Practice Areas

Bicycle Accidents

For more than three decades the personal injury lawyers at Brett & Coats, PLLC have been helping victims of bicycle accidents receive prompt, fair and just compensation for injuries caused by the negligence of others. We will serve as your voice in the justice system, dealing with insurance adjusters, medical billing departments and others involved in the compensation process. Contact our office today so that our legal team can protect your interests while you concentrate on the challenge of healing.

We practice throughout Washington State from our offices in Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane and Vancouver. Because of our computer technology, we are paperless and wireless, so we can meet with clients anywhere in Washington.

Bicycling is the preferred form of transportation and recreation for thousands of Washington State citizens. People ride their bicycles on state roads and highways to stay fit and healthy, to commute to and from work, and to do their part to help our environment.

Bicycles are considered vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, and they share Washington’s roadways with cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles. Unfortunately, cyclists are much lighter and less visible than other road users. That makes them especially vulnerable and puts them at risk of serious injuries in any bike-car accident.

The majority of bike-car accidents result from a motorist’s inattention. When a motorist is distracted, any of the following can happen:

• The motorist may turn directly in front of a moving bicycle.
• The motorist may fail to allow adequate distance when following or passing a bicycle.
• The motorist may fail to stop or yield at a traffic light or stop sign.
• The motorist may pull out of a driveway or parking lot without looking both ways.
• The motorist may fail to see the bicyclist due to time of day or weather conditions.

A bicyclist who is injured because of a motorist’s negligence may be entitled to compensation for property damage to the bicycle, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If an accident is fatal, the bicyclist’s family or dependents may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.

It is important to note that a motorist may be liable for a bicyclist’s injuries even if there is no physical contact between the bicyclist and the motor vehicle. If a bicyclist is hurt while taking evasive action to avoid being hit by a car, the motorist can be held responsible for negligently causing the accident.

Sometimes, crashes are caused when a part fails on a bike. The manufacturer of the defective part can be held accountable in a product liability action. A bike store may be held liable if they negligently assemble a bike and a crash results.

Determining who is at fault in a bicycle accident can be complicated. Understanding the applicable laws and knowing how to gather the right information is critical in establishing a liability claim. Don’t negotiate with insurance companies whose main goal is to pay you as little as they can. The Washington bicycle accident attorneys of Brett & Coats, PLLC will help you protect your rights. We are familiar with bicycle traffic laws, the skills needed to handle a bicycle, the property value of bicycles, and the value of lost riding time. We also have full knowledge of the laws and court cases which entitle you to compensation for your personal injuries.

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident that was caused by a motorist’s negligence, contact us today online or by calling us at 1-800-925-1875 for a free consultation.