INJURY INFORMATION
Pedestrian & bicycle accidents
If you were injured while walking or riding a bicycle, the precise location and sequence can matter as much as the vehicle information. Start with the details you remember, even if you do not have a completed report.
Let’s hear your story.
A few details are enough to start.
Describe the route through the scene
For a pedestrian incident, note the sidewalk, crossing, driveway or parking area involved. For a bicycle incident, describe the road, bike lane or path and the direction you were traveling. Record traffic signals and visibility as you observed them, without estimating another person's speed unless you have a basis.
Tell the intake team whether the incident involved a turning vehicle, an opening car door, a reversing vehicle, a road condition or another event. If no vehicle contact occurred, explain how the injury happened. Avoid assuming that a report's short description captures the whole sequence.
Keep the evidence in its original form
Save scene photos, the report number and witness contact details. Preserve original route or camera recordings you already hold. Make a note of nearby businesses or vehicles that might have recorded the event, but leave requests for restricted footage to the appropriate process.
Record where a damaged bicycle or personal item is stored. Keep photographs of the damage and purchase or repair information if available. Do not use damaged safety equipment or return to a dangerous road to gather more images.
When the injured person is a child
A parent or family member can begin by explaining their relationship and the circumstances. Use a general injury description in the initial form; do not include school records, identity documents or detailed medical information. A lawyer can clarify who may act for the child and what is needed for a secure review.
If the incident happened near a school, on a public path or during an organized activity, give the exact location and the names of organizations involved. Preserve correspondence without assuming that a particular organization is legally responsible.
Questions to bring to a legal conversation
Ask what evidence can clarify the crossing or vehicle movement, which insurance information should be gathered, and whether a public entity or commercial vehicle changes the review. Explain any disagreement about the event, but keep facts and conclusions separate.
Document care appointments, missed work or school and the help needed with everyday tasks. If you already have a claim number or a lawyer, mention it immediately. The next step should reflect your actual situation rather than starting a duplicate process.
Common questions
Do I need to have been in a marked crosswalk?
Describe where you were. A lawyer needs the actual circumstances and applicable local rules to assess the incident.
What if I do not own a car or auto policy?
You can still start an inquiry. Explain what insurance information you have without assuming which policy must apply.
Can I ask about an e-bike or scooter injury?
Yes. State the type of device, whether it was rented and where it was being used. Those details help avoid treating it automatically as an ordinary bicycle incident.
Continue with the information you need
Start with a short inquiry
Share the incident location, general injury and a way to reach you. Our intake team clarifies the basics and explains any proposed handoff. A lawyer makes their own decision about acceptance and representation.
For immediate danger or a medical emergency, contact emergency services. Seek legal advice promptly about deadlines; an inquiry does not pause them.
Request a callbackUpdated November 2, 2026 · General preparation information from Personal Injury Pal. Not an individual legal or medical assessment. Resource: California Courts: general personal injury information (California-specific).
Start with what happened.
You do not need to know the legal name for your injury.