No Fee Unless We Win Your Case
(206) 800-8000
No Fee Unless We Win Your Case
(206) 800-8000Seattle roads carry a significant volume of bicycle traffic year-round, from daily commuters navigating downtown corridors to recreational riders crossing the city’s neighborhoods and waterfront trails. When a driver fails to share that road responsibly, the consequences for a cyclist can be immediate and lasting. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and extended recovery periods are common outcomes, and the financial strain that follows compounds an already difficult situation. A Seattle bicycle accident lawyer at Dubin Law Group is here to help injured cyclists understand their legal options, build a well-documented claim, and pursue the compensation the situation requires.
At the Dubin Law Group, our Seattle lawyers fight to get the best possible result in personal injury cases of all types. Our team of attorneys brings nearly 200 years of cumulative experience to these cases.
Negligent drivers who hit bicyclists or pedestrians have a seat belt, an airbag, and an entire metal structure shielding them from suffering severe injuries in an accident. However, with a helmet as the rider’s only protection, bicycle accidents often lead to fatal or permanent and severe injuries. Many bicyclists suffer from broken bones, head or brain injuries, loss of limbs (amputation), or debilitating neck and back injuries following a bicycle wreck.
Seattle bicycle accident attorney Matthew D. Dubin is dedicated to helping clients recover following a serious bike accident. By focusing on the legal aspect of obtaining compensation and justice, our firm enables clients to focus on their health and physical recovery.
Bicycle accident cases require more than filing a claim and waiting for a response. Our team builds each case with a forward-looking approach, gathering evidence early, anticipating the arguments insurers are likely to raise, and constructing a record that reflects the complete financial and personal toll of the crash. We have represented injured cyclists throughout Washington and understand how these cases are evaluated at every stage.
We work on a contingency basis, meaning no fees are collected unless compensation is recovered on your behalf. From the initial consultation through settlement or trial, our attorneys manage the investigation and any litigation that becomes necessary, allowing injured cyclists to focus on recovery while we handle the legal demands of the claim. Every case receives individual attention, and every client deserves to know exactly where their case stands.
Understanding how bicycle crashes occur in Seattle helps clarify where legal responsibility tends to fall. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation 2025 Traffic Report, motorist actions in 2024 crashes involving bicyclists included going straight ahead (97 crashes), making right turns (69 crashes), and making left turns (62 crashes). Contributing circumstances included drivers failing to grant right of way (20 crashes), disregarding traffic signs or signals (13 crashes), and exceeding a reasonable and safe speed (six crashes). Impaired driving accounted for three additional crashes, a reminder that the range of dangerous driver behavior on Seattle roads extends well beyond simple inattention.
Those numbers reflect patterns that play out repeatedly across Seattle intersections, bike lanes, and shared corridors. The most frequently reported crash types include:
Each crash type raises distinct questions about driver behavior, road conditions, signage, and right-of-way rules, all of which shape how liability is evaluated and how a claim is built. Identifying which pattern applies to a specific collision is one of the first steps in determining who bears legal responsibility.
Washington follows a pure comparative fault system. Under RCW 4.22.005, any contributory fault attributed to a claimant reduces their compensatory damages proportionately but does not bar recovery entirely. A Seattle bicycle accident victim found to share a portion of fault can still recover compensation, reduced only in proportion to their assigned share of responsibility. That framework matters because insurers routinely attempt to assign fault to cyclists as a strategy for reducing or denying claims, and understanding how that rule works is central to evaluating what a case may be worth.
Fault analysis in bicycle cases begins with traffic law. Right-of-way rules, crosswalk requirements, signaling obligations, and posted speed limits all factor into how an investigator or insurer assigns responsibility between the parties. Beyond the rules of the road, physical evidence plays a central role. Skid marks, bike lane markings, vehicle damage patterns, sight-line obstructions, and traffic or intersection camera footage can help reconstruct the sequence of events and identify at what point each party’s conduct fell below a reasonable standard of care.
Witness accounts add another dimension to the analysis. Bystanders, other cyclists, and nearby pedestrians often observe details that official reports do not capture, particularly regarding driver speed, phone use, or failure to yield before impact. When insurers attempt to shift blame onto a rider, a thorough investigation backed by consistent, well-preserved evidence can meaningfully protect the value of the claim and counter arguments that would otherwise reduce recovery.
Decisions made in the hours and days following a crash can directly affect the strength of a claim. Acting with purpose during a disorienting time helps preserve evidence and protect legal rights:
Consistent follow-up care matters as well. Gaps in treatment give insurers grounds to argue that injuries were less serious than claimed, which can affect the final recovery.
The financial toll of a bicycle crash extends well beyond emergency room costs. A Seattle bicycle accident claim may account for a broad range of economic and non-economic losses that flow directly from the collision and continue throughout recovery. Documenting those losses thoroughly, from the first medical visit through ongoing treatment, is what allows a claim to reflect the true cost of what happened.
Recoverable damages often include:
When a driver’s conduct reflects particular recklessness, such as operating while impaired or deliberately disregarding the presence of a cyclist, additional damages may be available. Washington’s comparative fault rule means that even a partial finding of fault against the rider does not eliminate these categories of recovery. The amount may be reduced, but the right to pursue compensation remains, and a complete damages picture ensures that reduction does not shortchange the full extent of what was lost.
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Timing carries real consequences for anyone injured in a bicycle crash. Under RCW 4.16.080, personal injury claims in Washington must be filed within three years of the date of the incident. Once that deadline passes, the right to pursue compensation is generally lost, regardless of how serious the injuries are or how clear the evidence may be
Acting promptly also serves the claim itself. Physical evidence at crash scenes degrades quickly, witnesses become harder to locate as time passes, and surveillance or intersection camera footage is routinely overwritten within days of the incident. Beginning the legal process early preserves the strongest possible evidentiary foundation, keeps all available options open, and gives the claim the time it needs to be built thoroughly rather than under pressure.
A Seattle bicycle accident lawyer is skilled at identifying insurance coverage for your losses and working to ensure that you or your child gets the proper medical treatment – even if you don’t have health insurance. If the other driver’s insurance is inadequate, our bike accident attorneys pursue compensation under your family’s underinsured auto policy. Likewise, if you were struck by a driver with no insurance or hurt in a hit-and-run accident, we pursue compensation under your uninsured motorist coverage contained in your auto policy.
Injured cyclists deserve clear answers, responsive communication, and legal representation focused on their recovery and their rights. Dubin Law Group works with people throughout Seattle who have been hurt in bicycle collisions and need a direct, informed path forward. Call us today at 206-800-8000 to speak with a Seattle bicycle accident lawyer about your situation, your injuries, and what the claims process may look like for you.
Matthew D. Dubin has represented injured people throughout Washington since 1995. He is the founding attorney of Dubin Law Group and focuses his practice on personal injury claims involving motor vehicle accidents, dangerous products, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death.
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If you suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, you likely have many pressing concerns. At the Dubin Law Group, our attorneys have years of experience handling claims resulting from bicycle accidents and answering client questions.
After a bicycle accident, the personal injury protection (PIP) of a motorist involved in the collision can offer support, or your own health or vehicle insurance could provide funds for medical care. However, these policies may not address the entire cost of your care, and you may want to seek legal guidance to ensure that you receive the financial support you need.
While not always necessary, an expert witness can be an important part of establishing liability in a bicycle accident case. Expert witnesses can offer insight into the rules of the road, determine the speed of the vehicles involved and can express opinions on the most likely way the accident happened.
If your child was injured while riding a bicycle, a claim could be made against the driver who caused the accident. However, injuries to children are handled differently than other claims, and it is important that you consult with a Seattle bicycle accident attorney experienced in handling claims for injuries to children.
Bicycles are subject to the same rules of the road as motor vehicles. Additionally, bicyclists have a general duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of themselves and others. However, even if you are partly at fault for your bicycle accident, you can still make a recovery from your injuries. Any damages you recover will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages are worth $100,000, but you were 40% at fault, you would still be entitled to recover $60,000.
The amount of time you have to file a lawsuit in Washington can vary depending on the circumstances of your case. Because time may be limited, you may want to speak to an attorney to ensure that you meet any necessary deadlines.
Yes. If the driver was at fault, you can make a claim for your injuries. Speeding, running a red light, failing to yield in left turns, “dooring” the bicyclist in a bike lane, failing to yield to a cyclist in a crosswalk or failing to leave sufficient room on the shoulder when passing could all be forms of driver negligence.
The most common claim is against the driver that hit you. However, claims are possible for other people and businesses that may have contributed to the accident. Examples include the company that designed or manufactured a faulty bicycle or service or maintenance providers that were negligent in repairing the vehicle that hit you.
While an operator of a bicycle has a duty to pay attention, sometimes defects in the roadway such as bumps, cracks, elevation changes, defective road design, or lack of guardrails put them at risk. If defects or maintenance issues led to your accident, a city, state, or federal governmental entity may be responsible for the injury.
While the law does not require you to hire an attorney, seeking experienced legal guidance can be a vital way to safeguard your rights. Not only can an experienced Seattle bicycle accident lawyer deal with insurance companies, document the harm you experienced, and investigate the accident, but they can also bring experienced negotiation skills to the table. This ensures that you receive the compensation you deserve and allows you to focus on healing.
To discuss your case with a dedicated personal injury attorney, call 206-800-8000 or contact us using the form below.
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At the Dubin Law Group, we bring more than 40 years of experience to cases involving injuries to children and adults. We handle all accident cases on a contingent fee basis, meaning you will pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
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