Washington is a bicycle-friendly state, named as number one by the League of American Bicyclists. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, bike riding is an integral component of the state’s transportation system; however, the department also warns that Washington is “going the wrong way” when it comes to the number of bicycle accidents each year. Bicycle accidents in Washington hit a 20-year high in 2021, and now average over 100 accidents with serious or catastrophic injuries each year and around 12 fatalities.
Nothing can erase serious injuries or bring back a loved one fatally injured in a bicycle accident, but the Everett injury lawyers at Wells Trumbull are ready to help make your voice heard through a successful compensation claim against the at-fault party. Contact our Everett law office today so we can evaluate your case and take action.
Why Choose Us as Your Bicycle Accident Attorneys In Everett?
Cyclists have nothing between them and the road, leaving them vulnerable to severe injuries in a traffic accident. The attorneys at Wells Trumbull understand the wide-ranging impacts of a bicycle accident with serious injuries and its effect on an accident victim’s ability to work and accomplish daily routines. We are a team of attorneys who have dedicated our careers to advocating for injury victims when someone else’s actions caused their injuries and the resulting physical and financial challenges. We will advance your claim through the following qualifications:
- A founding Everett bicycle accident attorney who has been representing injury victims through legal entanglements since 1989 with a track record of success
- Lead attorneys with a deep familiarity with Washington’s traffic laws and comparison negligence insurance system
- A law firm devoted to getting to know each client and witnessing the impacts of their injury first-hand to make the most compelling argument for their complete compensation before an insurance company or a jury
- An entire team of legal minds to work on the details of your case while your bicycle accident lawyer in Everett dedicates their time, attention, and resources to ensuring you have the best possible outcome
Washington’s fault-based insurance laws are complex and incentivize insurance companies to assign a portion of fault for an accident to injury victims to lower the compensation they must provide to them. At Wells Trumbull, we safeguard our client’s best interests against these and other insurance company tactics. We also offer free consultations and charge no fees until after we secure your compensation.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Everett
A bicycle is a slim, two-wheeled design that’s naturally more difficult for drivers to see and judge distances compared to a 4,000-pound metal vehicle. For this reason, drivers have a duty of care to take all reasonable measures to avoid causing an accident and injuries to a bicyclist. Sadly, distractions and the failure to adhere to traffic laws lead to an alarming number of car vs. bicyclist accidents in Washington, including bicycle accidents with injuries in Everett. Common causes of traffic accidents involving bicyclists include the following:
- Distracted drivers
- Speeding drivers
- Drivers who fail to leave adequate space between their vehicle and a bicycle
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Right hook accidents (when a driver makes a right turn in front of a cyclist riding on the right side of the road)
- Driver intoxication
- Drivers making left turns who focus on traffic coming from the right and fail to see a cyclist approaching from the left
- Drowsy driving
- Car dooring accidents (a driver parked on the roadside opens their door into the path of a cyclist)
- Unsafe lane changes
Cyclists must follow traffic laws and practice due diligence, but the number one cause of bicycle accidents is driver error or negligence. Less commonly, an unsafe road condition or a defective bicycle part causes a bicycle accident. In those cases, financial accountability comes through a claim against a negligent road maintenance agency or a defective product liability claim.
Injuries in Washington Bicycle Accident Cases
A bicycle accident leaves an unprotected rider vulnerable to severe injuries due to direct contact with the road, obstacles, or a vehicle. Helmets help prevent some types of head injuries and increase the chances of survival but do not prevent all injuries, including traumatic brain injuries which can occur when the force of a collision causes the rider’s brain to bump against the inside of the skull. Common injuries in Everett bicycle accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Single or multiple fractures including of the limbs, ribs, hips, pelvis, neck, and back
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries such as sprains and torn ligaments in the knees, shoulders, wrists, and ankles
- Lacerations and contusions
- Road rash (severe abrasions)
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
A serious bicycle accident can cause catastrophic injuries with life-long disability. In the worst cases, it results in a wrongful death, in which case a close family member can file a wrongful death claim for compensation. Even those who experience relatively minor injuries may quickly face financial hardship with a few days of missed work and a large emergency room bill.
Regardless of the severity of the injuries, if they result in economic damages as well as pain and suffering, the injury victim shouldn’t be left responsible for the consequences of the accident if it was caused by someone else.
What Can I Get From a Bicycle Accident Injury Claim in Washington?
Injuries from bicycle accidents tend to be severe, often requiring ongoing medical care and rehabilitation so the injury victim can achieve the maximum medical improvement for their injury. The physical and economic consequences of an injury caused by someone else’s negligence become the “damages” in a personal injury claim like a bicycle accident claim in Everett. Common damages include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs for continued care
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Diminished capacity to earn
- Pain and suffering
- Compensation for any other non-economic damages that apply in some cases like disfigurement, scarring, traumatic limb loss, PTSD, or diminished quality of life
A successful claim cannot erase the injuries, but it eases economic hardship and opens doors to the best possible care as bicycle accident victims work toward recovery.
Call the Washington Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Everett
If you’ve suffered a bicycle accident with serious injuries, you probably have a long road ahead to make a full recovery. The best way forward is by achieving financial accountability from the insurance company of the at-fault party through a settlement or jury award for your damages. Contact Wells Trumbull today for a free consultation so we can begin strategizing the best way to achieve the maximum compensation in your case.