A Renton Bike Accident Lawyer Can Help
Injured after a bicycle crash? The Advocates are here for you.
When bicyclists and drivers share the road, cyclists are often left the losers. Considering the difference in size between motor vehicles and bicycles, it’s easy to see why bicyclists are at such a high risk of accident and injury. The danger of a bicycle accident is a reality both motorists and bicyclists must face.
If you’ve been involved in an accident you can be compensated for your medical bills, lost income, property damage, and any pain and suffering you may have endured. Our experienced attorneys can help determine the value of your injury case and the best way to pursue getting maximum compensation for your injuries. What you need most after your bike crash is an experienced attorney that can answer all your questions at no cost to you.
Call today for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Renton Bike Accident Attorney
Insurance adjusters are trained to offer the lowest possible payout for bike accident injuries. Insurance companies use this strategy even when the policyholder is grossly at fault. A skilled attorney will have extensive experience with the deceptive tactics insurance providers frequently use against victims. In order to save money, insurance companies will downplay the severity of bike accident injuries as well as the amount of time needed to recover. Having an experienced lawyer, someone familiar with bicycle accident injuries and liability laws, can help you win fair compensation for your bicycle accident claim.
In a perfect world, the at-fault insurance company would provide full compensation after you were injured, and you’d never even need to call a lawyer. Instead, insurance companies often act to maximize their own profits, and put their own interests before those of the injured party.
If you are a cyclist that has been injured in an accident, The Advocates can help answer your most pressing questions, such as:
How will my medical bills get paid?
Who is liable for my accident?
What will happen if I can’t return to work because of my injuries?
Do I even have a personal injury case at all?
Most Frequent Causes of Accidents Involving a Bike and Car
There are several frequent scenarios involving a driver’s negligence that result in a car and bicycle accident. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) reports that the most common factors contributing to bicycle accidents are:
Excessive speed of the vehicle
Drivers failing to see a bicyclist
Careless and reckless driving
Under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
According to the NHTSA, “bicyclist injuries remain consistently, disproportionately high.” With, an estimated 41,615 bicyclists injured in 2021.
The same NHTSA report cites the following stats related to bike accidents resulting from collisions with motor vehicles:
The majority (62%) of bicyclist fatalities took place at non-intersection locations
urban fatalities account for approximately 85% of bicyclist fatalities
Collisions with light trucks (which includes SUVs/ pickups/vans) were responsible for the highest proportion of bicyclist fatalities (46%)
Over half (56%) of bicyclist fatalities occur in dawn/dusk/night-time conditions
Because these accidents are often extremely serious in nature, an experienced bike accident attorney can help guide you through all your legal options and determine the best path forward.
Bicycle Laws and Useful Facts
The lawyers with the Advocates are experts in all of the relevant bicycle laws. The following is a list of helpful information and facts about bicycle use and laws throughout Renton and Washington State:
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- In Washington, bicyclists have the same rights on the road as motorized vehicles do. The same traffic laws govern bicycles and cars or trucks. However, that does not guarantee that drivers sharing the road know that.
- The traffic laws govern what a bicyclist can do, but they also protect bicyclists from the actions of reckless or negligent drivers.
- Bicycle riders must stop at all red lights and stop signs and must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
- Traffic laws may seem restrictive when you are on a bicycle, but those same laws give you the right to seek compensation for being injured in an accident.
- 61.755 grants you all of the rights and responsibilities of a motorist. This means that you are granted the same rights as drivers of other vehicles, but you also have the same duties such as yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians, as well as stopping at red lights and stop signs.
- 61.770 allows cyclists to ride side by side but no more than two abreast.
- 61.770 allows cyclists to choose between the roadway, a bike path, a bike lane, or the shoulder as suits their needs.
- 61.780 requires riders to have a white front light and a red rear reflector when riding at night to increase visibility.
Call a Renton Bicycle Accident Lawyer with The Advocates
After being injured in a bicycle accident, an ordinary lawyer simply won’t do. You want the best bicycle accident lawyer you can find. What you need is an Advocate. Unlike other law firms, we won’t back down if we’re unable to negotiate a fair settlement. The Advocates refuse to quit until the job is done. Our team has helped thousands of accident victims with their personal injury claims. Contact The Advocates today for a free evaluation of your case. Our lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning we don’t get paid until you do. Call (206) 452-4200 to see how an Advocate can help you. We’re available 7 days a week. You deserve an Advocate!
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