Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Olympia, Port Orchard, Tacoma, Washington, & surrounding communities
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, roughly 12% of all bicyclists and pedestrians make up road accident deaths. No group is more vulnerable to injury.
Bicycle and pedestrian accidents can happen under a variety of circumstances, such as:
- Vehicle drivers not observing speed limits
- Drivers turning a corner and not seeing you on the crosswalk
- Cars driving at dusk or dawn without their headlights on
- Drivers opening a door suddenly in front of a bicyclist
- Drivers in a hurry trying to get past the crosswalk before you reach their path
- Drivers distracted by cell phones, children or the radio and therefore not paying enough attention to the road
Pedestrian responsibilities
Pedestrians have obligations just as vehicle drivers do. They should:
- Cross roads using the crosswalk, not jaywalk
- Cross roads only with a green light
- Reasonably watch traffic conditions
- If the car driver can show that you contributed to your own injuries by disregarding any of these obligations, your compensation may be reduced accordingly. If your comparative negligence is found to be 20%, for instance, your compensation amount will be reduced by 20%.
What to do first
- Write an account of the accident - include comments from witnesses and other people involved in the accident, and all contact information obtained from them
- Write down your injuries - include your lost wages and any other type of injury
- Have someone take photos of your injuries (before and after treatment, if possible)
- Note down property damage - perhaps something you were carrying at the time, such as a laptop or camera
- Keep copies of all your medical bills
- Obtain a copy of the police report
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits
In Washington state, if you're a pedestrian or bicyclist hit by a car, you can claim PIP benefits under the insurance policy of that car that hit you(if the at fault driver or car owner carried that type of coverage). This amount can range from $0 to $35,000.
- If that driver's PIP Coverage doesn't cover all your medical costs, you can then claim under your own insurance policy's PIP coverage (if you carry this coverage).
PIP coverage pays for necessary and reasonable medical costs, and income loss, up to the amount of the PIP coverage.
You could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages, past and future
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Household help while you're incapacitated
- And potentially other damages.
If you were hurt as a pedestrian or bicycle rider in Washington, please contact our office today for a free case evaluation.
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