How soon after my bicycle accident should I call you?
Call immediately. Do not talk insurance adjusters. I can give you immediate information about insurance coverage so that your bicycle accident medical bills are paid.
Plus, you get more for your money if you hire me sooner. That way I’ll take the billing and adjuster hassles off of your plate. There’s no sense stressing yourself out with all of that and then calling me.
How soon can I get my damaged bicycle and my gear replaced?
The property damage portion of your bike accident claim can be dealt with much faster than the injury potion. I will help you with this part of your claim. We get the documentation together (photographs, retail listings, receipts, etc) for all of your damaged gear and submit it to the adjuster. It’s usually less than a one month between the time we submit the info and a check arrives.
Do I need to replace my damaged gear before making a property damage claim?
No. You can wait until you receive the check from the insurance company. There’s no requirement that you replace the gear first. You claim the reasonable value of the damaged items. What you do with the money you receive is up to you.
How much do you charge for helping with the property damage claim?
I do not charge my clients for the time I spend working on their property damage claim. 100% of the money for your gear goes to you. Most times, I can direct the insurance company to simply send the check straight to you.
The police report says the driver was uninsured!
If you have under/uninsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), then you can recover for you bills and pain and suffering the same as if the driver had insurance.
I never made physical contact with the car, is that a problem?
Riding defensively sometimes mean you will have a solo crash because you tried to avoid a car. You still have a right to recover.
Will I be able to talk with a lawyer if I call?
Yes. I do not screen my calls or have an assistant perform the initial intake. I am very prompt with returning emails and phone calls.
How much will it cost to consult with and hire an attorney?
I handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that there is no upfront cost to consult with or hire me. A contingency fee is an alternative to an hourly fee. Rather than send you a bill each month for the time I spend on your case, the fee is contingent on the outcome of your case. The fee is typically 1/3 of the recovery. If you don’t recovery anything, then you owe no fee (1/3 of $0 = $0).
Will you charge me every time we meet, talk on the phone, or exchange emails?
No. The contingency fee covers all time I spend on the case, including talking to you. You can feel free to contact me without worrying about how much it’s going to cost.
How much is my case worth?
Unlike an insurance company, I don’t value your case based on a mathematical calculation. The value of your bicycle injury case depends on the nature of your injuries, the impact they have had on your life, and the amount of your medical bills. Once I know those factors, then I can give you an idea.
How long will my case take?
How long your case takes depends largely on when you call me. If you become a client right after the accident, then the length of your treatment will be a big factor because you don’t want to resolve your case until you are sure what the lasting impact of your injuries will be. Once a client is done treating, their bicycle collision claim usually resolves within a year.
Do I have a good bicycle accident claim?
Initial consultations are complimentary and there is no obligation. Call me and we can discuss the facts of your claim and whether you have a strong case.
Should I accept the driver’s insurance company’s offer?
No. The adjuster knows that you do not know what your bicycle accident claim is worth and is likely offering you a bottom-of-the-barrel amount. Call me and we can discuss your options. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you accept an offer (even when you have an attorney), but I would rather you were fully informed before you accept a low-value offer.
Should I call you even if I want to handle my claim myself?
Yes. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way. I am happy to give you information about how the process works.
Will I have to go to trial?
The vast majority of civil cases settle before the trial date. Sometimes there are issues in a case that make it difficult to settle or the defense is unwilling to offer a fair value, and in that case it may be necessary. I am willing to take your case to trial if necessary though, and that willingness can help get a case settled. If the other side knows that you will never go to trial, then they may never offer the full value of your case.
How do I have to make my claim?
The law says you have three years from the date of the bicycle accident to file your case. If you’ve hemmed and hawed for a year or two, and you’ve finally decided to pursue your case, it’s not too late. That said, it’s not a good idea to sit on your rights. Don’t procrastinate. Investigating and filing a case isn’t always an easy process. If you wait too long to call, it may be difficult to find a lawyer willing to take your case.
Is it bad if the police didn’t write a report of my bike accident?
That’s ok. The fact that there is no police report is not detrimental to your case.
What if a bicycle accident is partially my fault?
It’s easy to slip into a mode where you blame yourself for what happened, but that is different than being legally at fault. IF you did do something to cause the bicycle accident, then you may be allocated a percentage of fault. Think of the full value of your case as a pie. The law allows a jury to divide up that pie. If you are determined to be 20% at fault, then you only get 80% of the value of your case from the defendant.
A drainage grate caused my crash? Who is responsible?
The law requires that roadways be safe for ordinary travel. Bikes are legally allowed on all roadways (unless specifically closed to bicycle traffic, very few are). If you went down due to a roadway defect, you possibly have a claim against the government entity (city, county, state) for the unsafe condition. I have represented cyclists in claims against the State of Washington for roadway defects. It takes the right kind of case and a lawyer who is willing to dig through State documents to build the liability case. I enjoy the challenge of these cases.
Will pursuing my case take up a lot of my time?
No. I am efficient with your time because I know it’s valuable to you and you hired me so that you can focus on your life, not your case.
What happens to the person I sue?
When a lawsuit is filed, the driver will be the named defendant. That said, it’s the insurance that person carries that we are interested in. Their insurer covers the cost of hiring an attorney and paying the amount of the settlement or jury verdict. You are not going to affect the personal finances of the driver.
What parts of Seattle do you handle cases in?
I handle cases in all areas of Seattle and surrounding cities, including Bellevue, Mercer Island, Tacoma, Olympia, Sammamish, Redmond, Kirkland, Shoreline, and others. I also have cases in other parts of Washington, including on the coast and on the east side of the mountains.
What if I had a bicycle accident outside Washington State?
I am the Chair of a national group of bicycle accident attorneys. I can find you an appropriate referral in another state.
