In the aftermath of a bicycle accident you will have a lot of questions. Who was at fault? What insurance will cover me? Where do I get medical treatment? How do I get my medical bills paid? What if I have to miss work? Should I take the settlement the insurance company is offering? Can I be compensated for my pain and suffering?
We Have the Experience You Need
If you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident that was caused by a negligent motorist, call Advocates Law Group, PLLC as soon as possible. You will quickly be faced with a number of important decisions and legal issues. It is common for drivers who hit bicyclists and their insurance companies to dispute the liability by attempting to blame the cyclists. Even if the police arrived at the scene, some officers do not have a full understanding of the rights and duties of motorists and bicyclists so may wrongly attribute fault to you.
There is a great deal of knowledge required of the law and hours of legwork needed to effectively negotiate with an insurance company and litigate a bicycle accident injury claim. Insurance companies may also extend settlement offers that are unreasonably low. An experienced lawyer may properly evaluate your claim and build evidence that shows the liability of the motorist.
Call Advocates Law Group, PLLC today at (253) 733-0035 to schedule your FREE case evaluation. Don’t let the stress of managing your injuries, mounting medical bills, lost wages and the unfair, high pressure tactics from insurance companies overwhelm you. Let our experienced legal team do the work for you. We only handle personal injury cases so our services are essential to helping you maximize your recovery from the insurance.
We Don’t Get Paid Unless You Win
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not get paid until there is a successful resolution to your claim.
We have two convenient locations to meet or can arrange an on-site visit to a medical facility or your home if you are unable to travel. Our experienced team will fight diligently on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve by holding those responsible for your accident accountable, so you can focus on getting well again.
Contact Advocates Law Group, PLLC today to learn more about your rights and schedule your FREE case evaluation at (253)733-0035.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
A growing number of people are taking up two-wheeled transportation in the Pacific Northwest. It is a great way to recreate while exercising and enjoying our beautiful outdoors. A small but growing number of people are also opting to commute to work on bicycles to get exercise, save money and make a positive impact on our environment. Unfortunately, despite efforts by WSDOT to lower bicycle accident statistics, they are on the rise and one bad accident can erase the health and cost benefits very quickly. What would be a minor fender-bender if you were in a car collision, can result in considerable and permanently debilitating injuries or death because of the limited protection you have while riding your bicycle on the road.
Bicycle accidents are caused by a number of factors but many of them—and the injuries that occur as a result—are caused by negligent drivers. Regardless of what caused your accident, you can be confident that Advocates Law Group, PLLC will help protect your rights as a victim of someone else’s carelessness.
- Motorists not understanding the road rules regarding bicyclists on the road
- Not understanding bicyclists turn signals
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Inexperienced or teen drivers
- Work zone and construction zone
- Hit and run
- Texting and driving
- Passing accidents/improper turning
- Driver fatigue
- Severe weather
- Accidents due to driver error
- Drunk drivers (DUI)
- Dangerous road conditions
- Aggressive drivers
- Car breakdowns
Bicycle Accident Injuries
Cyclists are especially vulnerable in accidents because they have little to protect them from the physical forces that are released by a motor vehicle. Bicycle accidents can result in a myriad of new injuries and/or aggravate pre-existing conditions.
In the aftermath of a collision, sometimes accident victims are in shock and unaware of their injuries until hours, days or weeks later when symptoms start to surface. Although you may feel you are not injured at the time, you should always be checked by a medical professional. Always seek medical attention after an accident and get evaluated for injuries. Protect yourself and the future of your health.
Many people think they will get better on their own but do not. Delaying medical attention can affect getting the proper treatment you need to recover. The records of emergency or urgent care, doctor visits, surgical procedures, radiological tests, prescribed medications, and any rehabilitative care will help to support your claim and are your best evidence of the extent of your injuries. Be sure to follow all of your doctor’s recommendations for treatment and therapy. Insurance companies may point to not seeking immediate medical care or gaps in care to deny coverage. Below are examples of common injuries that need attention after an accident.
- Dizziness
- Cuts and bruises
- Discomfort
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue and nerve damage
- Ligament damage
- Dislocations
- Aggravated pre-existing conditions
- Concussions
- Herniated discs
- Fractures and broken bones
- Head and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries
- Thoracic injuries
- Pelvic injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Amputations
- Death
Types of Losses after an Accident
As experienced accident and injury attorneys, we will review your case and assess what types of losses you have experienced and help you understand the different types of compensation that are available. Before you can be compensated, you must prove that the person at fault was the cause of your loss. Necessary evidence must be obtained in order to make a case including witness statements, pictures, automotive repair estimate and bills, police reports, medical records, employer records, insurance company documents and sometimes expert opinions.
- Property Damage – If you were in a bicycle accident, then your bicycle will likely have damage as well as personal items that you were carrying.
- Medical Costs – This would include all expenses for any medical treatment related to the bicycle accident. You should keep a record of all medical visits as well as treatment records for use in obtaining this type of compensation. You may even be able to recover the cost of future medical care.
- Lost Wages – You can obtain compensation for lost wages after an accident. If you were unable to work due to your injuries, or can no longer perform the same work, then you can recover for this loss. Sometimes, people have a lost earning capacity as a result of their injuries that is distinct and separate from their lost wages.
- Emotional Distress – It is common to have emotional issues after a bicycle accident, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You may be scared of riding your bike again in the future, which can greatly impact your life. It’s very important to seek treatment for the emotional toll dealing with your injuries has caused and a good therapist can help.
- Long-Term Care Expenses – If you are unable to care for yourself or need to make modifications to your home, then you may be eligible for long-term care expenses. These can help you regain some of the standard of living after an accident.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life – These damages are generally designed to compensate for a plaintiff’s loss of the capacity and ability to enjoy the pleasures of life, including the enjoyment that comes from such things as hobbies, interests and vocations.
- Pain & Suffering – Recovery for “pain and suffering” caused by a bicycle accident compensates the plaintiff for all of the physical and mental pain, discomfort and misery caused by the injury, and includes inconvenience, mental anguish, disability or disfigurement incurred by the injured party, emotional distress, loss of society and companionship, loss of consortium, injury to reputation and humiliation, inconvenience and destruction of the parent-child relationship.
In order to receive compensation for your losses after an accident there is a great deal of evidence gathering required. Advocates Law Group, PLLC can do this work for you. Collecting all the evidence needed for your case can be very time consuming and records can be difficult to obtain. Our attorneys and staff are familiar with the evidence retrieval process and are also experts at interviewing witnesses and medical professionals.
At Fault and Comparative Negligence Laws
In an accident, if you want to pursue a claim against an insurance company to recover your losses, the motorist that hit you will need to be found responsible. Sometimes after an accident it is not always clear which person was at fault – especially because many motorists and police officers may not have a clear understanding of the laws and the rules of the road for cyclists. In the State of Washington, if your actions contributed to the accident in any way, the amount of your recovery will be is reduced by the percentage that you have been found to be at fault. For example, if your damages are $10,000 but you are found 10% at fault, you will receive $9,000 to cover your losses. Determining fault after an accident can be a contentious matter and may require professional services to protect you from insurance company tactics to reduce or deny their responsibility to cover your losses. At Advocates Law Group, PLLC, you will have the peace of mind knowing that you have an experienced legal team fighting for you.
What to Do after an Accident in Washington State
If you are involved in a bicycle accident in Washington State, the first thing to do is call the police and seek medical treatment. This is important because police reports and medical records will serve as critical evidence in your bicycle accident claim.
Immediately after an accident:
- Assess your safety and the safety of others around you.
- Render aid to yourself or others immediately, if needed.
- Call 911 or ask for someone to for you so you can receive medical attention if needed and to dispatch a police officer to the scene. Police are trained in accident investigation and can collect valuable information and may also cite another driver for fault on the scene.
- Be careful of making statements at this time but gather information and write it down if possible.
- Collect the other driver’s contact, license plate and insurance information.
- Names and contact information of witnesses.
- Take or ask others to take pictures or videos of the bicycle, vehicles and any other evidence that would be critical to proving who is at fault.
- Get checked out by medical professionals even if you aren’t sure if you have been injured. Sometimes you are in shock and until the adrenaline wears off you may not feel your injuries. You may also have a concussion that needs to be attended to.
- Call an Advocates Law Group, PLLC for legal advice.
- Inform your health or car insurance company immediately that you were involved in an accident.
Call Advocates Law Group, PLLC today at (253) 733-0035 to learn more about your rights and schedule your FREE case evaluation.
