Are you dealing with any of this?
Hit by a turning car in a crosswalk
You were in the crosswalk and the driver turned without seeing you. Now the insurer says you "darted out."
You were not in a crosswalk
You crossed mid-block or as the light was changing. You are not sure you can still claim.
Clipped by a passing car or hit by a car door
A car passed too close, or a parked driver opened a door into your path, and you went down with the bike.
The driver drove away
No plate number, only the color and model. You do not know who is left to pay.
You do not own a car or have auto insurance
You assume there is no coverage. A household member's auto policy may still help.
A pothole, broken signal, or a bus
The road played a part, or a bus or city vehicle hit you. These cases need a written claim within 6 months, so contact us early.
How we help
Once you retain us, insurer calls and letters come to us, and you can focus on recovering.
We deal with the insurers for you
We notify every insurer that we represent you. We handle the calls, letters, and forms, so you do not have to argue with an adjuster in English.
Police report and video
We get the police report, request video from the intersection, the transit agency, and nearby shops, and contact witnesses. Video gets erased, so we ask early.
If the driver fled, we find another way to pay
We follow the police investigation. If the driver is never found, we claim under the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your or a household member's policy and meet the reporting steps on time.
We find every policy that can pay
The driver's auto policy, your and your family's auto policies, medical payments coverage (MedPay), and health insurance. We check each one to see which pays first and how much.
When they blame you, we answer with evidence
If the other side says you "darted out" or were not watching, we check positions, signals, video, and witnesses, and bring in an accident reconstruction advisor when needed.
Records, bills, and the demand package
We collect ER, therapy, and follow-up records and bills, add lost income and the future care your doctor expects, and put it all into a complete demand letter.
Medical balances and liens
Before the case closes, we negotiate balances and liens with hospitals, doctors, and health plans so more of the money stays with you.
Every offer explained in Chinese, and a lawsuit if talks fail
We explain each offer to you in Chinese, and you decide whether to accept. If the offer is clearly unreasonable, we file a lawsuit within the deadline.
What to do first
Take care of your health first, then the evidence. Do what you can.
- See a doctor：Get checked soon even if you feel fine. Head, neck, and back injuries often show up days later. Tell the doctor a car hit you and mention everything that hurts.
- Call the police and get the report number：Call even if the driver fled, and call fast, ideally the same day. Write down the officer's name and report number. Without a police report, a claim on your own policy becomes much harder.
- Photograph the car, plate, crosswalk, and signal：Photograph the car and plate, where it stopped, the crosswalk, the signal, and the road, plus your injuries and your bike. If the car left, note its color, model, and direction.
- Get witness numbers and ask about nearby cameras：Take names and numbers from bystanders and other drivers. Video from shops, gas stations, and home cameras is often erased within days. Tell us the location and we will request it quickly.
- Keep the damaged bike as it is：The bike, helmet, phone, and clothes are evidence. Keep them as they are and photograph them. Save repair estimates, medical receipts, and proof of missed work.
- Find every auto policy in your household：Your own or a household member's auto insurance may pay even though you were on foot or on a bike, especially if the driver fled or has low limits. Find the policies and notify your own insurer of the accident.
- No recorded statement, no signatures：If the other insurer calls, politely say your lawyer will be in touch. Do not agree to be recorded, and do not sign any document or release.
How working with us goes
Free initial assessment
Call or message us on WeChat and tell us what happened, your injuries, whether the driver was found, and what auto insurance your household has. We tell you whether you have a claim and what to do next.
Sign up, and we take over
You sign a written contingency agreement that states the fee percentage. We then notify the insurers, and from then on they contact us.
You get treatment, we gather evidence
You follow your doctor's plan. We collect the police report, video, records, and bills, and document lost income. If a government entity is involved, the written claim goes in within 6 months.
Demand and negotiation
When treatment has settled down, we send the demand letter and negotiate. Every offer is explained to you in Chinese, and the decision is yours.
Settlement or lawsuit, then payment
Before you accept a settlement, we negotiate the medical balances. If talks fail, we file suit. A child's settlement usually needs court approval. At closing you get a written settlement statement.
Related cases
Pedestrian matters we have handled, including a Los Angeles pedestrian case in which the other side was found fully at fault. Every case is different, and past results do not predict the outcome of yours.
Pedestrian Struck: $620,000, Other Party Found 100% at Fault
$620,000 · Other party found 100% at fault
Fees for pedestrian and bicycle cases
Free initial assessment
The first conversation costs nothing. We will tell you plainly where the difficulties are.
No recovery, no attorney fee
The attorney fee is a percentage of what is recovered. If there is no recovery, there is no attorney fee. The percentage goes into a written agreement before you sign.
Case costs are set out in the agreement
Who advances costs such as records, doctors' or other outside reports, and court filing fees, and how they are deducted at the end, is spelled out in the engagement agreement.
- California requires contingency fee agreements to be in writing, state the fee rate, and explain how costs affect the fee and your net recovery (B&P Code §6147).
- The fee percentage is agreed before you sign and is not changed unilaterally during the case.
- We do not promise any particular recovery or outcome.
Pedestrian and bicycle accident questions
The following is general legal information and is not legal advice for any specific matter. For your situation, contact Lingtu Law APC at 415-547-9999 or on WeChat at lingtulaw.
