Seattle Attorney Writes Legal Guide for Injured Cyclists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2012 – Seattle, WA – May is National Bike Month, and while the summer weather makes cycling even more appealing, Seattle attorney Chris Davis hopes to help commuters better understand the rules and risks of cycling in congested cities by offering his book, Wheels of Justice: Washington State Bicycle Accident Law, for free to bicycle accident victims in Washington State.
Although there has been a 25 percent reduction in annual bicycle fatalities since 1995, there are still over 51,000 reported bicycle injuries every year. On top of that, it is estimated that only ten percent of all bicycle accidents resulting in injury are documented by police.
“Although there are many benefits of riding a bike to work every day, the dangers of bicycling are very real, especially in a metropolitan setting,” says Davis. “We see a lot of bicycle accident cases involving collisions with vehicles, and they can result in very serious injuries or even death. Because cyclists are not protected in the way that drivers of a vehicle are, the risk of a serious injury increases significantly.”
Metropolitan cities throughout the country are focusing their efforts to increase ridership, ultimately working towards the goal of less-congested city streets and a reduced carbon footprint. But the risks involved with cycling still have some feeling safer inside a vehicle. Between 2007 and 2009, Washington State spent $18 million on bicycle safety programs.
In Seattle, bicycling is steadily growing in popularity and the League of American Bicyclists ranks the city seventh in the nation in terms of estimated number of total bicycle commuters. The busy environment and dense population, however, hampers its potential as an efficient biking environment and is nationally ranked at number 47 in terms of bike lane and pathway mileage compared to the size of the population.
Though the pros of cycling are advantageous, there are also potential downsides to two-wheeling to work every day – especially in a crowded city. The tight-knit setting of Seattle can be tough for drivers and cyclists to collaborate in, and unfortunately leads to accidents, injuries and even fatalities.
In Wheels of Justice, Davis offers basic facts about typical accident claims involving cyclists; defines the legal and settlement process for bicycle accident claims; gives tips on dealing with insurance companies; offers insight into how bicycle accident injury claims are valued; and discusses common questions and legal issues that are often present in bicycle collision cases, as well as the common pitfalls and traps to avoid. Davis also helps cyclists understand the pros and cons of hiring an attorney to represent their case. Bicycle accident victims can obtain their free copy by visiting www.washingtonaccidentbooks.com.
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