- Who Are Our Washington Bicycle Accident Attorneys?
- Vital Steps to Take After a Bike Accident in Washington
- When Should You Hire a Bike Accident Attorney in DC?
- 2024 Biking Accident Statistics in Washington
- Major Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Washington
- What Are the Most Common Injuries in Bicycle Accidents?
- Main Types of Damages to Recover in a Washington, DC
- Our Recent Case Settlements
- Who Can Be Held Liable for a Biking Accident in DC?
- How Do You Prove Negligence in a Washington, DC Bicycle Accident?
- Why Choose a Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group to Handle Your Case in Washington?
- Cycling Laws in Washington
- Statute of Limitations for Cycling Claims in DC
- Safety Tips for Washington, DC Bicyclists
- Contact a Washington, DC Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today!
- Get a FREE case evaluation today
- Frequently Asked Questions
Washington holds the first place on the list of the most bicycle-friendly states in the USA. However, many of you already know that no matter how well-developed a cycling community can be, sharing the road with larger vehicles always poses a serious threat to such a low-protected user group as bike riders.
The majority of injured victims are unsure how to act after an accident to protect their rights and receive full compensation. If you or your loved ones have been hurt in a cycling accident, a qualified bike accident lawyer is the one to advocate for you and defend your interests.
Who Are Our Washington Bicycle Accident Attorneys?
Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group is a law firm that understands that a bike crash is not just an inconvenience reflected through physical pain and property damage. Our attorneys are well aware of the emotional toll and financial hardship that the accident brings on every victim and their families.
Over the years in the legal field, as we’ve been honing our skills, we have never forgotten about personal approach, care, and compassion for every client and every case. A harmonious combination of these ingredients has helped us win cases that others shied away from, and our successful track record proves it!
Vital Steps to Take After a Bike Accident in Washington
The overall stress and commotion of the situation often make people act irrationally. While that is natural and understandable, a lot may depend on the primary actions you take after the accident. Here’s the list of steps you may want to consider:
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Inspect yourself for injuries
The first thing to ensure is your own safety. Check yourself for signs of visual injuries and assess your overall condition. If you feel okay to move, get away from the middle of the street.
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Notify the authorities
Call 911 even if the damages seem minor. Some injuries take time to manifest, and only trained medical professionals may spot the symptoms. The police dispatch, in their turn, will inspect and document the scene in an official report. You can obtain it later and use it to support your claim.
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Gather evidence
In case you do not require immediate hospitalization, you should take pictures of every incident detail that stands out to you. Start with your injuries and vehicle damage and proceed to road conditions, other vehicles, etc.
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Call a DC bicycle accident attorney
A professional legal advisor will instruct you on what to do and what to avoid after the collision. Some law firms send their representatives to the scene of the incident so that they can take over the case from the first moments.
When Should You Hire a Bike Accident Attorney in DC?
It is more than advised to seek legal assistance after a collision with a motor vehicle, no matter the extent of your losses. However, there are a few undeniable signs that indicate that you need expert help in the case. They are the following:
- The sustained injuries range from moderately serious to severe. The pressure of piling bills can be relieved by fair compensation a trained attorney can help you acquire.
- The insurance company tries to enforce a lowball offer that barely covers your damages on you.
- The insurer disputes the validity of your claim and tries to deny any payouts.
- The at-fault party denies liability, and you need to determine and prove the other party’s negligence to recover the rightful settlement.
2024 Biking Accident Statistics in Washington
Washington is one of the most promising states in the USA in terms of a multi-level approach to cycling safety. Back in 2022, the local legislature launched a $1.3B initiative aimed at making active transportation as safe as possible. However, despite the ongoing effort, the fatality rates among vulnerable road users spiked from 26 to 49 deadly injured traffic participants between 2015 and 2023.
As many as 448 bicyclists were involved in biking accidents in 2024, and two people were fatally injured. The recent report reflects some contributory factors that encompass the overall safety situation in the area:
- Busy roads: Almost 90% of all accidents take place on the streets of population centers.
- Poorly-equipped intersections: Over 50% of cyclist deaths are intersection-related.
- High-speed limits: 87% of traffic fatalities and serious injuries happen on the road with a posted speed limit over 25 mph.
- Demographics: White, non-Hispanic people make up almost 70% of cycling incidents in the area.
Major Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Washington
It is hard to predict what may serve as the primary cause of a bicycle crash. However, there are a few common aspects to keep in mind while cycling to reduce the chances of an accident on your part:
- Dooring accidents: Many drivers remain entirely oblivious to the harm that a suddenly opened car door can cause to an approaching cyclist. That is why a bike rider should be as cautious as possible when moving past parked vehicles.
- Negligent driving: Negligent drivers are yet another common reason why bicyclists get injured in the city. When a motorist leans over to read an incoming text message or check for directions, the risk of a dangerous road situation spikes.
- Poor riding conditions: Not only does the absence of designated bike lanes put cyclists at risk, but the same applies to debris on the road, potholes, missing signs, and outdated lane markings.
- Road rage: You may encounter aggressive motorists on Washington roads, particularly when it comes to sharing the lane. Some drivers may purposefully tailgate bikers, gesture, and speak inappropriately to the rider. These acts may unbalance the cyclist and lead to a serious accident.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Bicycle Accidents?
The range of traumas a cyclist can sustain on the streets of the city varies from minor to catastrophic, not to mention the wrongful death instances. However, the most typical injuries include the following conditions:
- Head trauma: A severe head injury such as a skull fracture or concussion may have a lasting, if not life-altering, cognitive impact on the victim. Some traumatic brain injuries have a delayed effect, so only a trained medic can notice the first signs of such severe trauma.
- Back traumas: A bicyclist’s back is the largest, poorly protected part of the body. The force of the crash, along with the severity of the impact on the ground, can lead to spinal cord injuries. This type of trauma can cause serious impairments if not permanent paralysis.
- Broken bones: After being thrown off their bikes, riders experience a powerful collision with a solid surface. The fall can result in multiple fractures, some of which may require complex surgeries, reconstructions, and lengthy rehabilitation.
- Road rash: When a rider slides across the pavement, sustaining various-scale skin abrasions is inevitable. While the condition may seem mildly serious, road rash takes time to heal, especially if the wounds get infected. Besides, in some cases, the injuries lead to permanent scarring.
Main Types of Damages to Recover in a Washington, DC
A biking accident usually implies a fair share of losses that the victim has to deal with afterward. The main types of damages fall under the following categories:
Economic Damages
Every type of expense that can be supported by an invoice, receipt, precise estimate, or price tag is referred to as economic loss. An injured cyclist can recover immediate medical costs, such as medical bills for surgeries, prescriptions, and other relevant procedures and manipulation. They can also file a claim to obtain long-term medical expenses. If the victim requires ongoing care, home modification, special devices, or lengthy rehabilitation, these costs must be reimbursed in full. The same applies to lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and inflicted property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, depression, emotional distress, and other mental conditions can’t be supported by precise financial calculations. That is why it often takes a skilled legal representative to guide you to a bicycle accident claim and secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
Punitive Damages
The most extreme cycling accidents enlist punitive damages. This form of damages is aimed at punishing the at-fault party for their negligent actions rather than compensating the inflicted losses. Although rare, punitive damages are awarded on top of the monetary and non-monetary settlement.
Our Recent Case Settlements
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Biking Accident in DC?
Not every accident victim is aware of whom they can hold accountable after an incident. Some of the potentially negligent parties will come as a surprise:
- Motorists: Collisions between a motor vehicle and a bicycle are among the most typical in Washington. Drivers who exceed speed limits, drive under the influence, or violate traffic rules in other ways can be held accountable for the crash.
- Bike manufacturers: If a manufacturer or a distributor knowingly sells a vehicle that isn’t fully operational and that leads to an accident, they will be deemed as a responsible party to compensate for the inflicted damages.
- Governmental agency: A local municipality that ignores potholes on the road, fails to fix a broken sign, or fails to add one before a potentially dangerous turn will be liable for not keeping the infrastructure reasonably safe.
- Other road users: Although bicycle vs pedestrian accidents may not be the most common in the area, exceptions happen. If a pedestrian jumps in front of your car and causes a crash, they will be at fault and must pay for your damages.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Washington, DC Bicycle Accident?
It is not enough to claim that the other negligent party is responsible for the accident. Usually, it takes four main steps to hold the at-fault party accountable. They are the following:
- Duty of care: Whether it is a reckless driver or governmental entity that you are filing a claim against, you must establish that they owe you a duty of care. For example, a vehicle operator has to abide by existing traffic rules to avoid creating dangerous situations on the road, and local municipalities must ensure safe riding conditions.
- Breach of duty: Suppose a driver was speeding or failed to yield the right of way to a cyclist. In case this course of action caused the bike accident – they’ve breached their duty of care.
- Causation: Responsible parties or their insurance companies often try to dispute their contribution to an accident. That is why a plaintiff has to provide relevant evidence of the correlation between the defendant’s actions and the victim’s damage. Evidence like photos and videos of the incident, witness statements, or surveillance footage will solidify your case.
- Damages: To prove the rightfulness of your claim and obtain fair compensation, you must support it with palpable proof of financial expenses and non-monetary losses you’ve undergone as a result of the collision.
Why Choose a Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group to Handle Your Case in Washington?
A qualified bicycle accident lawyer like those of our firm can make a huge difference when it comes to dealing with a cycling incident, and here’s how:
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Legal background
Our attorneys possess an in-depth understanding and skill in handling bike accident cases. Our comprehensive knowledge of the local legal system enables us to construct robust claims.
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Multi-level case assessment
An insurance company representative may try to trick you into accepting a lowball offer. Our legal advisors will help you calculate your settlement on different levels, ensuring that you recover the maximum settlement available.
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In-depth case investigation
Some reimbursements are reduced or denied due to the lack of evidence that supports the claimant’s version of events. Our lawyers will investigate the case, acquiring missing proof that will change the course of the case.
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No win, no fee policy
We understand the pressure of the financial toll of the accident. That is why we represent our clients without any upfront fees. Once we win the case, we will deduct the agreed-upon percentage from the final compensation.
Cycling Laws in Washington
In D. C., cyclists have to abide by the same rules and regulations as the rest of the motorists. They have to drive in the same direction as the traffic, ride a fully functional bike, and stick to the far right side of the road. On top of that, bike riders under 16 must wear a protective helmet, which does not apply to adult bicyclists.
One of the most critical laws a cyclist must know is the Vulnerable User Collision Recovery Amendment Act of 2020. The thing is that the state of Washington is one of the few that still abide by the pure contributory negligence law. According to this law, if an injured party is found to be even 1% guilty in an accident, they will be barred from receiving any compensation.
VUCRAA is an exception to the general pure contributory negligence law. It aims to provide such vulnerable users as bicyclists with a more just protection. According to the law, as long as a rider is less than 50% at fault in a bike accident, they can still recover compensation but with the deduction of their comparative negligence percentage. For instance, if the plaintiff applies for $100K in damages but is found 10% liable for the incident, they will still recover $90K in compensation.
Statute of Limitations for Cycling Claims in DC
Every personal injury case has an expiration date, and bicycle crashes aren’t the exception. According to the state-approved Statute of Limitation, a victim has three years from the date of the accident to file the claim and recover their damages. Failing to do so would mean that you lose your right to obtain any settlement.
There may be a set of exceptions to the rule based on the underlying conditions of the incident, so it is never a waste to contact an experienced Washington DC personal injury attorney for a free case evaluation.
Safety Tips for Washington, DC Bicyclists
One can’t completely rule out the possibility of getting into an accident unless you choose not to ride your bike at all. If giving up on your favorite activity isn’t an option, you can use a few practical tips to make your riding experience as safe as possible. For example:
- Make yourself visible on the road. On top of equipping your bike with the required lights and reflectors, you can wear brighter clothes to ensure that you are harder not to notice.
- Try to make direct eye contact with the drivers when you are about to make a potentially dangerous maneuver.
- Don’t jump to the fastest routes that your GPS may suggest. You can spend a few extra minutes planning your journey but will avoid the whole accident commotion.
- If you feel that the traffic is too busy, you can use a sidewalk. However, some areas have restricted access for cyclists, and you should scan for corresponding signs to avoid a fine.
- Limit your distractions. Don’t text and ride. If you wear headphones, use one at a time so that you remain alert enough to act quickly when the road situation requires you to.
Contact a Washington, DC Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today!
A bike accident is never a pleasant event one would want to take part in. Yet, if you’ve been hurt in a cycling incident, you need legal backup to keep insurance providers at bay and obtain the full compensation you deserve.
Our law firm consists of skilled field attorneys ready to investigate, negotiate, and succeed no matter the difficulty of the case. All it takes is to contact our team for a free consultation and start the wheels of justice turning!
Share the details of your situation with us so we can begin advocating on your behalf. We customize our approach to fit the unique needs of each client.
