Bellingham Bike Accident Lawyers
You Deserve an Advocate!
Considering the difference in size between cars and bikes, it’s easy to see why cyclists are at such a high risk of accident and injury when sharing the road. Any experienced bicycle accident attorney knows this. The danger of a bicycle accident is a reality both motorists and bicyclists must face. The Bellingham bicycle accident attorney team at The Advocates is experienced in personal injury law and know how to get insurance companies to offer fair settlements for injuries sustained in a bike crash.
The award-winning bicycle accident attorney team at The Advocates can help determine if your case is worth pursuing, what the best path forward is likely to be, and how to maximize your total compensation for any injuries sustained in the bike accident.
If you’ve been involved in a bike accident you can be compensated for medical bills, lost income, property damage, and any pain and suffering you may have endured. What you need most after your bike crash is an experienced attorney with The Advocates to help you get fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Why You Need a Bellingham Bicycle Accident Attorney
Insurance adjusters are trained to offer the lowest possible payout for bike accident injuries. Insurance companies use this strategy even when the policyholder is obviously at fault. A skilled attorney will have extensive experience with the deceptive tactics insurance providers frequently use against victims. In order to save money, insurance companies will downplay the severity of injuries as well as the amount of time needed to recover. Having an attorney familiar with bicycle accident injuries and liability laws, can help you win fair compensation for your bicycle accident claim.
In a perfect world, the at-fault insurance company would provide full compensation after you were injured and you’d never need to retain a lawyer. Instead, insurance companies act like the businesses they are and put their own interests before those of the injured party. If you are a cyclist that’s been injured in an accident, an attorney at the Bellingham Advocates will take on the insurance companies for you. Our team will work to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company, and if they won’t play ball, our trial team will file a lawsuit and take them court.
Frequent Causes of Bike Accidents Involving a Car
There are several common scenarios involving a motor vehicle driver’s negligence that result in a bike accident. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) reports that the most common factors contributing to bicycle accidents are:
- Drivers failing to see a bicyclist
- Careless and reckless driving
- Excessive speed of the vehicle
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
The WTSC has reported that in over fifty percent of instances where a vehicle collides with a bike, the accident was caused by the driver being at fault.
An experienced attorney will have familiarity with all of the frequent causes and be able to assist in proving you were not at fault. Call or text us for a free consultation today.
Bicycle Accident FAQ
When seeking assistance with handling your injury claim, there are several commonly asked questions about hiring a personal injury lawyer. Here’s a brief rundown of what it is likely to cost, whether you should hire an attorney, and what separates a skilled personal injury lawyer from the rest of the field:
Do you have to pay anything out of pocket?
We do everything we can to help you avoid paying out of pocket. We will check for any medical coverage (i.e., PIP and MedPay) available on either your own policy or the other party’s insurance. If that is not an option, or becomes exhausted, we will move to your personal health insurance. If copays and deductibles become an issue, we will work with your medical providers directly to do everything we can to get those balances held until settlement. If there is no medical coverage and no health insurance, we will find providers who will treat you on a lien and hold all costs until settlement.
While we can’t guarantee that there will be zero out-of-pocket expenses, we will do everything we can to find a solution.
How much will it cost to hire a lawyer?
There is almost never any up-front cost to hire a personal injury lawyer. We don’t get paid unless you get paid. When we recover a settlement for you, we retain 1/3 of the total amount as our fee. If we have to file suit, the fee goes up to 40%.
In almost all instances, we only retain clients when we believe we’ll be able to add value to their injury claim. If it’s a straightforward matter and injuries are minor or nonexistent, we’ll typically suggest that you try to work with the insurance company directly. For more complex matters, injured parties tend to receive 350% more in total compensation when represented by an attorney than when handling their claim independently.
Since consultations are always free, it’s beneficial to talk with an attorney as early as possible to determine the best course of action for your circumstances.
What should you look for when hiring a personal injury attorney?
When looking for a personal injury attorney, you should look for someone with a history of success, a team well-versed in how the claims process works, and a serious litigation team that’s willing to push the insurance company when necessary.
By selecting a firm that’s not afraid to litigate, you guarantee the insurance company takes you seriously from the start. This increases your chances of obtaining a favorable result early in the process.
Are there instances where hiring a lawyer is a bad idea?
In situations where there are little to no injuries, it may be beneficial to handle your claim on your own. Similarly, property damage claims tend to be relatively straightforward, and attorneys are frequently unable to add sufficient value to your claim.
Fortunately, consultations are always free, and you can speak with an Advocate to determine whether hiring an attorney is likely to increase your total settlement.
What will my attorney expect from me during the process?
During this process, your attorney will expect you to follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations, be honest about your injuries, and be open to the advice and suggestions your attorney gives you. We’re on the same team and your best interests are always our number one priority.
Questions about an injury? Call for a free consultation!
With any significant injury there are likely to be medical bills. Having a firm capable of guiding you through the billing process can go a long way in alleviating stress and allowing for a faster recovery. Here are the most commonly asked questions relating to personal injury billing:
How does the billing process work?
There are four things we look for when it comes to handling your medical bills. The first thing we will check is whether you carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on your auto insurance. If you have PIP, then it will start paying your medical bills as you incur them.
If you do not have PIP, we can bill to your health insurance, but you might be on the hook for your deductible or copays.
If you do not have PIP or health insurance, you can always pay out of pocket.
Lastly, for those who can’t afford to pay out of pocket, we are sometimes able to get providers to put bills on hold and delay payment until the end of your case.
Once you’ve retained an attorney, your team will assist with billing and advise you on your best options for taking care of your bills.
What if you can’t afford treatment?
As treatment is very important for your recovery after an accident, some medical providers may offer to treat you on a lien. A lien is an agreement between you and your medical provider that allows you to delay payment until your case is settled.
Not all medical providers will provide this service, so be sure to consult with your attorney first.
Questions about an injury? Call for a free consultation!
How large of a settlement should I expect?
The total amount you receive for you pedestrian accident depends on the severity of your injuries and recovery time. Pedestrian accidents are both rare and rather serious. Pedestrians are far more vulnerable since they don’t have the benefit of seat belts and air bags to protect them like car accident victims do. Due to these factors, pedestrian accident victims can expect settlements anywhere in the range of 4 to 7 figures. Settlements are based on medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
How long will my pedestrian accident case take to resolve?
The short answer is anywhere between 4 months to several years. If your case is clear cut and there are no questions about liability, the at-fault party’s insurance may just settle out of court since they know they lose if a judge or jury gets involved. If your case does go to trial proceedings could be dragged out for years thanks to various legal maneuverings. This is why hiring an attorney is essential for making sure you receive fair compensation for your losses and injuries. Contact The Advocates Law today for a free case evaluation.
How will I pay my medical expenses if the driver who hit me is uninsured?
Unfortunately, you may be out of luck if you’re a pedestrian who was hit by an uninsured motorist. You do have the option of filing a civil lawsuit against the uninsured driver. But oftentimes the reason drivers do not have insurance is because they can not afford it, so they might not have assets to sue over. One option you have to prevent such a nightmare scenario is to get Uninsured Motorist insurance added to your own automobile insurance. This will help you pay your medical bills and cover your lost wages if you are one day struck by an uninsured motorist.
Why should I hire an Advocate to represent me instead of an ordinary pedestrian accident lawyer?
An attorney with the Advocates is not your average pedestrian accident lawyer. What separates the Advocates from other personal injury law firms is our dedication and determination to help our clients make the best recovery possible after they’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident. We take pride in being a voice for our clients in a legal system that too often favors insurance providers over regular people. Our attorneys are experts in Washington State pedestrian accident law and know how to get you maximum compensation for your injuries and losses at the hands of another. Unlike other pedestrian accident attorneys, the Advocates will fight for your case until all other legal options have run out. Where other law firms call it a day if they are unable to negotiate a fair settlement for your claim, the Advocates refuse to give up. We will take your case all the way to a jury to get you the compensation you deserve. Why settle for second best? Call our office today at (206) 452-4200 or chat online right now with a live attorney from our homepage. Your pedestrian accident case deserves an Advocate!
Bellingham Bicycle Accidents Stats 2024
Bicycle crashes remain another area of concern, with 27 reported collisions resulting in 20 injuries. High-risk zones include Meridian Street and W Holly Street in Downtown. Nearly half of injured cyclists were between 40 and 60 years old, and two drivers involved in these incidents were found to be under the influence of alcohol.
Bicycle Laws and Useful Facts
The lawyers with the Advocates are well-versed in all of the relevant bicycle laws within Bellingham, Washington, and the Pacific Northwest. The following are a few of the relevant laws:
- In Washington, bicyclists have the same rights on the road as motor vehicles. The same traffic laws govern bicycles and cars or trucks. However, that does not guarantee that drivers sharing the roadway are aware of this fact.
- The traffic laws govern what a bicyclist can do, but they also protect cyclists from the actions of reckless or negligent drivers.
- Bicycle riders must stop at all red lights and stop signs and must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
- Traffic laws may seem restrictive when you are on a bicycle, but those same laws give you the right to seek compensation for being injured in an accident.
- 61.755 grants you all of the rights and responsibilities of a motorist. This means that you are granted the same rights as drivers of other vehicles, but you also have the same duties such as yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians, as well as stopping at red lights and stop signs.
- 61.770 allows cyclists to ride side by side but no more than two abreast.
- 61.770 allows cyclists to choose between the roadway, a bike path, a bike lane, or the shoulder as suits their needs.
- 61.780 requires riders to have a white front light and a red rear reflector when riding at night to increase visibility.
The Bellingham Bike Accident Lawyers at The Advocates
After being injured in a bicycle accident, an ordinary lawyer simply won’t do. You want the best bicycle accident attorney you can find. What you need is an Advocate. Unlike some other personal injury firms, we won’t quit if we’re unable to negotiate a fair settlement. The Advocates refuse to quit until the job is done. Our bicycle accident attorneys have helped thousands of accident victims get back on the road again.
Contact The Advocates today for a free evaluation of your case. Our lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning we don’t get paid until you do. Call or text us for a free consultation today.