff's path, or turned right without first ascertaining that the movement could be made safely, cutting off the Bicycle;
• [Failure to yield from driveway / private road] Defendant Driver entered or crossed the roadway from a private road, driveway, or alley and failed to yield the right-of-way to the approaching Bicycle, in violation of Cal. Veh. Code § 21804;
• ["Looked but failed to see"] Defendant Driver failed to maintain a proper lookout and failed to perceive the readily visible Bicycle and bicyclist;
• [Unsafe lane change] Defendant Driver moved the Defendant Vehicle from its lane into the Bicycle's lane or path without first ascertaining that the movement could be made with reasonable safety and without an appropriate signal, in violation of Cal. Veh. Code § 22107;
• [Unsafe speed] Defendant Driver operated the Defendant Vehicle at a speed greater than was reasonable and prudent under the conditions, in violation of Cal. Veh. Code § 22350;
• [Following too closely / inattention / distraction] Defendant Driver was inattentive, distracted, and/or followed too closely.

14. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant Driver's conduct, the Defendant Vehicle (or its door) struck Plaintiff and/or the Bicycle, throwing Plaintiff to the roadway and causing Plaintiff serious bodily injury, including but not limited to [DESCRIBE INJURIES — e.g., fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, internal injuries, road rash/degloving, and disfiguring scarring].

15. Because a bicyclist is wholly unprotected by the structural body, restraint systems, and crumple zones of an enclosed motor vehicle, the forces of the Collision caused Plaintiff to suffer catastrophic and more severe injuries than would typically result from a comparable collision between two enclosed vehicles.

16. Following the Collision, the [California Highway Patrol / [CITY] Police Department] responded and [cited Defendant Driver for violation of Cal. Veh. Code § [SECTION] / determined Defendant Driver to be at fault].

17. Plaintiff received emergency care at [HOSPITAL] and has since undergone [SUMMARY OF TREATMENT], and Plaintiff's care and recovery are ongoing.

4. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION — NEGLIGENCE

(Against Defendant Driver and Does 1–50)

18. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference Paragraphs 1 through 17 as though fully set forth herein.

19. Defendant Driver owed Plaintiff a duty to exercise reasonable care in the operation of a motor vehicle, including the duties to obey the California Vehicle Code, to keep a proper lookout for bicyclists lawfully sharing the roadway, to pass at a safe distance, to yield the right-of-way where required, and to operate the Defendant Vehicle at a safe and prudent speed. (Cal. Civ. Code § 1714.)

20. Defendant Driver breached these duties by the acts and omissions alleged in Paragraph 13 above.

21. Defendant Driver's breaches were the actual and proximate cause of the Collision and of Plaintiff's injuries and damages alleged herein.

22. As a direct and proximate result, Plaintiff has sustained and will continue to sustain the damages described in Section 7 below, in amounts to be proven at trial.

5. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION — NEGLIGENCE PER SE

(Against Defendant Driver and Does 1–50)

23. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference Paragraphs 1 through 22 as though fully set forth herein.

24. At the time of the Collision, Defendant Driver violated one or more provisions of the California Vehicle Code enacted to protect the class of persons to which Plaintiff belongs (bicyclists and other roadway users) against the type of harm Plaintiff suffered, including but not limited to:

• Cal. Veh. Code § 21760 (Three Feet for Safety Act — unsafe passing of a bicycle / failure to change lanes / failure to slow);
• Cal. Veh. Code § 22517 (opening a vehicle door into traffic when not reasonably safe — "dooring");
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21801 (failure to yield the right-of-way when turning left);
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21804 (failure to yield when entering the highway from a private road or driveway);
• Cal. Veh. Code § 22107 (unsafe turning movement / unsafe lane change without proper signal);
• Cal. Veh. Code § 22350 (basic speed law — unsafe speed);
• [OTHER VEHICLE CODE SECTION CITED OR APPLICABLE].

25. Pursuant to Cal. Evid. Code § 669 and the doctrine of negligence per se, Defendant Driver's violation of these statutes creates a presumption of negligence.

26. Plaintiff was within the class of persons the statutes were designed to protect, and the Collision and Plaintiff's injuries are the type of harm the statutes were designed to prevent.

27. Defendant Driver's statutory violations were a direct and proximate cause of the Collision and of Plaintiff's injuries and damages.

6. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION — NEGLIGENT ENTRUSTMENT / VICARIOUS LIABILITY

(Against Defendant Owner and Does 1–50)

28. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference Paragraphs 1 through 27 as though fully set forth herein.

29. Defendant Owner owned the Defendant Vehicle and permitted Defendant Driver to operate it with actual or constructive knowledge that Defendant Driver was an incompetent, inexperienced, impaired, or reckless operator.

30. As the registered owner who gave permissive use, Defendant Owner is liable for Plaintiff's injuries caused by Defendant Driver's negligent operation, subject to the statutory limits of permissive-use owner liability under Cal. Veh. Code §§ 17150–17151.

31. Alternatively, to the extent Defendant Driver was acting within the course and scope of an employment or agency relationship with Defendant Owner, Defendant Owner is vicariously liable for Defendant Driver's negligence under the doctrine of respondeat superior.

32. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant Owner's negligent entrustment and/or vicarious liability, Plaintiff has sustained the damages alleged herein.

7. DAMAGES

33. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' conduct, Plaintiff has sustained and will continue to sustain the following damages, in amounts to be proven at trial:

• a. Past and future medical and related expenses — hospital, surgical, physician, ambulance, rehabilitative, pharmaceutical, and assistive-device costs;
• b. Future care — anticipated surgeries, attendant care, physical therapy, and life-care needs;
• c. Lost earnings and loss of earning capacity — past wage loss and future diminished earning capacity;
• d. General damages — past and future physical pain, suffering, mental and emotional distress, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment of life;
• e. Permanent injury, scarring, and disfigurement — including disfigurement associated with road rash and surgical scarring;
• f. Property damage — to the Bicycle, helmet, cycling apparel, and electronic equipment, including diminution in value and loss of use;
• g. Prejudgment and postjudgment interest as allowed by law; and
• h. Costs of suit.

8. COMPARATIVE FAULT AND HELMET NOTE

34. California applies the doctrine of pure comparative negligence. To the extent any Defendant contends Plaintiff was comparatively at fault, any such fault shall proportionally reduce — but shall not bar — Plaintiff's recovery (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal. 3d 804 (1975)). Plaintiff exercised due care at all relevant times.

9. UNINSURED / UNDERINSURED MOTORIST AND HIT-AND-RUN NOTE

10. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendants, and each of them, jointly and severally, as follows:

1. For general (non-economic) damages according to proof;
2. For special (economic) damages according to proof;
3. For property damage and loss of use according to proof;
4. For prejudgment and postjudgment interest as allowed by law;
5. For costs of suit incurred herein; and
6. For such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

11. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable as a matter of right under Article I, § 16 of the California Constitution and Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 631.

12. VERIFICATION

I am the Plaintiff in the above-entitled action. I have read the foregoing Complaint and know its contents. The same is true of my own knowledge, except as to those matters stated on information and belief, and as to those matters, I believe them to be true. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on [__/__/____], at [CITY], California.

[________________________________]

[PLAINTIFF FULL NAME], Plaintiff

13. SIGNATURE BLOCK

Dated: [__/__/____]

Respectfully submitted,

[LAW FIRM NAME]

By: [________________________________]

[ATTORNEY NAME], Esq. (State Bar No. [____])

Attorneys for Plaintiff, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME]

14. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 (two-year personal-injury limitations period)
• Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 85–89 (limited/unlimited civil jurisdiction; threshold raised to $35,000 by AB 2347 for cases filed on/after Jan. 1, 2024)
• Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 395 (venue); § 410.10 (personal jurisdiction); § 474 (Doe defendants); § 631 (jury demand)
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21200 (bicyclist has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver) — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21202 (ride-right rule and exceptions)
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21760 (Three Feet for Safety Act; lane-change/slow requirement, amended by AB 1909 eff. Jan. 1, 2023)
• Cal. Veh. Code § 22517 (opening a vehicle door into traffic — "dooring")
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21801 (left turn — yield right-of-way); § 21804 (entering from private road/driveway — yield)
• Cal. Veh. Code § 22107 (turning movements and signals); § 22350 (basic speed law)
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21212 (bicycle helmet required for riders under 18); § 21213 (helmet for Class 3 e-bike riders)
• Cal. Veh. Code §§ 17150–17151 (permissive-use owner liability)
• Cal. Civ. Code § 1714 (general duty of care); § 3294 (punitive damages); § 3295(e) (no specific punitive amount pleaded); § 3333.4 (Prop. 213)
• Cal. Evid. Code § 669 (negligence per se presumption)
• Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.2 (uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage)
• Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal. 3d 804 (1975) (pure comparative negligence)
• Judicial Council Forms: Civil Case Cover Sheet (CM-010), Summons (SUM-100), Statement of Damages (CIV-050)

Disclaimer: This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. An attorney licensed in California must review and customize this document before filing. Laws, citations, court rules, and jurisdictional thresholds change frequently; verify all authorities before use.