Updated on: 11/13/2019
Regardless of whether you’re an avid bicyclist or not, you’ve probably heard that Washington state has been ranked the most bicycle-friendly city in the U.S. for the past six consecutive years. And while that alone has done a great deal for increasing ridership and reducing oil dependency, it also means more people are riding in the streets each and every day – and therefore there is a higher overall volume of bicycle accidents in the Seattle area.
Seattle’s most hazardous intersection for bicyclists last year was in front of Dick’s Drive-In in Wallingford, according to city transportation data. Northeast 45th Street between First and Second Avenues is one of the most hazardous intersections when it comes to collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles.
In the past three years, six different crashes have been reported in this area. That's the highest frequency of accidents of any intersection during that time frame, and it makes this particular section of Northeast 45th Street one of the most dangerous for cyclists.
The street is marked with a painted bicycle lane, designed to serve as a reminder to all that the roadway is shared between cyclists and vehicles. But due to the high volume of collisions in this area, the Seattle Department of Transportation is working on a plan to improve the safety for all drivers on the road near this intersection.
Additional Dangerous Intersections for Seattle Bicyclists
The driveway leading into Dick’s Drive-In – located on NE 45th Street – experiences a high volume of traffic every day and with the amount of collisions occurring, something must be done to ensure safety of both pedestrians and bicyclists alike.
Other high collision bicyclist areas in Seattle to be aware of (see map for illustration):
- Bellevue Avenue and East Pine Street in Capitol Hill
- Eastlake Avenue East and Furhman Avenue East south of the University Bridge
- 25th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Blakely Street near Burke-Gilman Trail
- 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Pacific Street in the University District
In some areas of the city, green bike lanes have been installed as a visual key for both motorists and bicyclists. These bike lanes provide more of a visible clue for bicyclists and for other vehicles to be more aware of their surroundings. Serious and minor bicycle accidents do happen each and every day in Seattle, and although drivers are required to exercise reasonable care when sharing the road with cyclist, a collision can happen to anyone.
If a driver’s reckless or negligent driving caused you or your family member to be injury in a bike crash, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Seattle personal injury attorney Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group are here to help you.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident because of the negligence of another driver, contact our office online here or call 206-727-4000 to have your case evaluated by our award-winning legal team.