According to information from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, although motorcycles only make up about 3 percent of the road users in the state, they account for about 15 percent of all traffic fatalities and about 19 percent of serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Seattle, you may be eligible for compensation. An experienced Seattle Motorcycle accident attorney from Boohoff Law P.A. can help you to understand your legal options.
Contact us today – call (877) 999-9999 or email us. We’re available 24/7!
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the federal government estimated in 2016 that motorcycle riders are about 28 times more likely to die in an accident than the occupants of passenger cars.
About one in every five motorcycle crashes in Washington State results in a serious injury, and about 75 motorcyclists die each year on Washington roads. There are several reasons why motorcycle accidents are so dangerous, including:
In Washington, you need a motorcycle endorsement to ride a two-wheeled motorcycle. This can be accomplished by completing a motorcycle training course at an approved motorcycle training school or by passing the knowledge and riding skills tests at a motorcycle training school.
Riders in Washington can also get an instruction permit and pass a knowledge test in order to obtain the motorcycle endorsement on their license.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, you deserve a champion who will fight by your side with compassion and skill. Our team of accessible Seattle personal injury attorneys and legal experts will take on the insurance companies and legal system to get you the outcome you deserve.
Just as there are a number of causes for car accidents, there are also a number of causes for motorcycle accidents.
Here is a look at a few of those causes.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that speeding was a factor in 55 percent of all supersport motorcycle crashes in 2016. The riders of sport models tend to be younger than those who ride standard, touring, or cruiser-style motorcycles.
Sometimes, motorcyclists want to escape the city and get out onto the open road. Seattle has many scenic routes that motorcyclists can enjoy, including:
While these are enjoyable routes to ride, our team at Boohoff Law knows that motorcycle accidents and injuries can happen anywhere – and when you least expect it. We are ready to help if an injury happens to you.
The Seattle area can be a particularly dangerous one in which to ride a motorcycle. The persistent rain can make conditions difficult for bikers. It rains an average of 150 days per year in Seattle, and even light rain can make the roads more slippery.
Even when motorcyclists exercise the right amount of caution, they cannot control the actions of other drivers on the road. These motorists may not slow down enough for the conditions. When they lose control of their vehicles, they can crash into motorcyclists or force them off their bikes.
Like everywhere else in the country, Washington has experienced a significant uptick in motorcycle accident fatalities that began with the start of the pandemic. More people took to the roads to get outside, while motorists exhibited far less care. The first full month of the pandemic saw fatality rates that were almost double the historical trends.
Although Washington has one of the lower fatality rates for motorcyclists nationally, it does not mean serious crashes do not happen. Many crashes that might be fatalities in other states may result in serious injuries in Washington. For every motorcyclist who dies in a crash, countless more suffer serious harm.
Seattle-area motorcyclists must share the road with many other drivers. Traffic in the Seattle area is among the worst in the country, and drivers are known to be reckless. Traffic levels have returned to the levels they were before the pandemic. At this point, Seattle traffic fatalities are at record numbers, and motorcyclists have been in serious crashes at alarming rates.
Any single one of these actions, or a combination of several, can have serious consequences for motorcyclists. Cars have safety advantages over motorcycles, with such features as seatbelts, airbags, and a roof.
Part of what makes motorcycles so enticing is the openness and freedom that riding a bike provides riders. Protective gear can only do so much when a motorcycle is hit by a heavy vehicle, whether passenger or commercial. Riders are usually ejected from their bikes, and the consequences depend upon the force of the impact.
Drivers of private cars and commercial vehicles may walk away from an accident unscathed; sadly, the same cannot be said for motorcyclists, who likely flew off their bikes and collided with the ground or asphalt. When people choose to drink and drive or text a friend from behind the wheel, their actions are reckless and negligent.
No one should suffer physically, financially, or emotionally due to the selfish and irresponsible decisions of another driver. In our hurried, high-tech world, drivers no longer prioritize safe driving and sharing the roads with other vehicle types and pedestrians.
Despite attempts by governmental officials to encourage safe driving, drivers continue to speed, text, and drink and drive. This type of risky behavior either qualifies as negligence on its own or leads to negligent behavior. Serious motorcycle accidents alter the lives of all individuals involved, but mostly the rider who suffers serious injury in the accident.
If you’ve experienced serious injuries in a collision with a passenger or commercial vehicle, contact Boohoff Law, P.A. today. Depending upon the circumstances of your case, you may recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our legal team will fight for you every step of the way.
When motorcycles are involved in an accident, the injuries to the rider can be quite severe.
Some of the more common types of injuries seen in motorcycle crashes include:
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that, per miles traveled, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than people in passenger cars.
Additional data reports that more than 88,000 people sustained serious injuries in motorcycle accidents during 2015, and more than 5,000 people died in 2016. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, motorcycles account for just 3 percent of road users.
However, between 2013 and 2017, motorcyclists represented 15 percent of all fatalities and 19 percent of all serious injuries in vehicle collisions. The commission also reports that about one in five motorcycle collisions results in serious injury or death. The scenic beauty of Washington makes it a perfect place to enjoy your motorcycle. No matter how defensively you drive, negligent drivers surround you.
Some choose to drink and drive, to text while driving, or simply fail to share the road. When your ride turns tragic, seek medical attention right away. You should also provide a statement to police, and if possible, gather contact information from any eyewitnesses.
If you are unable to do so due to your injuries, ask someone to assist you with these important tasks. When the careless actions of another driver result in serious harm to you, accountability is a must. A Washington driver’s license is a privilege, not a right.
Pursuing justice and fair compensation on behalf of motorcycle accident victims is something we at Boohoff Law, P.A. take very seriously.
Washington is a traditional “fault” state when it comes to vehicle insurance and accidents. What this means is that drivers assume financial responsibility for the property damage and bodily injuries they cause when driving their vehicle.
Upon registration of a motor vehicle in Washington, individuals must show proof of liability insurance with a policy limit of:
While this insurance is required for cars, motorcycles do not require insurance to be ridden in Washington. However, it is strongly recommended that motorcyclists purchase insurance to protect themselves and their finances in the event of an accident.
Those who have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Washington have three options when seeking compensation for their injuries:
Here are some more highlights regarding personal injury lawsuits:
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If you were injured in a motorcycle accident that someone else’s negligence caused, you have plenty to deal with and may not know how best to proceed. The first order of business, however, isn’t complicated at all.
After you’ve obtained the medical attention you need, seek the professional legal counsel of an experienced Seattle motorcycle accident attorney.
Obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is critical to your ability to reach your most complete recovery, and the dedicated motorcycle accident attorneys at Boohoff Law in Seattle are committed to helping you do just that.
If another motorist’s negligence causes you serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, your damages can be overwhelming. Even a relatively minor motorcycle accident, however, can amount to considerable damages.
After all, when you’re on your bike, absolutely nothing comes between you and the immense impact of an accident. Your damages may include:
All told, the financial, physical, and emotional damages associated with a serious motorcycle accident can be immense.
Driver negligence can come in many forms, and any one of them can lead to a serious motorcycle accident. When you’re on your bike, you strike a much lower profile on the road than do motorists in passenger cars, and this leaves you far more vulnerable to serious injuries.
Further, your motorcycle doesn’t have the protective shell that cars do to help buffer you from any impact that ensues. None of this, however, mitigates a motorist’s responsibility to drive safely, to adhere to the rules of the road, and to safely accommodate for motorcyclists like you who share the road.
Driver negligence can include:
Again, negligent drivers come in all different forms, but they’re all dangerous.
Motorcycle accidents are often dangerous. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shares that, although there was nearly a five percent decrease in motorcycle accident fatalities in recent years, the number for that year reached almost 5,000, and motorcyclists remain overrepresented in deadly traffic accidents.
While a motorcycle accident can lead to nearly any kind of injury, the most closely associated with these serious injuries include:
Whatever kind of injuries you’ve endured, seek the medical attention you need and then consult with one of the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Boohoff Law in Seattle.
If someone else’s negligence leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident, you’re going to be dealing with an insurance company. It’s only natural to assume that said insurance company will proceed to do its job and cover the losses you’ve endured in their totality as a matter of course.
This assumption, however, is not likely to serve you well. Massive insurance companies are in the business of turning massive profits, and the way they can manage this is by minimizing their payouts and by even denying claims outright.
Keeping all of the following points in mind is in the best interest of both you and your motorcycle accident case:
In other words, the insurance company is not on your side at least not fully but your experienced Seattle motorcycle accident attorney is. Working closely with him or her is always in the best interest of you and your case.
Yes. Perhaps the insurance representative you’re working with strikes you as very reasonable, and you’re wondering if you really need to go to the trouble of also working with a Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer.
That’s a reasonable question after all, you have a long recovery in front of you, and taking on one more step undoubtedly seems daunting.
It’s important to recognize, however, that there is a wide range of important reasons why working with an experienced Seattle motorcycle accident attorney is not only a sound financial move but can also take some of the load off you at this difficult time.
Consider:
All told, yes, you and your case are much better off when you have an experienced Seattle motorcycle accident attorney on your side.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Washington, you are likely facing a long recovery from injuries.
Pursuing a fair settlement or an award from a lawsuit can be a complicated legal process.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney understands this process and all of the necessary parts of it, including the valuation of your case, negotiation with insurance companies, court filing deadlines, and aggressive courtroom representation.
You don’t have to fight this battle alone. Let us help. For a free consultation and case evaluation, contact Boohoff Law online or by calling (877) 999-9999.
“Never needed an attorney till I got rearended. Boohoff Law was able to negotiate my medical bills and settle a claim without contact with insurance companies. I felt they truly cared about my well-being and I will definitely refer them to everyone I know that needs their services.” – Audrey
Review: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Boohoff Law P.A.
Seattle Location
2200 6th Avenue,
Suite 768 Seattle,
WA 98121
(877) 999-9999
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