- About Us
- Practice Areas
- Client Journey
- Giving Back
- Locations
- Español
- Blog
- Contact Us
Cyclists in Washington face serious risk when drivers fail to yield, drift into bike lanes, or swing open doors without checking. When a crash happens, the person on the bike takes the full impact—then gets blamed for being there in the first place. The driver moves on, but the cyclist is left with injuries, mounting expenses, and no guarantee the insurance company will take them seriously.
At Freeman Law Firm, Inc., we represent injured cyclists across Washington who are dealing with real trauma and unfair pushback from insurance companies. Our job is to take over where the system fails, investigating the crash, preserving key evidence, and building the kind of case that forces insurers to take accountability. If you're searching for an experienced Washington bicycle accident lawyer, let us fight for the compensation you deserve. Call 888 to schedule a free consultation.
By the time a cyclist contacts us, there’s usually already a version of the crash on record—and it rarely tells the full story. The driver says they didn’t see anyone. The police report leaves out critical details. The insurer starts shaping fault based on incomplete or one-sided information.
That’s exactly how strong cases get minimized or denied before they’re even built.
We step in to stop that from happening.
In every one of these situations, liability depends on what can be shown, not just what gets said. We work to secure surveillance footage, map driver visibility, and use accident reconstruction when needed to show exactly how the crash unfolded.
When fault is unclear, incomplete, or contested, the strength of the case depends on early investigation and a bicycle accident lawyer that knows how to pressure insurers with compelling evidence.
Once a claim is filed, insurance adjusters begin working to protect their payout—not your recovery. They’ll question how the crash happened, minimize your injuries, and look for any reason to shift the blame back onto you. In serious bicycle accident cases, that process starts before the rider has even finished their first round of medical care.
We take over communication immediately—so you don’t say something the insurer twists later. We also begin documenting the full scope of harm, including the financial, physical, and functional impact of your injuries. And we press for records the insurer won’t request—surveillance footage, black box data, and full medical evaluations from providers who specialize in trauma care.
Insurers treat bicycle crashes like low-value cases unless they’re forced to do otherwise. That shift happens when the facts are gathered fast, the story is clear, and they know you’re working with an attorney who won’t accept a shortcut payout.
The pain from a bicycle crash is only part of the damage. Recovery interferes with work, independence, and the ability to keep life on track. Work stops. Daily routines collapse. Medical appointments take over your calendar. And if the crash caused head or spinal trauma, the long-term effects may not be fully known for weeks
Fractures are common, particularly in the wrists, collarbone, ribs, and pelvis. Surgery, immobilization, and extended time off work are frequently required. But not every injury is visible on the first scan. Some of the most damaging outcomes aren’t fully recognized in the emergency room:
Even moderate injuries can prevent someone from biking, driving, sleeping, or performing basic tasks without assistance. That loss of function has real value—and it’s one of the most overlooked parts of a claim if it's not fully documented.
We collect detailed medical records and work directly with treating physicians to understand the full scope of injury and recovery. When necessary, we coordinate with life care planners or vocational experts to calculate long-term costs. We also document pain, mobility loss, and the day-to-day limitations that disrupt the client’s ability to function and maintain independence.
What the insurance company calls a “soft tissue case” may in reality be a multi-year recovery with high financial and personal cost. Our job is to make sure that’s reflected in every part of the demand.
Insurance companies move quickly after a bicycle crash—but not to help. Their goal is to settle fast, before the full extent of your injuries is known, and long before future costs come into focus. That first offer might seem reasonable until the second surgery gets scheduled or a specialist identifies complications the ER missed.
The outcome of a claim is shaped by what gets documented early and how thoroughly the damages are built.
The earlier this work begins, the more control you have over the outcome. A fast settlement isn’t always a win—it’s usually a missed opportunity to recover what the case is actually worth.
Washington law gives cyclists the same rights and responsibilities as other road users. But after a crash, the law doesn’t always protect them unless someone steps in to enforce it. Drivers deflect blame. Insurance adjusters highlight bike lane questions or helmet use. And the longer the case goes unchallenged, the harder it becomes to correct the record.
Under Washington’s pure comparative fault system, you can still recover damages even if you’re found partially responsible. If the insurer assigns 30 percent of the blame to you, your compensation is reduced by that amount. That’s why it matters how the initial facts are presented. We review the report, the crash scene, and the evidence to push back on assumptions that don’t match what actually happened.
You’re not barred from filing a claim if you weren’t wearing a helmet. Adjusters may raise it to negotiate, but in most cases, it has little legal impact unless the head injury is central to the claim and the defense can prove the helmet would have made a difference.
Washington has a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including bicycle accidents. But waiting even a few months can weaken the case. Footage disappears. Witnesses stop returning calls. And early injuries that seemed manageable can become long-term problems with no paper trail to support them.
The strongest claims are the ones built early with the right information, not the ones rushed at the end of the deadline window.
No two cases unfold the same way, but the categories of compensation are generally consistent. The question is whether each one is supported by real documentation and tied directly to the crash. That’s where most cases break down, and where strong attorney involvement changes the result.
Insurers don’t offer a fair amount by default. They offer what they think they can get away with. We evaluate the full impact of the crash and build the case around what it will take to make the client whole—not just now, but moving forward. That includes coordinating with doctors, tracking long-term treatment plans, and gathering proof of every financial and personal cost tied to the injury.
An incomplete case gets treated like a small one. The sooner the full picture is assembled, the stronger the position for negotiation or trial.
Not every injured cyclist can reach out on their own. Some are still in the hospital or unable to communicate. Others are dealing with complications that make it hard to manage paperwork, let alone speak with an attorney. In the worst cases, the rider didn’t survive, and the family is left trying to figure out what legal steps are even available.
We regularly work with spouses, parents, and adult children who are helping someone recover or responding after a fatal crash. If you’re not sure whether you have legal authority to act, we can walk you through the options based on your role, your relationship to the rider, and what kind of case may be possible under Washington law.
You don’t need everything figured out before calling. If you’re stepping in to help someone else, we’ll help you make sense of the next step—whether that means opening a case, holding off, or getting support in another way.
You don’t need a folder of paperwork or a detailed timeline. Most clients reach out with questions, not a strategy. If you're still in treatment or waiting on test results, that’s fine. We meet you where things are.
The conversation starts with what happened and what you’re dealing with—physically, financially, and logistically. We’ll ask a few questions to understand how the crash occurred and what kind of recovery you’re facing.
If you have a police report or medical records, we’ll go through them together. If you don’t, we’ll explain how to request what matters and identify what’s still missing.
There’s no handoff to an intake coordinator or long wait for a callback. The attorney you speak with is part of the team that would handle your case.
If the case makes sense, we explain what comes next. If it doesn’t, we tell you that too. Our goal is clarity—without pressure, without sales tactics, and without billing you for the conversation.
You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your case. No upfront fees. No surprises.
We may still be able to investigate using surveillance footage, witness statements, or traffic data. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, that may also open a path to recovery.
Yes. Not wearing a helmet doesn’t prevent you from recovering compensation. Even though the insurer may raise the issue, it rarely decides the outcome unless head trauma is central to the case.
This happens more than people expect. We review the report, correct missing or misleading information, and gather additional evidence that reflects what actually occurred.
In most bicycle accident cases, Washington law gives you three years from the date of the crash. But case strength depends on what gets documented early, not how long you wait to file.
Yes. If new symptoms emerge or complications develop, those can be part of the case. What matters is showing how they connect to the crash and getting the right medical support to back that up.
If your case isn’t built with detail, the insurer will treat it like it doesn’t matter. The losses are real—medical, financial, personal—and they won’t be reflected in any offer unless the work is done to show exactly what happened and what it cost you.
At Freeman Law Firm, Inc., we investigate early, document the full scope of harm, and position the case for maximum recovery. That includes physical injuries, income loss, long-term disruption, and everything the crash set in motion.
Call (253) 383-4500 to speak with a Washington bicycle accident attorney who knows how to push back—and how to prove what your case is worth. Get started with a free consultation. You don’t pay anything unless we win your case.
Dealing with the effects of a bicycle accident can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to go it alone. At Freeman Law Firm, Inc., our Tacoma bicycle accident attorneys are not just here to represent you; we’re here to advocate for your well-being and peace of mind. We understand the urgency of your situation, which is why we’re committed to guiding you through every step—from initial consultation to securing the compensation you deserve. Connect with a dedicated Tacoma bicycle accident lawyer today at (253) 383-4500 or reach out to us online. Your future matters to us—let’s take the first step together.