Bicycling is a great form of transportation. It’s good for your health, it doesn’t pollute nor wear out the pavement. Here in Bellingham, we have good bike parking downtown and lots of paths that don’t allow cars. Even though there are lots of benefits, there are also risks. And on your bike, you’re relying on other drivers to follow the laws and not be unpredictable. Your life may depend on them.
Many bike accidents could have been prevented, which means someone was at fault. And in instances where a driver failed to field at an intersection, the consequences can be deadly for bicyclists. Many drivers who hit a bike claim that they didn’t see the rider, and failed to yield the right of way. While that may be true, it could also be from negligence or carelessness on their part.
If you or a loved one has been hurt by a driver who did not yield to your right of way, call Bill Coats immediately. He won’t give up defending you and doing what it takes to get you a full claim for your losses. Even if that means going all the way to trial. Bill has tried over 50 cases in court, and has twenty years of experience as a personal injury lawyer. Contact him here.
What constitutes a failure to yield crash?
It’s a sad fact that many crashes between a driver and a bicyclist could have been prevented. Negligence is a big factor in these cases. All motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians must yield to others depending on circumstances. One example we encounter on the roads daily is a car or bicyclist turning left in an intersection in which traffic travels straight. If someone does not yield correctly, a collision is likely to occur. Sometimes bicyclists will turn on a red, against the traffic signal, and be hit, which bears some degree of responsibility. But that does not necessarily mean the cyclist is saddled with a lifetime of unpaid medical bills and the driver of the car or truck has no responsibility. Cases have unique characteristics; a skilled lawyer will be able to look at yours and compare the facts to a vast library of laws that may apply.
Motorists often fail to yield to bicyclists because of the following factors:
- Failing to check blind spots
- Driving drunk or distracted
- Not watching out for bikes
- Speeding
- Not using turn signals – a bike rider is always on the lookout for cars who aren’t signaling their turns but may turn in front of an adjacent biker anyway
Proving Negligence
Even in events that seem to be a clear line of responsibility pointing to the at fault party, this will still have to be proven. Witness testimony, accident reports from the police, surveillance footage, and photographic evidence are critical in proving negligence. If it exists, it should be kept handy. Medical reports can be a very important piece to the claims. All these things combine to give a picture of what compensation can be due to the accident victim.
What Damages Can Be Recovered?
A bicyclist hit by a driver of a vehicle who did not stop or slow down will most likely suffer a wide range of injuries, such as head trauma, broken bones, internal organ damage and fatal injuries. What these injuries may pay out will depend on several factors, not limited to the injuries’ severities, and the emotional damages also have a price as well.
Protecting Bicyclists’ Rights
Bill Coats is a skilled and experienced bike accident lawyer in Bellingham. He takes on insurance companies in all kinds of cases, and knows how to get results. If you’ve been injured, or a loved one has been hurt or killed, you owe it to yourself and your family to get the best representation possible to get the best claim paid. Don’t go it alone. Call Bill Coats at 360-303-0601 today or send this form through now.