Best Bicycle Accident Lawyers Seattle, WA

Seattle, WA Bicycle Accident FAQs

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Seattle, Washington?

  206-625-5011 is the non-emergency phone number of the Seattle Police Department.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Seattle, Washington?

  Requests for Seattle police records should be made through the Public Records Request Center at https://www.seattle.gov/public-records/public-records-request-center, an online public resource that enables users to read through FAQs, submit requests, send payments, download records, check the status of prior requests, and get in touch with the City's public disclosure officers.

• Can you file a claim in Seattle for a bike accident if the motorist was uninsured?

  Yes. If the other motorist has no insurance, you can still receive compensation in Seattle for your medical expenses and bicycle damage if you have an insurance policy with uninsured motorist coverage. A bicycle accident attorney might discover other avenues of compensation based on the particular circumstances of your bike crash.

• Are you liable for an accident in Seattle if you ride too closely to a parked car?

  Most likely not. Leaving space for vehicle doors to open is always a good idea, but according to a rule in Seattle, it is against the law to open a motor vehicle's door on the side that is closest to moving traffic until it is at least somewhat safe to do so. Although it is everyone's responsibility to keep a proper lookout, a motor vehicle driver is in the best position to stop a hazardous situation from arising and should look before opening the car door.

• What privileges do cyclists in Seattle have?

  The following are some of the rights and responsibilities of cyclists in Seattle:

  • Cycling is prohibited while hitched to moving vehicles.
  • When riding a bike between dusk and dawn, certain lights and reflectors are required.
  • When possible, cyclists in Seattle should ride in bike lanes and on the right side of the road in traffic.
  • While riding on sidewalks is not prohibited in Seattle, riders are required to give way to pedestrians.

• Can you receive compensation in Seattle if a car strikes you outside a bike lane?

  Yes. Seattle's streets don't all have bike lanes, plus cyclists are only required to utilize a bike lane if their pace is slower than the traffic flow. Riding outside the available bike lane should not bar you from seeking financial compensation in the event of an accident. Though there may be cases where being outside a bike lane contributed to a collision, this would most likely result in lower payouts instead of being barred from getting damages altogether.

• If you contributed to a bicycle accident in Seattle, can you still seek compensation?

  Yes. Seattle adheres to the pure comparative negligence rule, which calls for the jury to determine fault by dividing the total damages by the number of parties involved. Your share of fault-related losses will be deducted from the awards you are eligible to receive. If you suffered $200,000 in damages but were only 30% at fault, the motorist who was 70% at blame would only be liable for $140,000.