Riding a bicycle is better for the environment and a great way to get exercise while getting from place to place. However, bicycles do not provide riders with much protection in the event of an accident. Unfortunately, cyclists can suffer serious injuries in traffic accidents. Head injuries, road rash, broken bones, and even more serious injuries can result in painful recoveries for bike riders.

Sometimes these accidents just happen, but other times they are caused by the negligence of another bicyclist, a vehicle driver, or another party. When this happens, injured bicyclists can ask for damages from a Washington court with the help of a Seattle bicycle accident lawyer. At Frey Buck, our personal injury attorneys can help you decide if you should pursue a personal injury lawsuit.

Filing a Personal Injury Case

When you initiate a personal injury lawsuit, you are known as the plaintiff in the case, and the party or parties you are accusing of wrongdoing are the defendants. A bike crash attorney in Seattle can help you prepare a list of claims and file them as an official complaint with the appropriate court. In the complaint, you can lay out the facts and circumstances that led to the accident and your injuries. Your attorney can help connect the duties owed to you by the defendants, their behavior, and how their actions caused your harm.

This official complaint will also include a request for the damages you believe you are owed as a result of the harm you suffered from the bicycle accident. In Washington, the statute of limitations for bicycle accident claims is usually three years from the date of the accident. If you fail to file a lawsuit before this period expires, you may lose your right to seek compensation at all.

What Are Common Damages in Bicycle Accident Cases?

Damages from a bicycle accident will include both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover financial costs related to your injury. These include:

• Property damage
• Medical expenses
• Future medical care
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity

An attorney can help gather and organize all of your medical records, receipts, and other evidence to show the court why you are entitled to the damages you are requesting. The help of a Seattle lawyer experienced with bike crashes is helpful when estimating expenses or additional medical care or therapy that will continue in the future.

Non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for the harm that is harder to quantify, but just as important. This may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Psychological problems
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium, which addresses the impact on your personal relationships

There is no cap on non-economic damages in Washington, so having a skilled attorney is an important factor in helping you show a jury why the amount you are requesting is fair based on the evidence.

Contact Our Seattle Attorneys for Help With Your Bicycle Accident Case

Recovering from a bicycle accident takes time and emotional courage. It may leave you feeling like you have little energy left to pursue your legal claims. However, a skilled Seattle bicycle accident lawyer can help lighten the load for you.

At Frey Buck, our legal team has years of personal injury law experience, helping us to understand your situation and advise you strategically about how to move forward with your claims. Reach out to us today to get started.