Bicycling is popular throughout The Evergreen State, especially in our fine cities, for exercise, recreation, and as a cheaper form of transportation. We have some terrific protections for cyclists here, too. Unfortunately, despite them, negligent drivers cause dangerous bicycle accidents on our roads.
If you suffered injuries in a bike collision or a loved one was tragically killed, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault motorist’s insurance company. At Max Meyers Law, our compassionate bicycle accident lawyer will fight to prove your case so you receive the damages and justice you deserve.
7 Reasons Why Dangerous Bicycle Accidents Happen 
Under the law, you must prove the driver’s negligence caused your bike collision to be entitled to economic and non-economic damages. Understanding the common causes of these crashes can help you identify the negligent actions that may have led to yours.
Here are the top reasons why at-fault motorists cause bicycle accidents in our state.
Speeding
Drivers who exceed the speed limit don’t have enough time to slow down or stop quickly to avoid causing a crash with a cyclist. Unfortunately, a victim’s injuries can be much more severe when speeding is a cause of the bike collision.
Distracted Driving
When a motorist’s eyes and mind are focused on their cellphone, eating and drinking, or their navigation system, they may not see a nearby bike rider before it’s too late to avoid striking them.
Drunk Driving
Drivers who are intoxicated have reduced vision, judgment, and reaction time, which increases the likelihood they’ll cause a tragic bicycle crash.
Violations of the Vulnerable User Law
It’s a crime under RCW §46.61.526—Washington’s Vulnerable User Law—for someone to drive in a manner that endangers or threatens to endanger vulnerable users, which include bicyclists. Following too closely, failing to yield the right of way, and passing too closely are a few ways drivers violate this law.
Dooring
It’s all too easy to simply open your door and exit a vehicle. But drivers and passengers who don’t check for nearby riders can cause an incident if they do this in the path of an approaching cyclist.
Failing to Yield
In many instances, cyclists have as many rights on the road as motorists. When a driver fails to yield the right of way to a rider, especially when traveling across designated bike lanes or through an intersection, collisions happen.
Unsafe Lane Changes
This is another common reason for bike-vehicle collisions. When a driver makes an unsafe lane change in front of a cyclist, it can force the rider to brake suddenly, swerve, or crash, creating a dangerous situation.
Common Injuries of Bicycle Accidents
Riders are more likely to suffer devastating injuries—some life-threatening—because they only have a helmet and their clothes to protect them from a much larger and heavier motor vehicle. At Max Meyers Law, we’ve helped countless victims who experienced:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Fractures, such as of their limbs, facial bones, hips, pelvic bones, and collarbones
- Road rash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Organ damage
Follow These Vital Steps to Protect Your Right to Damages for Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
The steps you take right after your bicycle collision could significantly impact your ability to obtain the full value of your claim. Here are important actions our legal team recommends you take to help us win your case:
- Take care of your health. Always get prompt medical care—even if you don’t think you were hurt. Many symptoms of severe injuries are masked by adrenaline and might not present until days later. In addition, clear medical documentation helps you avoid arguments with an insurer about the cause of your injuries.
- Call the police. Ask for law enforcement to come to the scene and order the police report. The report should contain information you can use to prove the driver’s negligence, such as details on how the crash occurred, the officer’s conclusions as to who caused it, and any traffic citations issued to the driver.
- Preserve evidence. Start collecting this right away. Take pictures of the collision scene, your injuries, and the damage to your bike and the vehicle that struck you. Also, get the contact information for the driver and eyewitnesses, and save your medical records, medical bills, and pay stubs.
- Limit insurance communications. Be careful when talking with an insurance adjuster. You could accidentally say something that hurts your case. It’s best to let your bicycle accident lawyer handle all conversations with an insurer and its representatives.
- Hire an attorney. One of the most important steps you can take is to retain legal counsel as soon as you take care of your health.
The Benefits of Retaining Max Meyers Law
Contact us to schedule your free initial consultation immediately after your bicycle accident. Attorney Max Meyers has decades of experience fighting for the rights of bike crash victims. Here are the many ways Max and our legal team will assist you:
- Determine the cause of the collision. Max examines the evidence and facts surrounding your crash to evaluate how the driver’s negligence caused it.
- Collect evidence. We get to work right away requesting and preserving evidence. Some of it—such as traffic and business surveillance camera footage, the car’s black box data, and expert witness reports—may be impossible to obtain on your own.
- Negotiate your settlement. From his years of fighting with insurance companies, Max knows the arguments the insurance adjuster could raise to try to reduce your compensation—or deny it altogether. He has strategies to fight these bogus disputes and will work hard to reach a settlement that compensates you for your injuries and financial losses.
Finally, if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, or the deadline to file a lawsuit is approaching, we won’t hesitate to begin the litigation process. While this action might extend the pursuit of justice, Max will most likely settle your case before it goes to a jury trial.
