Spokane Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicyclists lack the protection given to drivers of motor vehicles. Normally weighing two tons or more, today’s cars are equipped with seat belts, air-bags, and antilock brakes. Bicyclists, on the other hand, have only their helmets to protect them against the unforgiving momentum of a moving vehicle.

Hundreds of bicycle accidents occur in Spokane and the surrounding cities every year. To ensure that victims receive the full and fair compensation that they deserve, our bicycle accident attorneys at Russell and HIll, PLLC are ready to perform investigations and assist victims in obtaining appropriate health care and compensation for their medical needs. Our network of medical experts and doctors can help to diagnose the injuries sustained and support your claim with their medical expertise.

Contact Us Today

Don’t settle for a claim that doesn’t compensate you for all of the injuries you’ve incurred. If you’ve been involved in a Spokane bicycle accident, contact one of our attorneys today for more information and to learn what your options are. Call us toll-free at 800-LAW-0842 or 509-361-2065 or fill out our contact form for a free initial consultation.

Riding a bicycle is a fun way to stay active throughout the day while getting around Spokane or another city in Washington state. Spokane is home to tens of thousands of bicyclists who enjoy the breeze of a leisurely ride.

“Although riding a bicycle is a fun and healthy activity, it is not the safest one because there are many motorists who violate traffic laws and put the lives of bicycle riders at risk of injury or death,” warns our Spokane personal injury attorney at Russell & Hill, PLLC.

When riding a bicycle, you get little to no protection in the event of a motor vehicle collision. In a typical bicycle-vehicle accident, the bicyclist can sustain serious injuries while the driver of the passenger car who crashed into the biker can get away with not a scratch on him or her. Bicycle accidents occur every single day throughout the entire state of Washington, which is why it is a good idea to learn more about the rights, liability, and compensation in bicycle accidents.

How to Determine Fault in a Bicycle Accident?

Our experienced bicycle accident attorney in Spokane hears the following question way too often, “Are car drivers always at fault for causing bicycle accidents?” Well, it depends. Although it is true that motorists are responsible for causing the vast majority of accidents involving bicyclists in our state, let’s not forget that both motorists and bicyclists must follow the same traffic rules.

Although such cases are rare, sometimes, bicyclists are fully at fault for causing accidents on our roads. Most of the time, however, it is the driver of a passenger vehicle who’s at fault for this type of collision. In other cases, both the bicyclist and car driver can share liability for their accident.

Let our Spokane bicycle accident lawyer from Russell & Hill, PLLC, investigate your particular claim and determine whose negligent, reckless, or careless actions caused the crash.

WHAT CAUSES BICYCLE ACCIDENTS?

Riding a bike can be a lot of fun, but the danger involved in bike riding is always present. Bicyclists face perils around what seems like every corner or bend in the road. Although the circumstances surrounding every bicycle accident are unique, a vast majority of tragic accidents involving bicyclists involve motor vehicles sharing the roadway with cyclists. This high prevalence of MVA-related accidents may result from:

• Driver distraction. Drivers are often distracted by their cell phones, sending text messages or digging through their contacts, talking to friends and family, or interacting on social media while driving. This type of negligence can lead to problems staying aware of their surroundings and yielding the right-of-way to bicyclists. Sometimes a bicyclist has not seen the distracted driver, and the results can be devasting.
• Drivers following too closely. A driver who fails to leave an adequate buffer of space between the car and the cyclist puts the cyclist in danger. A buffer of at least 10 feet should be maintained at all times gives the driver more stopping power when necessary in order to avoid a possible collision with the bicyclist.
• Speeding drivers. When drivers speed, their ability to make decisions and to stop when needed is limited. And when it comes to bicycle accidents, even those that occur at low speeds can end up costing a bicyclist their life.
• Driver errors. Drivers who weave through traffic, drift outside of the lanes of moving traffic, encroach into designated bicycle lanes or the shoulder of the road, turn without looking or checking for bicyclists, or who make unsafe or illegal lane changes put bicyclists at risk for serious and even fatal bicycle accidents.
• Drivers failing to yield or disregarding traffic control devices. When the operator of a motor vehicle fails to yield to the bicycle, bad bicycle accidents can occur. This reckless behavior often occurs in areas where bicyclists merge with traffic, such as intersections.
• Impaired drivers. It goes without saying that a driver who drives drunk or under the influence of drugs or other illicit substances is a danger not only to himself or herself on the roadway but also to the unsuspecting bicyclist. Driving impaired makes it hard for drivers to make smart choices on the road, and it also reduces reaction times.
• Fatigued drivers. Driving while sleepy is nearly as dangerous as driving impaired and causes some of the same drawbacks as drunk driving.

Despite the fact that many bicycle accidents result from vehicles on the roadway, there are other bicycle accident causes to consider too. These include:

• Rider falls. A significant number of bicycle accidents result from riders falling off their bicycles. Many times, this occurs due to the rider encountering an unforeseen person or object, which startles them and causes a fall.
• Attacks by dogs or other animals. Dogs running off-leash or otherwise at large often cause bicycle accidents by chasing and startling the rider or physically knocking them off or pulling them off their bikes.

Perilous road conditions. Roads and streets that have fallen into a state of disrepair can be hazardous for the bicyclist. Moreover, roads that are littered with construction debris, such as loose gravel, can become dangerous for the bicyclist who happens upon materials that can result in the bicycle losing traction with the roadway, resulting in a fall.

What Are Bicycle Accident Laws in Washington State?

While there are many laws pertaining to the interaction of cyclists and motorists on our roadways, some common situations include:

• When there are bike lanes, bicyclists always have the right of way when the car is moving into the bike lane
• When a bicyclist is at an intersection with a crosswalk, a car driver has the legal obligation to yield the right of way to the bicyclist regardless of whether they have a green light or not
• When there is no crosswalk, a bicyclist must yield the right of way to other drivers

Still, it may be difficult to prove that the other motorist violated traffic rules, which is why it is advised to be represented by an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Spokane or elsewhere in Washington state. An attorney will investigate your case and help you collect evidence proving that the other motorist was at fault for causing the crash.

How Much Can You Recover After a Bicycle Accident in Washington State?

If you are wondering how much your bicycle accident claim is worth, you need to understand that many factors need to be considered to get an estimation of how much you can recover in your personal injury claim after a bicycle accident in Spokane or elsewhere in Washington state.

Our Spokane bicycle accident attorney says that the following three factors are always the most critical factors when it comes to calculating how much your personal injury claim is worth:

• The other party’s insurance coverage. The at-fault motorist’s insurance policy at the time of the collision is going to play a major role in determining how much compensation you can receive in your claim.
• Past and future medical bills / missed time from work. Lost wages and medical expenses caused by your injury are going to be major factors in the calculation of how much your personal injury case is worth.
• The type and severity of your injury. Obviously, the severity of your injury is going to have a major effect on the total value of your personal injury claim.

Consult with our best bicycle accident lawyers in Washington state at Russell & Hill, PLLC, to find out how much your personal injury claim is worth. Call our offices at 800-LAW-0842 or 509-361-2065 to get a free consultation today.