Christopher Knapp filed a claim Wednesday, seeking unspecified monetary damages. He argues that the sheriff's department was negligent in allowing the deputy that struck him to drive a patrol car.
Knapp was riding with a group on Stevens Canyon Road in Cupertino on March 9 when the car driven by Deputy James Council crossed a double yellow line a crashed into them. Matt Peterson and Kristy Gough were killed.
Knapp has been released from the hospital and has returned to his native Germany.
Under state law, the county has 45 days to accept Knapp's claim and reach a settlement, or reject it and open the door to a lawsuit.