ICD-10 Code V13.4XXA: Bicycle Hit by Car in California Settlement Value

V13.4XXA is the ICD-10-CM external-cause code for a pedal cycle driver injured in a collision with a car, pickup truck, or van in a traffic accident, initial encounter. It documents the crash type, not the injury itself and not fault. The code applies to bicyclists; e-bike riders are usually coded the same way in California ERs unless the e-bike was being operated as a motor vehicle (Class 3 e-bikes are sometimes coded under V20-V29 motorcycle categories).

Vehicle Code Section 21202 governs where bicyclists may ride on the roadway. It generally requires cyclists riding slower than traffic to ride as close to the right curb as practicable, with broad exceptions for avoiding hazards, preparing for a left turn, riding in lanes too narrow to share, and approaching a right-turn lane. Defense lawyers in dooring and right-hook cases often argue the cyclist violated 21202 by riding too far left; the statutory exceptions are usually the cyclist's best counter.

Dooring is when a parked motorist opens a vehicle door into the path of a passing cyclist. Vehicle Code Section 22517 specifically prohibits this: no person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless it can be done without interfering with traffic, nor leave the door open longer than necessary to load or unload passengers. Section 22517 makes dooring almost-automatic liability against the motorist; cyclists in CA bike lanes who are doored have particularly strong cases.

The average California bicycle settlement is around $333,000, skewed upward by catastrophic cases. Most cyclists with moderate injuries recover $50,000 to $200,000; severe cases involving surgery, multiple fractures, or TBI commonly reach $200,000 to $1,000,000. Collisions with cars in California most often land in the $75,000 to $700,000 band, with severe and catastrophic outliers reaching multiple millions.

For minors only. California Vehicle Code Section 21212 requires riders under 18 to wear a helmet on a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or skates. Adults are not required to wear helmets on bicycles in California. Failure of an adult cyclist to wear a helmet does not bar recovery and generally cannot be used to reduce non-economic damages on non-head injuries; for head-injury components, defense may argue partial fault.

Cyclists struck by cars routinely sustain injuries across multiple body regions. Common pairings: T14 / S00 road rash and abrasions; S52 distal radius "FOOSH" (fall on outstretched hand) fracture; S42 / S43 clavicle and AC joint; S82 tibia / fibula from lateral impact; S72 femur in higher-speed crashes; S06.0X through S06.9X TBI even with helmet use; S32 pelvis; and dental and facial injuries (S00 region) from face-first impact.

Two years from the date of the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If a public-entity vehicle was involved, file a Government Tort Claim within six months under Government Code Section 911.2. For cyclist-versus-government dangerous-condition-of-property claims (potholes, missing signage, defective bike lane), the same six-month claim rule applies under Government Code Section 835.

No. California courts have rejected the failure-to-see argument as a liability defense; failing to look is itself negligence. However, jury-attitude research suggests some jurors implicitly discount cyclist plaintiffs' damages because they perceive cycling on city streets as risky. This is why conspicuity evidence (front and rear lights, reflective gear, bike-lane position) matters in trial preparation even though it does not affect the legal standard.

Yes. California Vehicle Code Section 21208 governs bike-lane use. Cyclists are generally required to use a Class II (striped) bike lane when one is available, with exceptions for left turns, hazards, and lane changes. When a cyclist is struck while properly using a marked bike lane, liability against the driver is at its strongest. Cars crossing or merging into a bike lane to make a right turn must yield to cyclists in the lane (Vehicle Code Section 21717), which is the legal basis for "right-hook" liability.

Yes, as property damage. The fair-market replacement value of the bicycle, helmet (which should be replaced after any impact), cycling computer, lights, and damaged clothing are recoverable as economic damages. For a custom or high-end bike, document the make, model, year, components, and purchase price. Receipt-supported claims close faster than estimate-based claims.