Spokane Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Why Choose Russell & Hill, PLLC?

Your Choice Matters: If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Spokane, WA, choosing the right Spokane bicycle accident attorney can make all the difference in your ability to recover compensation. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we focus on delivering real results for our clients. Our attorneys have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and large firms, so we know what it takes to secure a favorable outcome for your case.

Making Your Burdens Lighter: We understand the stress and confusion that often follow a traumatic event like a bicycle accident, and our team is here to support you through every stage of the recovery process. We offer comprehensive services that include effective legal representation, assistance with finding the right medical providers, and compassionate moral support. Our goal is to alleviate your burdens so you can focus on healing.

Relentless Pursuit of Justice: Our attorneys are relentless in their pursuit of justice for our clients. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for local injury victims and are ready to demand the full and fair financial recovery you deserve. We fight vigorously for every dollar you are due. Together with our dedicated and experienced support staff, we work as a cohesive team to provide the strong representation you need.

Attorneys You Can Trust: When you arrange your free consultation with Russell & Hill, PLLC, you get more than just legal advice. You get a team committed to answering your questions, protecting your rights, and setting you up for success. Choose the Spokane bicycle accident lawyers at Russell & Hill, PLLC, for a dedicated and experienced legal team that will fight for you every step of the way.

Spokane Bicycle Accident Statistics

Bicycle accidents are all too common in Spokane, with many resulting from driver negligence. These accidents do sometimes lead to serious injury or even fatality, as shown by the data below.

Insights from Spokane Bicycle Accident Data:

Persistent Risk of Serious Injuries: The steady number of serious injuries over the years reflects a consistent risk for bicyclists in Spokane. This trend highlights the vulnerability of cyclists on city roads and the need for vigilant legal advocacy to secure compensation that addresses the significant impact these injuries have on victims’ lives.

Fluctuations in Minor Injuries and Total Accidents: The variation in minor injuries and the total number of bicycle accidents each year suggests that road safety conditions for cyclists can change. This unpredictability underscores the importance of staying informed about local traffic patterns and having access to legal support that can adapt to the specifics of each case.

Low Fatalities but High Risk: While the number of fatalities remains relatively low, the data indicates that many accidents still result in severe outcomes. Even when fatalities are avoided, the potential for life-altering injuries is high, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive legal strategies to ensure all injuries are fully compensated.

Hidden Impact of ‘No Apparent Injury’ Cases: The recurring instances of “no apparent injury” cases remind us that not all injuries are immediately visible. Bicyclists involved in such accidents should seek medical evaluations and legal guidance to ensure that delayed-onset injuries are documented and included in any claims.

How Our Spokane Bicycle Injury Attorneys Can Help

Hiring an attorney can significantly improve your chances of getting the compensation you deserve after a Spokane bicycle crash. An experienced bicycle accident attorney knows the ins and outs of personal injury law and can handle the complex process of preparing and filing your claim. Here are some key ways our bicycle accident attorneys in Spokane can assist you with your injury claim:

• Investigating the Accident: Your bicycle accident attorney will thoroughly investigate the accident scene to gather evidence, such as photos and witness statements. This enables us to build a strong case by establishing the facts and identifying the liable parties.
• Identifying All Liable Parties: Your attorney will identify all responsible parties, such as other drivers, government entities, or manufacturers of defective bicycle parts. Holding all liable parties accountable maximizes your chances of receiving full compensation.
• Gathering Medical Evidence: Your attorney will work closely with your healthcare providers to obtain all necessary medical records and expert opinions. This medical evidence is vital for proving the extent of your injuries and the accident’s impact on your life.
• Calculating Your Claim Value: Determining the total value of your claim is crucial for getting fair compensation. Your Russell & Hill, PLLC, attorney will assess your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering so we can demand the full compensation necessary for your recovery.
• Handling Legal Paperwork: Filing a personal injury claim involves dealing with significant paperwork and strict deadlines. Your attorney will manage all the necessary legal documents on your behalf, completing them accurately and submitting everything on time.
• Communicating with Insurance Companies: Dealing with insurance companies can be overwhelming and stressful. Your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance adjusters to secure a fair settlement and keep them from taking advantage of you.
• Advocating for Long-Term Needs: Many bicycle accidents result in long-term or permanent injuries. Your attorney will consider your future medical and financial needs when pursuing compensation and advocate for a settlement or court award that covers ongoing medical care.
• Advising on Settlement Offers: Insurance companies often make initial settlement offers much lower than you deserve. Your attorney can review any offers, advise you on whether to accept or reject them, and negotiate for a higher amount if appropriate.
• Providing Legal Representation: If your case goes to court, your attorney can represent you and advocate for your rights. We can present evidence, question witnesses, and make compelling arguments to a judge or jury to achieve a favorable outcome.

What Are Bicycle Accident Laws in Washington State?

Here are some key regulations you should know if you ride a bicycle or drive a vehicle near cyclists in Spokane, Washington:

• Cyclists’ Rights and Responsibilities: When riding on a roadway, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers. This means cyclists must obey traffic signals, stop signs, and other rules of the road. It also means drivers should show cyclists the same respect and consideration as other motorists.
• Flexible Riding Paths for Cyclists: Cyclists in Washington have the flexibility to choose their riding path based on their safety needs. They can ride on a designated bike path, bike lane, shoulder, or travel lane. This allows cyclists to make decisions that suit current traffic conditions and their comfort levels.
• Helmet Laws in Washington: Currently, Washington has no statewide law requiring cyclists to wear helmets. However, some cities and counties have their own regulations. For example, Spokane has required all bicycle riders, regardless of age, to wear helmets since 2004.
• Safe Passing Distance for Drivers: Drivers must maintain a safe distance when passing cyclists. The law requires drivers to move into another lane when possible or leave at least three feet of space while passing. This safety buffer reduces crash risk by giving drivers more time and space to see and react to cyclists.

Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injury Claims in Spokane

If you have suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, you could be entitled to various types of compensation to help cover your losses and support your recovery. This could include monetary compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: This includes all the costs of your medical treatment after the bicycle accident. Medical expenses compensation covers hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, medications, and other necessary medical care, all bills that can add up to create high financial strain, if not covered.
• Future Medical Costs: Some injuries require ongoing medical treatment long after the accident. Compensation for future medical costs covers anticipated expenses for continued care, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, and any future surgeries or treatments you might need. This is critical because underestimating future costs can leave you with significant out-of-pocket costs down the road.
• Transportation Costs: If you need to travel for medical treatments or have additional transportation costs due to your injuries, this compensation covers those expenses.
• Income Losses: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can receive compensation for the income you lost during your recovery period.
• Lost Earning Potential: Severe injuries can affect your ability to work in the future. Compensation for lost earning potential covers the reduction in your ability to earn money due to your injuries, whether it means taking a lower-paying job or not being able to work at all.
• Pain and Suffering: This type of compensation addresses the physical pain and emotional distress you experienced due to the accident. It accounts for the injury’s impact on your overall well-being.
• Lost Quality of Life: Injuries from a bicycle accident can significantly affect your ability to enjoy life as you did before. Compensation for lost quality of life considers how the accident has impacted your daily activities, hobbies, and overall enjoyment of life.
• Property Damage Costs: If your bicycle or any other personal property is damaged in the accident, you can receive compensation to repair or replace it.

Why Are Bicycle Accident Cases So Complex?

1. Complex Fault Determination

Bicycle accident cases are particularly complex for several reasons. First, determining fault in these accidents can be challenging. Multiple parties could share responsibility, including drivers, cyclists, and even pedestrians. Establishing who is at fault requires a thorough investigation of the accident scene, witness statements, and sometimes expert analysis of traffic patterns and behaviors.

2. Severe Injury Challenges

Another factor that adds to the challenge of a bicycle accident claim is that bicycle accident injuries are often severe. Cyclists have little protection compared to motorists, making them more vulnerable to catastrophic injuries. These injuries often require extensive medical treatments, long recoveries, and ongoing medical care. Accurately calculating the total cost of these medical expenses, including future medical needs, can be difficult but is essential for obtaining fair compensation.

3. Navigating Insurance Obstacles

Dealing with insurance companies adds another layer of complexity. Insurance adjusters often attempt to minimize payouts or shift blame to the cyclist. Handling these negotiations requires knowledge of insurance laws and tactics and persistence in advocating for the injured party’s rights.

4. The Impact of Local Laws on Your Case

Finally, the laws and regulations governing bicycle use vary by location. Understanding the specific laws in the area where the accident occurred is essential for building a solid case. For example, different cities and counties in Washington have varying regulations regarding helmet use. These differences can have significant implications for making liability determinations and choosing the ideal approach for an injury claim.

The best way to tackle these challenges is to work with a knowledgeable Spokane bicycle accident lawyer. They will know all the laws that apply to your unique situation and prepare your claim accordingly. Your attorney can also determine fault, deal with insurance providers on your behalf, and demand fair compensation for the full extent of your injuries and losses.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Spokane

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 does not see 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 giving 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 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.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

Bicycle accidents often result in severe injuries due to the lack of protection cyclists have compared to motorists. Unlike vehicle occupants, cyclists do not have the benefit of metal frames, seat belts, or airbags to cushion the impact during a collision. Even with helmets and protective gear, the force of an accident can cause significant harm to bike riders. The severity of these injuries can lead to long-term medical needs and substantial changes to the victim’s lifestyle.

These are some of the most common bicycle accident injuries. The nature and impact of each injury will influence how your attorney handles your case and the compensation you may receive:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Can result in lifelong cognitive impairments, requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation.
• Concussions: Often have lasting effects on memory and concentration, impacting daily life and work.
• Skull fractures: Can lead to serious complications, including brain damage or infection, necessitating ongoing treatment.
• Spinal cord injuries: May result in partial or total paralysis, dramatically altering the victim’s life and requiring significant financial resources.
• Fractured vertebrae: Could limit mobility and cause chronic pain, impacting the victim’s ability to work and perform daily activities.
• Broken ribs: Can lead to difficulty breathing and potential damage to internal organs, requiring careful medical management.
• Punctured lungs: Life-threatening and often requires immediate surgery and prolonged recovery.
• Internal bleeding: Often requires emergency surgery and can result in long-term health complications.
• Organ damage: May necessitate surgery and can lead to permanent health issues, impacting the victim’s quality of life.
• Pelvic fractures: Severely limit mobility and often require surgery, impacting the victim’s independence and ability to work.
• Hip fractures: Can lead to long-term disability and require extensive rehabilitation, affecting the victim’s future earning capacity.
• Broken collarbones: May require surgery and long recovery periods, limiting the victim’s ability to work and perform daily tasks.
• Broken arms, wrists, or hands: Impair the victim’s ability to perform essential tasks, impacting both personal and professional life.
• Broken legs, ankles, or feet: Limit mobility and independence, potentially requiring long-term physical therapy.
• Torn ligaments: Often result in chronic pain and mobility issues, requiring ongoing medical care.
• Muscle strains: Can cause significant pain and limit physical activity, requiring rehabilitation.
• Road rash: Can lead to severe infections and permanent scarring, impacting the victim’s appearance and self-esteem.
• Lacerations: May require stitches or surgery, leading to scarring and potential complications.
• Dental injuries: Often require costly dental procedures and can affect the victim’s appearance and ability to eat.
• Facial fractures: Can lead to disfigurement and require reconstructive surgery, affecting the victim’s self-esteem and quality of life.
• Eye injuries: May result in partial or total vision loss, severely impacting the victim’s independence and employability.
• Nerve damage: Can cause chronic pain or loss of function, significantly affecting the victim’s daily life.
• Psychological trauma: Can lead to long-term mental health issues, requiring therapy and impacting all aspects of the victim’s life.

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Spokane, Washington?

The Washington personal injury statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a bicycle accident lawsuit. If you wait too long to file your lawsuit, you risk losing your right to seek compensation for your injuries. This strict filing deadline means contacting a trusted lawyer immediately after an accident is essential.

Your lawyer can identify the applicable deadlines and file all necessary claim paperwork on time. They can gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and handle negotiations with insurance companies promptly. Contacting a lawyer soon after an accident maximizes your chances of receiving fair compensation and prevents delays that could jeopardize your case.

What Happens If the Driver Who Hit Me Says I Was at Fault?

Washington’s pure comparative negligence doctrine allows you to recover compensation from a bicycle accident claim even if you are partially or mostly at fault for the accident. Under this rule, the court reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault. For example, if the court determines you are 20 percent at fault, it will decrease your total compensation by 20 percent.

A lawyer can maximize your compensation if a driver claims you are at fault for a Spokane bicycle accident. They will gather evidence to challenge the driver’s claims and prove the driver’s fault. This can include witness statements, traffic camera footage, and expert testimony. By building a strong case, your lawyer can minimize your percentage of fault and increase your potential compensation.

Insurance Company Tactics: Your lawyer will also handle negotiations with the insurance company. Insurance adjusters often try to reduce payouts by shifting blame onto the injured party. A skilled lawyer can counter these tactics to demand the fair settlement you deserve. If necessary, your Spokane bicycle injury lawyer will also represent you in court to fight for full compensation.

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.

What If I Can’t Afford Legal Representation?

If you worry about affording legal representation after a bicycle accident, you should know that most personal injury lawyers, including those at Russell & Hill, PLLC, accept cases on a contingency basis. This means you do not pay any upfront fees before your lawyer starts work on your case. It also means you don’t pay anything unless we win your case.

Instead, your Spokane bicycle crash attorney will receive a percentage of the settlement or court award only if they win your case. This arrangement allows you to access quality legal representation without financial strain or worry. Additionally, by working on a contingency basis, your lawyer is motivated to secure a favorable outcome for you, as their fee is directly tied to your payout.

When You Need a Spokane Bicycle Accident Attorney

If you’ve been in a bicycle accident in Spokane, act quickly to maximize your chances of a successful claim. Immediate action helps preserve evidence, meet deadlines, and secure the compensation you need. Russell & Hill, PLLC will guide you through each step, ensuring your rights are protected and you are well-positioned for recovery.

Call Russell & Hill, PLLC in Spokane for a free and confidential Bicycle Accident Case Consultation at (509) 361-2065.