Yes. The City of Turlock can be liable for bicycle accidents caused by bad sidewalks in some pubic areas of the city. However, property owners might be fully liable for sidewalk accidents that occur alongside their homes or businesses.
A crash caused by damaged sidewalks can cause injuries and pain, and afterward, cyclists can also get a headache from trying to figure out who is responsible. A skilled Turlock Bicycle Accident Lawyer can help you determine just who is accountable after a wipe-out caused by a gap or crack in a sidewalk. Contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation discussion about your options and the fastest route to getting help with recovery.
Sidewalk Cracks and Other Dangers for Turlock Bicyclists
Broken concrete along a city sidewalk is tough enough on pedestrians who can trip or stumble and get hurt. But Turlock cyclists using the sidewalk can also be put at risk; they can be sent into a crash at a much higher rate of speed and risk more serious consequences.
Their bicycle tires are also at risk of being sucked into a crack in the sidewalk that keeps riders from steering and may stop them in their tracks. A tire can get jammed between separating sidewalk segments or between a gap between the sidewalk and the curb.
These are a few of the most common sidewalk hazards that can send cyclists to Emanuel Medical Center:
- Crumbling concrete
- Uneven and buckled sidewalk segments
- Cracks in sidewalks
- Large gaps in sidewalks and between the curb
- Dangers near storm drains
- Tree roots growing through concrete
- Construction project damage to sidewalks
When riders aren’t expecting a sudden bump or to be stopped so suddenly, they can be sent to the ground beside them or even over their handlebars. They may land with their arms outstretched to catch themselves, only to fracture finger and wrist bones. They might also suffer facial scarring.
A Traumatic Brain Injury could also result, even if a victim is wearing a bike helmet. UCLA Health reports that approximately 30 percent to 40 percent of moderate and severe head injury patients suffering blood clotting around the brain, requiring surgery to prevent infections, a buildup of pressure in the brain, and tissue damage.
These frightening and life-threatening outcomes only highlight the need to get bicycle accident victims as much in financial support as possible. They may need to pay for the best care available, and could require medical care for weeks or months.
A skilled Maison Lawyer would maximize the compensation riders received, but first, our lawyers would identify who was responsible for an unsafe sidewalk and an accident.
Who Is Responsible for a Bicycle Accident Caused by Sidewalk Damage in Turlock?
The City of Turlock can be financially responsible when it allows sidewalks to fall into disrepair around public areas like parks and government buildings.
But in residential and business districts, homeowners, business owners, and residential property owners can be liable for stretches of dangerous sidewalks that front their properties.
Turlock’s Municipal Code explains it this way:
(b) The owners of lots or portions of lots adjacent to or fronting on any portion of a sidewalk area between the property line of the lots and the street line, including parking strips, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, curb cuts, and driveway approaches and persons in possession of such lots by virtue of any permit or right shall repair and maintain such sidewalk areas and pay the costs and expenses therefor, including a charge for the City of Turlock’s costs of inspection and administration or handling of any lien placed on the property due to failure of the property owner to promptly pay such assessments.
Property owners must report any damage to the sidewalks that border their land and work with the city to get it fixed. The cost may fall to the property owner, but the new Resolution No. 2025-210, adopted for 2026, will help with expenses. The city’s new Sidewalk Repair Assistance Program will pay between 55% to 85% of the expense, depending on the owner’s financial situation.
For an injured rider hurt by a sidewalk defect or a tree root, the most important thing will be to identify who should be helping with surgery bills and physical therapy costs. A Maison Law legal representative can untangle these things for you. We can file your claim against a business or a city’s liability insurer, or a homeowners insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bicycles allowed to use Turlock sidewalks?
In Turlock, children under 12 can ride on the sidewalk in most parts of Turlock, but can’t ride in business districts. Adult cyclists are not allowed to ride on sidewalks in the city. However, adult cyclists must often use sidewalks to escape careless drivers or when a delivery driver parks on a bike lane. The city and property owners might still be liable if an adult is on a sidewalk and is forced into a crash by a pothole. You can visit our page on sidewalk laws for Bicyclists in Turlock.
How long do I have to file a claim over a sidewalk bicycle accident?
If a property owner is responsible, victims have a statute of limitations of two years to file a claim and seek support. This is the deadline in a normal personal injury case. However, city departments enjoy special protections against litigation. If you must sue the city of Turlock, you will probably only have 6 months to alert officials that you plan to file an injury claim and to file that claim.
What can I earn in a sidewalk bicycle accident settlement?
Your Maison Law attorney would demand support for all of your current medical bills and any expected in the future. The paychecks you lose while having to miss work should be reimbursed for as long as recovery takes. You should receive support for the pain you must live with and the emotional trauma that an accident and difficult injury recovery cause. You should also earn money to cover bike repairs or replacement.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Sidewalk Bicycle Accident Case?
If you are seriously hurt while riding on a damaged sidewalk, you may need a lawyer’s help. A Turlock bicycle accident lawyer can help prevent an insurance company from trying to shift the blame for the accident. A skilled lawyer can also help an injured rider earn more to cover current medical costs and the costs for care in the future.
A lawyer can also help you file an injury claim against the City of Turlock if you are seriously hurt after going over a pothole or a crack in a sidewalk.
If you are unsure if you need a lawyer’s help, there’s an easy way to find out. You can contact Maison Law of Stanislaus County for a free, confidential case consultation. If you need our help, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll be able to afford a lawyer. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company must write for you.
