Riding a bike is a healthy and exhilarating form of transportation in the Renton area. But cyclists face numerous dangers on the road from careless and inattentive motorists. If you’ve been in a cycling traffic accident, the injuries can take a severe financial, physical, and emotional toll on your life.
Renton personal injury lawyers from NextLaw can help you file an insurance claim against the party at fault for the accident and your injuries. We can use our skills and knowledge to fight for compensation for your medical bills, lost work income, and other injury-related losses. Our team has over 100 years of combined legal experience—experience we can use to help you.
Fill out our contact form below to get in touch with Renton bicycle accident lawyers from our firm. Consultations are free, and we’re available 24/7, so don’t hesitate to reach out today.
How a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
Filing a claim for a bicycle-related injury is an inherently adversarial process between you and the insurance company. Insurers want to make money, so they will do whatever they can to pay as little as possible. This includes using tricks and negotiating tactics to weaken your claim value.
Personal injury lawyers from NextLaw can provide legal advocacy and negotiating leverage. We can handle all the administrative aspects of making a claim, such as gathering evidence and filing forms.
We can also negotiate settlement offers and, if necessary, initiate formal litigation. Our goal is to secure you the money you need to cover your losses and find stability for healing and recovery.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accident lawyer serving Renton, call (253) 238-2558
Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Renton
One of the most common causes of bicycle accidents is motorist negligence. Negligent drivers are inattentive and may end up crashing into cyclists.
Common causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Texting and driving. Texting and driving is illegal in Washington and a major cause of distracted driving accidents. Even checking a text for a few seconds reduces reaction times by a significant margin.
- Drunk driving. Drunk drivers lack motor coordination and concentration, so they are less likely to notice cyclists in their blind spots.
- Aggressive driving. Speeding or tailgating are aggressive and reckless driving behaviors that can cause cyclist accidents.
- Failing to yield. Motorists are required to share the road and must yield to cyclists’ right of way, but many neglect this and cause accidents.
- Opening doors while parked. Cyclists traveling on bike lanes may collide with parked cars when inattentive drivers open doors without surveilling for cyclists.
- Changing lanes without signaling. Motorists might not notice cyclists in their vehicle blind spots and collide with them after changing lanes without using turn signals.
Bicycle accidents may also be caused by defective bike parts, like chains, tires, handlebars, and brakes. In these cases, the manufacturer could be held liable through a product liability lawsuit.
Renton Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me
Call: (253) 238-2558Compensation You Can Recover After a Bicycle Accident
Because riders are exposed, even low-speed cycling crashes can cause serious harm, ranging from road rash and bruising to concussions and spinal cord injuries. The severe injuries associated with bicycle traffic accidents can leave you in dire financial and mental straits.
A Renton bicycle accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation to make up for these losses, including the following:
- Emergency medical bills and the cost of future necessary medical treatment
- Work income and employment compensation you lost from missing work
- Reductions in earnings if your injuries require you to switch jobs or stop working
- The value of replacement household services, like childcare or housekeeping
- Miscellaneous injury-related expenses
- Psychological losses associated with the injuries (e.g., pain and suffering)
- Cost of repairing or replacing damaged property or possessions
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Bicycle Accidents and Comparative Fault in Renton
Washington’s personal injury laws allow you to recover financial compensation even if you were partially responsible for the bicycle accident. As Washington is a “pure” comparative negligence state, there is no threshold of fault over which you can’t recover damages. Even if you were 99% responsible, you could file a claim.
The catch is that any financial award is reduced by your percentage of fault. So you should still work with experienced bicycle accident attorneys who can argue to minimize your shared liability. This is especially important in bicycle accident cases, where biases against riders can lead to assumptions of cyclist fault.
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Time Limit for Bicycle Accident Lawsuits in Renton
RCW 4.16.080 sets a three-year time limit on personal injury lawsuits for bicycle accidents. Once the statute of limitations expires, you will lose your chance to sue for financial damages. If you try to file a lawsuit, it will be rejected by the courts.
Three years can seem like a long time, but you shouldn’t delay. Waiting until the last minute will severely hurt your chances by making it much harder to gather evidence and connect your injuries to the crash. Talk to our bicycle accident attorneys quickly to initiate proceedings as quickly as possible.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Injured in a Renton bicycle accident? Call Dan Next! With over 100 combined jury trials, our personal injury lawyers from NextLaw can stand up for your rights and fight to protect your interests.
Contact our offices online or call us today to speak to our Renton bicycle accident lawyers about your case.
Call or text (253) 238-2558 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form