Tacoma Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Hundreds of people throughout the state of Washington and the Tacoma area turn to bicycling as a fun, healthy, and inexpensive means of transportation. Sadly, some of these cyclists become the victims of accidents with motor vehicles, leaving them significantly injured, unable to work, and with questions about what to do next. At the Khan Injury Law, our Tacoma bicycle accident lawyer is here to represent you from day one of your accident throughout the entirety of the claims process, and will competently answer any questions you may have. Call our Tacoma law offices today to schedule your free case consultation.

Why Do Tacoma Bicycle Accidents Occur?

Bicycle accidents may occur because of an error or act of negligence on the part of one, or sometimes multiple, parties. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

Driver error. Driver errors are a top cause of bicycle accident, leading to dozens of collisions, some of which are fatal, every year. Examples of driver errors that may lead to a crash include speeding, driving aggressively or too close to a cyclist, failing to yield, failing to come to a complete stop, driving while distracted, or drunk or impaired driving.
Bicyclist error. While the drivers of motor vehicles may be at fault for a large percentage of bicycle accidents that occur in Tacoma and surrounding areas, they are not always to blame. In some cases, the error of a bicyclist may cause an accident. For example, a bicyclist may fail to follow posted laws and signs, such as failing to stop at a four-way stop intersection, or failing to wait for a light before crossing an intersection. A cyclist may also cut in front of cars, tailgate, or make risky maneuvers, contributing to an accident.
Bicycle defect. While less common, it is possible for a bicycle defect to cause a crash. For example, defective brakes, faulty handlebars, or a defective bike seat could all increase the risk for, or even cause, a bike accident.
Road or traffic device defect. Finally, another cause of bicycle accidents is a defect in the road, or a problem with a traffic sign or traffic control device. For example, if a cyclist hits a pothole, they may experience a fall or crash. Or, if traffic lights aren’t working as they should, a cyclist may proceed through an intersection assuming they have the right of way, only to be hit by the driver of a vehicle who assumes the same.

At the Khan Injury Law, we will open an investigation to get to the bottom of why your bike accident occurred.

Who Might Be Liable For My Bike Accident?

In Washington, liability for an accident is based on negligence. Negligence is the failure to act with a reasonable amount of care, and might include acts such as texting while driving, manufacturing a product with a design defect, failing to repair a known hazard on a property or road, speeding, or breaching traffic safety laws.

In a bike accident, potentially liable parties include the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident, the manufacturer of a vehicle/bike or vehicle/bike part, another third party (such as another person with whom you were biking), or even a state or municipal government agency or entity. In some cases, you may be found partially negligent for your injuries, and therefore may have your compensation amount diminished as such.

What Happens If I Wasn’t Wearing A Helmet?

As stated above, it is possible for you to be found partially negligent for the crash and your injuries. If this is the case, your compensation amount will be diminished in proportion to your degree of fault, per Washington’s contributory fault laws.

Even if you were not at fault for the cause of your accident, i.e. another vehicle hit you while you were operating your bike responsibly and lawfully, you may be partially responsible for your injuries. This is the case if you were not wearing a helmet and suffer a head or traumatic brain injury. In Tacoma, all cyclists (of all ages) are required to wear a helmet; a breach of this is known as negligence per se, and can result in a reduction of your compensation award. If you did not suffer a head/brain injury, then it is unlikely that your lack of helmet will affect your claim.

We Know How To Help You Recover Your Maximum Compensation Amount

At the Khan Injury Law, we know how to maximize our clients’ compensation awards. We do this through:

Thoroughly investigating your claim in order to determine the precise cause of accident and all potentially liable parties;
Working with accident reconstruction, design, and forensic experts to build a case proving the liability of the negligent party;
Filing your claim within Washington’s statute of limitations;
Organizing all of your medical documents and calculating the full value of your claim;
Participating in mediations and negotiations with an insurance adjuster in order to reach a settlement that fully addresses the extent of your losses; and
Refusing to accept a settlement that minimizing the losses you have suffered.

If we are unable to reach a fair settlement with an insurance company through out-of-court negotiations, we will be prepared to file a bicycle accident lawsuit on your behalf and take your case to court.

Call Khan Injury Law For Your Free Consultation Today

Our talented Tacoma bicycle accident lawyers at Khan Injury Law know what you’re going through, and have the experience and skillset your case deserves. We have been helping bicycle accident victims file their claims and recover settlements for years, and know what goes into a successful claim. If you are ready to take action to improve your future after a bicycle crash, call our law firm today. You can also request your free consultation using our online form.