Who is at Fault for a Bicycle Accident in Seattle, WA?

Biking has risen to be a popular mode of transport and activity in Seattle, WA, but in sharing the road with motorists, cyclists can find themselves at risk of being involved in bicycle accidents.

As you can expect, cyclists, without the protection of a motor vehicle around them, are more likely to sustain injuries in such accidents. These injuries and damages can range from physical injuries and medical expenses to personal trauma and loss of income.

In many cases, the accident is the fault of another party. In these cases, it is strongly recommended that bicycle accident victims get legal advice from experienced bicycle accident attorneys to help them recover the damages that they have suffered.

As a comparative fault state, personal injury cases in Washington result in the division of responsibility in these kinds of accidents. Rather than a party always getting 100% of the blame, the courts try to figure out the percentage of responsibility. This means that, even if you were partly at fault for your bicycle accident, you may still be entitled to compensation if other parties were also in the wrong.

Most often other motorists are the ones at fault in a bicycle accident. In fact, they are typically at fault in more than half of fatal accidents with bicycles.

There are, however, other parties that can bear the responsibility as well. For example, if the road conditions were deemed dangerous and the cause of an accident, then those involved in the designing and maintaining of the roads may also bear legal responsibility.

Or, perhaps a part of the bike was malfunctioning or defective, causing the crash. In this case, the manufacturer could be held liable. Similarly, if you recently had your bike repaired at a shop and their careless work resulted in your accident, you may also have a case against the person or repair shop that worked on your bike.

At the end of the day, though, your claim must be backed up by sufficient evidence. In such an event, it is immensely important to have an experienced bike accident attorney at your side who can determine whether you have a strong case against another party and help you throughout the process of filing the suit.

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, do not hesitate to pursue the compensation that you need and deserve. The team at Gosanko, O’Halloran, Lepore PLLC is equipped to handle all your questions and concerns, as well as fight for your best interests. Contact us now at 206-275-0700.

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