Motorcycle enthusiasts in Washington enjoy the scenic rides of the Pacific Northwest, including in Marysville, where the Marysville Loop beckons. Some riders also ride to work and school each day during the warm-weather seasons as an eco-friendly option for transportation. Sadly, as much as we love the open-air thrill of a motorcycle ride, that same unenclosed ride is what leaves a motorcyclist vulnerable to serious injuries in a crash.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries or a fatality in a motorcycle accident in Marysville caused by another party’s negligent or reckless actions, call the experienced Marysville personal injury lawyers at Wells Trumbull today so we can begin strategizing the way forward for the best possible outcome in a compensation claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Choose Wells Trumbull as Your Washington Motorcycle Accident Law Firm?
Insurance companies commonly dispute motorcycle accident claims or assign an undue portion of fault to the injured motorcyclist to lower the amount of a payout. Our decades of combined experience give us an edge in dealing with these and other insurance company tactics. Our Washington injury law firm offers the following:
- Free case consultations for injury victims and contingency-based payment so you never pay upfront, but only after we’ve secured your compensation
- Open availability and frequent communication so you know you are never in the dark about your case
- A personalized strategy for your unique case by an attorney who takes the time to get to know you and understand the impacts of your injuries on your life, your career, and your family
- A legal team devoted to client advocacy to prepare your case as if for trial so it gives us a powerful voice to negotiate toward an ample settlement for your financial losses and pain and suffering
The Marysville motorcycle accident attorneys at Wells Trumbull get results, including multi-million dollar settlements and court awards for victims of all types of traffic-related accidents. Founding attorney, Ben Wells, was a 2020 Trial Lawyer of the Year and has practiced personal injury law since 1989. Joshua Trumbull has extensive legal and business experience and brings strong negotiation skills to the table.
Common Causes of Marysville Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists aren’t perfect, but insurance companies often wrongfully seek to assign fault to the rider when negligent drivers are the most common cause of accidents. Motorcycle accidents frequently occur due to the following:
- Distracted drivers
- Drivers following too closely behind a motorcycle
- Drivers making left turns into an intersection
- Drivers making unsafe lane changes when driving parallel to a motorcyclist
- Car door accidents
- Driver failure to yield the right of way
- Intoxicated drivers
In less common cases, negligent road maintenance agencies or manufacturers of defective motorcycle parts are the liable parties in motorcycle accident claims in Washington.
Proving Liability in a Motorcycle Accident
A successful motorcycle accident claim requires clear evidence of liability. Your Marysville motorcycle accident attorney from Wells Trumbull will investigate your accident and consult with experts to document evidence of liability to present in a demand letter to the insurance company along with a carefully calculated list of your damages. Proving liability according to Washington’s comparison negligence insurance laws requires showing the following:
- The at-fault party owed a duty of care to take reasonable measures to prevent causing injury to others on the road
- They breached this duty by acting negligently or recklessly
- Their breach of duty directly caused the motorcycle accident and injuries
- The injury victim has suffered significant damages from the injury
As the injury victim, you become the plaintiff in the case and your side has the burden of proving liability through a preponderance of the evidence. The experienced motorcycles accident attorneys in Marysville from Wells Trumbull have access to on-call experts and accident reconstruction specialists who will help us build a compelling case on your behalf.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents in Marysville
DOT-approved helmets reduce the chances of death in a motorcycle accident but do not protect riders from all head injuries. The remainder of a motorcyclist’s body is vulnerable to grave injury in a crash. Common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Fractures
- Road-rash (severe abrasions)
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Facial, dental, or scalp injuries
- Traumatic amputations
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Motorcycle accident injuries are often expensive, requiring surgeries, treatment, and rehabilitation. Some accidents result in temporary or permanent disability. Even less serious injuries cause property damage, a large emergency room bill, and days of missed pay. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, a successful motorcycle accident claim could recover some or all of the following compensation for damages:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care costs
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Lowered earning capacity due to disabling injury
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic damages specific to your case like scarring, loss of limb, loss of one of the senses, PTSD, or loss of enjoyment of life
Compensation for non-economic damages can substantially increase the total amount of your compensation and help you achieve a sense of justice and accountability in your case.
What If I Was Partly At Fault for My Motorcycle Accident in Marysville?
Washington is a pure comparison negligence insurance state. This law allows accident victims to recover a portion of their accident damages even if they contributed to the cause of the accident. The insurance company reduces the amount of the claim by the injury victim’s percentage of fault.
Washington RCW 4.22.005 states:
“In an action based on fault seeking to recover damages for injury or death to person or harm to property, any contributory fault chargeable to the claimant diminishes proportionately the amount awarded as compensatory damages for an injury attributable to the claimant’s contributory fault, but does not bar recovery.”
If the insurance adjuster assigned to your case finds you 50% at fault for the accident, you’d still recover $50,000 of a $100,000 claim. Unfortunately, this law incentivizes insurance companies to assign an undue percentage of fault to victims without skilled representation.
If you’ve had a serious motorcycle accident, the compassionate Marysville motorcycle accident lawyers from Wells Trumbull are ready to provide skilled counsel and legal representation to maximize the compensation you recover in your claim. Our skilled litigators are also fully prepared for court in the unlikely event that your case isn’t resolved in a settlement and requires a lawsuit.
If your close family member suffered fatal injuries in a Marysville motorcycle accident, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers in Marysville from Wells Trumbull for help.