Seattle Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Washington has long had a reputation as a pro-bicycle state. Indeed, thousands of Seattle-area residents enjoy riding their bikes daily to work or school, or simply for recreation. But every bicyclist can also tell you horror stories about accidents or near-accidents involving reckless motorists.
Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as someone driving a car or truck. Yet many motorists think the road exclusively belongs to them. When such attitudes lead to a collision, the injured bicyclist has a legal right to take action. So if you have been injured and need legal advice or representation from a qualified lawyer, the team at the Emerald Law Group is here to help.
Reckless Motorists Can Seriously Injure or Kill a Bicyclist
We know from data collected by the federal government that most bike accidents happen in crowded urban areas like Seattle, usually on public roads and intersections. Dedicated bicycle lanes and bike paths can help reduce the frequency of accidents, but the reality is many bicyclists have to share the road with cars and trucks. And this makes it incumbent on motorists to pay attention to bicyclists and obey the rules of the road at all times.
Some of the more common bike accident scenarios we see with our clients include:
- A motor vehicle sideswipes a bicycle that is riding with traffic.
- A motor vehicle turns without signaling, forcing a bicyclist to run into the side of the vehicle.
- A car or truck driver suddenly opens their door and a bicycle approaching from the rear crashes into said door.
- A motorist is driving recklessly–speeding or operating their vehicle while drunk–and plows into a bicyclist at an intersection.
Regardless of how the accident occurs, the affected bicyclist may be left with serious and often life-threatening injuries. Even a bicyclist who wears a helmet and pads remains relatively unprotected from the impact with a car or the pavement. As a result, we often see bike accident victims with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crushed limbs, disfigurement and scarring, broken bones, and internal bleeding, among other injuries. In some cases these injuries prove fatal, while other times the injured bicyclist requires months of extended medical care and rehabilitation just to get back on their feet.
Contact Emerald Law Today
There are a number of parties that may be held legally responsible for a bicycle accident. Obviously, there is the negligent motorist who hits the bicyclist. But in the case of a hit-and-run accident, the injured bicyclist may have to turn to their own insurance company for compensation. There are also cases where other parties–such as municipal agencies that maintain roads or even the company that manufactures a potentially defective bicycle–may also be to blame.
A qualified Seattle bike accident lawyer can help you sort out all the facts and determine your best course of action for seeking compensation. So if you, or someone in your family, has been seriously hurt or killed while riding a bike, contact the Emerald Law Group today to schedule an initial consultation.
