Lawyers for Children Injured in Bicycle Accidents

Children and teens face risks beyond a typical bike ride. Younger riders may be harder for drivers to see, and they are still learning how to judge traffic.

Common hazards include:

• E-bikes. Electric bikes travel faster than standard bicycles, which gives drivers less time to notice and react to a teen rider. Higher speeds can also make crashes more serious.
• Scooters. Kids and teens riding kick scooters or electric scooters are low to the ground and can be difficult for drivers to spot at crosswalks, intersections, and driveways.
• School zones. Drivers who speed, look at their phones, or fail to yield in school zones put children at risk during the busiest times of day, when many are riding or walking to and from school.
• Driveways and neighborhood streets. Drivers backing out of driveways or turning onto residential streets may not see a child until it is too late.

Attorney Chris Davis is author of two books on child injury and bicycle accident law in Washington. Little Kids Big Accidents: What Every Parent Should Know About Children & Accidents and Wheels of Justice: The Essential Guide to Bicycle Accident Law in Washington State are written to help parents understand their children’s rights and legal options after a crash. Both are available for parents of injured children free of charge.

Washington law generally gives three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for adults. For children, the deadline works differently. The clock is paused until they turn 18. The child then has three years from their 18th birthday, which means they generally have until age 21 to file. Certain exceptions and circumstances can affect this timeline, so it’s important to review the details of your child’s case.

Even though a child’s deadline may be longer, it’s still important to act early. Evidence such as witness memories, photos, and surveillance footage can be lost over time, and a child’s injuries and long-term needs are easier to document when the case is started sooner.