For motorcycle enthusiasts, the State of Washington provides some of the most beautiful riding opportunities in the nation. From the breathtaking mountain ranges to the miles of coastline, the State of Washington is a biker’s paradise. Unfortunately, however, a split second mistake can turn a relaxing afternoon ride into a serious, even deadly accident for a biker.
If you have been the victim of a motorcycle accident, or if you’re a loved one of someone who was fatally injured in one, you could be entitled to compensation both for out of pocket expenses and for the pain and suffering you endured as a result of the collision.
Washington State Motorcycle Accidents
Anyone who rides a motorcycle knows that the very features that make motorcycles so attractive can also make them unsafe. The freedom of the open air that a rider feels when riding is precisely what puts a rider at risk for serious injury in the event of an accident. Despite efforts to raise awareness to the presence of motorcycles on the nation’s roadways, drivers of other vehicles continue to claim they “never saw” a motorcycle prior to a collision. As a result, while statistics for other types of motor vehicle accidents have decreased over the last decade, the number of motorcycle accidents has remained about the same, year after year, both in the State of Washington and throughout the country.
In fact, there were exactly the same number of motorcycle accident fatalities in 2004 (74) as there were in 2013 in Washington State, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Compensation for the Victim of a Motorcycle Accident
For the victims or surviving family members of victims, both economic and non-economic damages may be available, if another driver caused the collision, in whole or in part. Economic damages represent the out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident, such as the cost of repairing your motorcycle, medical bills, and/or lost wages. Non-economic wages, on the other hand, compensate a victim for the emotional trauma of the accident.
If you were the victim of a motorcycle accident, or you’re a surviving loved one of a fatally injured victim, and you believe another party caused the collision, call our Colville, Washington motorcycle accident attorneys for a confidential, thorough consultation about your options for compensation at 509-685-3675.