Riding a bike should be fun. It’s a fine way to exercise, get fresh air, and commute with a negligible carbon footprint. While Everett is a bike-friendly city here in the Puget Sound, accidents can happen. Given the vulnerability of bicyclists, the injuries sustained in these kinds of collisions can be severe.
When cyclists get seriously hurt, the award-winning legal team at Walton Injury Law is here to help. We can hold negligent drivers and local road authorities accountable when their actions cause or contribute to a serious collision.
Get your life back on track. For a free and confidential consultation with experienced bicycle accident lawyers near Everett, WA, contact Walton Injury Law today. We’re looking out for bicyclists of all ages.
Dangers to Cyclists in the Everett Area
Everett is a relatively bike-friendly city. The League of American Bicyclists rated Everett as a bronze-level bike-friendly community in 2021. Yet despite guarded bicycle lanes and numerous local initiatives to make biking safer, accidents can happen.
- Cyclists should be extra-cautious while riding around downtown Everett or north of downtown.
- Cyclists also need to be wary while riding near Broadway and 41st Street just given the number of drivers trying to get on or off Interstate 5.
- Riding along or near Everett Mall Way can similarly be dangerous since there are six lanes of traffic and many speeding drivers.
Bike Accident Numbers and Statistics
According to data from a piece in The Urbanist, there are 2.5 fatal or serious bike crashes a year for every 100,000 people. This is a slightly lower number than Marysville (3.4) and much lower than Lynnwood (6.1). It goes to show that cyclists throughout Snohomish County need to exercise caution.
As far as statewide numbers go, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission recorded 168 active transportation user (ATU) fatalities in 2024. ATU refers to both pedestrians and cyclists in the state.
How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit?
Per Revised Code of Washington (RCW) § 4.16.080, you typically have three years from the date of the bike accident to file a legal action. Once that three-year statute of limitations has expired, you will no longer be able to file a lawsuit.
There are some exceptions to the three-year deadline depending on the circumstances of the collision and the parties involved. It’s best to speak with our Everett bicycle accident attorneys as soon as possible
Can I File a Lawsuit If I Was Partly at Fault for a Bike Accident?
Yes. Per RCW § 4.22.005, the state of Washington operates under pure comparative negligence. This means that you can still seek damages even if you were 99% at fault for an accident. Your percentage of shared fault is deducted from the compensation awarded.
For example, say you were in a serious bike accident in Everett and a jury awards you $100,000. However, the jury also found you were 20% at fault for what happened. You would still receive $80,000 in damages.
The team at Walton Injury Law will help you consider how the circumstances of the bicycle accident could affect how much your case is worth.
Why Choose Walton Injury Law for Your Bicycle Accident Case
There are many law firms in the Everett area that can help with bike accident cases. Yet Walton Injury Law sets itself apart from other practices because we put our clients first.
- Free and Confidential Legal Consultations: After a bad accident, the last thing you need is another bill. Walton Injury Law offers free consultations so you can speak with a proven legal professional and figure out what steps you can take next while seeking compensation.
- Clients Don’t Pay Unless We Win: Our attorneys work on a contingency fee. That means we only get paid if we can reach a settlement or win damages in court. If we don’t win, you don’t have to pay. Our law firm is in this with you.
- Available to You 24/7: Accidents can happen at any hour of the day, and concerns can arise in the middle of the night. We have a 24/7 answering service to take your calls, and our attorneys will always be available to you while working on your case.
- Prepared to Go to Trial: Many law firms focus on securing settlements. At Walton Injury Law, we won’t settle for less than what your bike accident is worth. If we can’t negotiate a fair amount for your injuries and hardships, we’re ready to go to trial to seek damages.
To request a free case review from our dedicated Everett bicycle accident attorneys, contact Walton Injury Law today.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Many bike accidents are caused by driver error and issues with vehicles sharing the road with cyclists. Below are some of the most common reasons bicycle accidents happen here in Everett and in other parts of Snohomish County.
Speeding
Speeding is a major factor in motor vehicle accidents nationwide. There are plenty of people who drive too fast on Everett Mall Way, but speeding can also occur around downtown and residential streets. When drivers speed, everyone else sharing the road is put in danger.
Reckless Driving
Motorists need to share the road with cyclists and pedestrians. When drivers are aggressive, not observing the right of way, or disregarding marked bicycle lanes, it puts responsible cyclists in danger. This is especially true when it comes to children on bikes near schools and parks.
Distracted Driving
When drivers take their hands off the wheel or divert their attention from the road, collisions with bicycles are more likely. This is why there are so many concerned reports about texting while driving, eating while driving, and even just idle rubbernecking while behind the wheel.
Drunk or Intoxicated Driving
When people drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, there’s a much higher risk of getting into an accident. In addition to facing criminal charges, bicycle accident survivors can seek compensation from intoxicated drivers. The team at Walton Injury Law will make sure to seek maximum compensation to hold that person responsible.
Not Checking Blind Spots
It’s easy for drivers to lose track of bicyclists in their blind spot or to simply not check their blind spot while driving. Whenever there is a cyclist present, drivers need to be extra-cautious and help ensure that a catastrophic bike accident does not happen.
Dooring
Dooring is when a driver or passenger opens their door into the path of an approaching bicyclist. This often happens when drivers park along the curb or when passengers exit a vehicle on a one-way street. Dooring can cause major injuries depending on the speed of the bicyclist at the time of impact.
Low Visibility
Riding and driving at night can be deadly, which is why reflective clothing and lights are important for cyclists. However, even a careful cyclist could be obscured from a driver’s view if there is not enough lighting in the area or if there’s fog.
Potential Injuries from a Bicycle Accident
A helmet isn’t enough to prevent grievous bodily injury in a bike accident. Many accidents cause catastrophic injuries, causing lifelong changes to a person’s mobility, strength, and ability to perform different tasks and work duties. Here are some of the common injuries our Everett bicycle accident lawyers have seen in our clients.
- Broken Bones and Joint Injuries: The impact from a hard landing could cause fractured arms, legs, ankles, wrists, shoulders, or hips. Even after making a full recovery, injuries to bones and joints could affect long-term mobility.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): While a bike helmet will offer some protection, it’s still possible to suffer a concussion or other type of TBI from a bike accident. Brain damage can cause major issues with memory, cognition, movement, and mental health.
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI): Injuries to the spinal cord can cause permanent paralysis. For bicycle accident survivors who are paraplegic or quadriplegic, they will be dependent on a wheelchair for mobility for the rest of their lives.
- Internal Organ Damage: The force of impact in a crash can break ribs and damage vital organs. These kinds of injuries can be life-threatening, and they can have long-lasting effects on a person’s overall health and wellness.
- Loss of Limbs: In serious bike accidents, a cyclist could lose a limb at the crash site. In other cases, a limb may be so damaged during a collision that it needs to be surgically amputated.
- Physical Disfigurement: Some cyclists experience visible scarring and facial injuries. While reconstructive surgery can address some of these changes in appearance, these kinds of injuries can have a lasting effect on self-image.
- Psychological Impact: A major accident can have lasting effects on a person’s mental health. It’s common for major bicycle accidents to cause anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Compensation in a Bicycle Accident Case
After a major bicycle accident, our lawyers near Everett can help you seek both economic and non-economic damages to address the many effects of the crash. The goal is to make you whole and help address the changes to your life.
Economic damages refer to tangible losses with a bill or concrete value. Non-economic damages are subjective, and they tend to refer to changes in someone’s overall quality of life. Examples of damages in a bike accident claim include:
- Medical treatment for major injuries
- Physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy
- Damage to your bike and other belongings
- Lost wages from taking leave
- Lost future earning potential due to injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
While working with Walton Injury Law, our lawyers will review the full extent of your losses and how the bicycle accident affected your daily life. We will help you understand the true value of your bike accident claim and how much it could be worth.
Punitive Damages for a Bicycle Accident
In rare circumstances, you may be eligible for punitive damages. These kinds of damages do not compensate bike accident victims for losses. Instead, punitive damages are meant to punish the negligent individual who caused someone harm.
Our lawyers will let you know if punitive damages are a possibility based on the circumstances of your bike accident case.
Legal Options After a Fatal Bike Accident
Tragically, some bicycle accidents are fatal. The sadness, pain, and anger that families feel after such a senseless loss are immeasurable. After a fatal bicycle accident, surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against a negligent party to seek compensation.
Like injury claims, you have three years from the date of the fatal bike accident to file a wrongful death lawsuit. It’s best to speak with our Everett bicycle accident lawyers about what happened as soon as you feel able to.
While the compensation in a fatal bike accident claim cannot match the full extent of your grief, it can help give you and your loved ones some relief and an ability to face the future. The team at Walton Injury Law is ready to listen to your story and help in whatever way we can.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Attorney Near Everett, WA
A major bike accident can take years to recover from. Our law firm is here to make sure cyclists can be compensated so they don’t have to shoulder all of their medical bills on their own.
The dedicated lawyers here at Walton Injury Law want to look out for cyclists of all ages throughout Snohomish County who’ve been hurt and need help. Your pain matters, and we will make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Let us get you back on track. To request a free consultation with experienced Everett bicycle accident lawyers near you, contact our law firm today.