Seattle Bicycle Accident Lawyers – Representing Injured Cyclists and the Families Who Have Lost a Loved One
Cycling is a popular pastime in Washington. It’s popular among those of all ages, ranging from children to older adults and seniors. Cyclists include those looking for a great a recreational sport to competitive cyclists.
Cycling, unfortunately, can be particularly dangerous, not because of any risky behaviors engaged in by the cyclists themselves, but rather by inattentive or distracted drivers. In all likelihood, cell phones have increased the dangers to cyclists, as many drivers attempt to split their attention between driving and texting, checking e-mail, or making calls on cell phones.
Unfortunately, it only takes a few seconds of inattention to not see a bicyclist. But this time period is tragically the difference between safely averting a crash and a bicycle crash that can cause severe injury and death.
When cyclist/motor vehicle collisions occur, the cyclist almost always bears the full impact of the collision. Even when cyclists take precautions such as wearing a helmet, in many cases little can be done to protect the cyclist from severe injury (including traumatic brain injury) and death.
Bicycle Accident Injury and Fatality Statistics
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the “CDC”), over 1,000 bicyclists died, and more than 467,000 more were injured, in accidents and crashes in 2015.[1] Tragically, 37% of deaths were alcohol-related, involving either the vehicle driver or the cyclist.[2]
Can a Bicyclist Recover Damages if They Were Not Wearing a Helmet?
Yes.
While defendants and their attorneys may try to argue that the damages and injuries would not have been as severe if a cyclist had been wearing a helmet (an argument which we will vigorously oppose, if made), there is nothing to prevent cyclists from suing for their injuries simply because a helmet may have helped reduce injuries. The fact is, any such assertion is, at best, entirely speculative, as every year there are cyclists who sustain serious head injuries and death even when wearing a helmet. Nonetheless, defense counsel will routinely make these types of arguments in an attempt to minimize or avoid liability.
We Fight on Behalf of Injured Cyclists and Their Families
When cycling accidents occur, those injured and the families of those killed deserve the full amount of compensation from all of those who are responsible for the injury and death that arise from these accidents. As Seattle cycling accident lawyers, our role is to determine liability, to gather the evidence to prove the cases of our clients, and to seek full compensation from all those who we believe bear responsibility.
In addition to a vehicle driver who may have hit a cyclist, in many cases towns, cities, and other municipalities may also bear liability if they were negligent in not ensuring the safety of streets, cycling lanes, traffic control devices, and roadways. We fully investigate cycling accidents in order to assess and determine all of the various factors that may have played a role in contributing to an accident so that the appropriate parties can be held accountable. We also frequently hire accident reconstructionists to determine accident causation.
See “Who May Be Liable for Your Bike Accident”
and
“Proving Your Bicycle Accident Case”
Get the Personalized, Full Service Representation You and Your Family Deserve
Cycling accidents often result in severe, and sometimes catastrophic, injuries, including head trauma and traumatic brain injury, paralysis, broken bones, internal injuries, lacerations, and severe “road rash.” In some cases, cyclists tragically lose their lives.
When severe injuries and death occur, those injured and the families who have lost a loved one deserve highly experienced injury lawyers who will not only work tirelessly to achieve full compensation, but who will also be available to provide the individualized attention that each and every client deserves. If you need an experienced injury lawyer for a cycling accident, you should know:
- We have a long history of having achieved successful outcomes for those who have been severely injured or killed due to the negligent actions of others. In 2018, for instance, we recovered $19,300,000 for a client in the largest single plaintiff settlement in history against the Washington State DSHS.
- We are a full-service law firm. We help our clients with all aspects of their case, including working with insurance companies, documenting expenses, seeking applicable insurance benefits (such as short and long-term disability), and other matters. We’re here for you to help you through the entire process.
- We do not run a high-volume practice. We accept a limited number of cases so that we can focus our efforts on seeking full compensation for our clients.
- We do not seek quick settlements. Quick settlement offers are usually made in the hope that those injured will accept a fraction of what they are rightfully owed. We work vigorously on behalf of our clients to develop their cases with the goal of achieving a full settlement by proving the complete extent of the damages and injuries to our client. If a fair settlement cannot be achieved, then we will try the cases of our clients at trial so that a jury can determine fault and damages.
- We advance the costs of litigation on behalf of clients. Our clients do not need to be concerned with coming out-of-pocket for the significant costs required in litigation involving serious injury or death.
If You Have Been Injured or a Family Member Has Been Injured or Killed in a Cycling Accident, Call Us for a Free No Obligation Consultation
Unless otherwise agreed, we represent cycling accident victims and their families on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not receive any fees unless and until we recover a settlement or award for you.
Once we learn about the facts and circumstances of your cycling accident, we can advise you as to the legal opportunities available to seek compensation against all those who may be responsible.
Read More
- Who may be liable for my bike accident? How we investigate accidents to determine all those at fault.
- Proving your bicycle accident case – understanding the tactics often used in seeking to deny or minimize damages owed by defendants.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/bicycle/index.html
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/bicycle/index.html