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Tacoma Bicycle Accidents Lawyer
A bicycle crash can leave you hurt, out of work, and facing hard questions about who caused it.
Washington law gives an injured cyclist the right to seek compensation from a careless driver, even when the cyclist shares some of the fault.
A Tacoma bicycle accident lawyer can help build that claim while you focus on healing.
Tim Rusk Attorneys has successfully handled thousands of cases. Call 253-904-2472 or contact us to schedule a free consultation and talk through what happened on the road.
Why Choose Tim Rusk Attorneys After a Bike Crash
When you hire our firm, you work directly with Tim Rusk, so the attorney handling your claim knows its details firsthand. That personal touch matters in a bike crash, where fault often turns on small facts, like where the rider was in the lane and who had the right of way.
Tim started his career in personal injury law, handling cases that could not be settled before a lawsuit was filed. We methodically prepare every case as if it is going to trial and build creative trial strategies around the facts of each crash. Tim was born and raised in Tacoma, so you are working with a lawyer who knows this community. Our firm has also earned recognition from Super Lawyers and more than 100 five-star reviews.
What Rights Do Cyclists Have on Washington Roads?
Under Washington’s bicycle traffic law, a person riding a bicycle on a roadway has the same rights and duties as a driver, apart from a few rules written specifically for cyclists. On a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, a cyclist has a pedestrian’s rights and duties instead.
Washington’s lane-position rule for cyclists asks a rider moving slower than traffic to stay as far right in the right through lane as is safe. A cyclist may leave that position to turn, to pass, or to avoid hazards such as parked cars, pedestrians, or a rough road surface, and may ride on the shoulder or in a bike lane.
Common Causes of Tacoma Bicycle Accidents
Driver mistakes that can lead to a bicycle crash include:
- Dooring: Opening a parked car’s door into traffic before it is safe, which Washington’s vehicle-door law prohibits.
- Failure to yield: Turning or pulling out across a rider’s path at an intersection or driveway.
- Unsafe passing: Getting too close to a rider or going too fast around one. Under Washington’s safe-passing law, a driver passing a cyclist on a road with two or more lanes in that direction must move completely into a lane to the left. On a road with one lane in that direction, the driver must slow down and pass at a safe distance, where practicable at least three feet, or move into the oncoming lane when it is safe if there is not enough room.
Tacoma’s own crash data shows where serious bike crashes cluster. The City of Tacoma’s inaugural Vision Zero report found that about 30% of bicycle crashes that killed or seriously injured someone from 2019 through 2023 happened on these corridors:
- Pacific Avenue
- South Tacoma Way
- Portland Avenue
- South 96th Street
- North Narrows Drive
What if I Was Partly at Fault for My Tacoma Bicycle Accident?
In Washington, a share of the blame lowers compensation without wiping it out, which the law calls pure comparative fault. Under Section 4.22.005 of the Revised Code of Washington, an injured person’s own share of fault reduces the damages awarded proportionately but does not bar recovery.
For example, a cyclist found 40% at fault in a crash with $100,000 in damages could still be awarded $60,000.
How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Washington?
An injured cyclist generally has three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, a deadline set by Washington’s statute of limitations. In a typical crash case, the clock starts on the day of the collision. Washington courts apply a narrower discovery rule in some cases where an injury could not reasonably have been found right away.
If the injured rider was under 18, Washington’s statute on minors and filing deadlines keeps the time before the rider’s 18th birthday from counting toward the three years. A claim against a city, county, or other local government adds a step: under Washington’s local government claims law, a standard tort claim form must be filed and 60 days must pass before a lawsuit can begin. Missing the deadline usually ends the right to sue, and waiting has a practical cost too: camera footage can be recorded over, and witnesses become harder to reach.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Tacoma Bicycle Accident?
A bicycle accident claim can include these categories of damages:
| Category | What It Covers | Example |
| Economic | Medical bills, lost wages, and repair or replacement of the bicycle and gear | An emergency room visit, missed shifts at work, and a totaled frame or cracked helmet |
| Non-economic | Pain and suffering | Months of pain that keep a rider off the bike |
Which categories apply, and what each is worth, depend on the facts of the crash and how severe and lasting the injuries are.
Tacoma Bicycle Accident FAQ
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Minor Bicycle Accident in Tacoma?
Not every crash needs a lawyer, but a minor crash can turn out to be more serious than it first seemed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that some concussion symptoms may not appear for hours or days after an injury. Settling with an insurer usually means signing a release that ends the claim, so talking with a lawyer first can show whether an offer covers the full cost of the injury.
What if the Driver Who Hit Me Was Uninsured or Drove Away?
Washington auto policies must include underinsured motorist coverage unless the policyholder rejected it in writing. This coverage can pay people who are legally entitled to damages from an uninsured or underinsured driver or a hit-and-run driver. A cyclist’s own auto policy, or a household member’s, may include it, and the policy’s terms decide who it covers.
Will My Bicycle Accident Case Go to Trial?
Not necessarily. A case goes to trial only when the two sides cannot agree on a fair settlement, and a claim can settle even after a lawsuit is filed. Filing suit within the deadline keeps the option of trial open if an insurer refuses to pay what a claim is worth.
Talk With a Tacoma Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Healing from a bike crash while handling medical bills and insurance calls is a lot to carry alone. Tim Rusk Attorneys has successfully handled more than 2,000 cases, and our phones are answered 24/7. Call 253-904-2472 or contact us today for a free consultation with a Tacoma bicycle accident lawyer.
