Washington Fatal Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents Doubled Between 2013-2017
May is bike month which means people are encouraged to get out there and ride their bikes. With the weather warming up in the Pacific Northwest, there are more cyclists on the road. Drivers and cyclists both need to do their parts to reduce bicycle accidents, which often involve a crash between a motor vehicle and a bicycle.
Washington fatal pedestrian and bicycle accidents doubled between 2013-2017
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Active Transportation Annual Safety Report was released in March 2018. It showed that Washington pedestrian and bicycle deaths doubled over four years between 2013 and 2017 with 60 deaths in 2013 and 122 in 2017 (pedestrians shouldered most of the increase in fatalities). Pedestrian and bicycle accident injuries went up 31 percent during these years, from 351 in 2013 to 461 in 2017.
Pedestrian and bicycle accident statistics from the report:
- 85 percent of the “active transportation” crashes happened on highways (most of them major or minor arterials) with speed limits of 30 mph or higher.
- More than 59 percent of crashes happened in areas with poverty rates higher than the state average even though they represent 43 percent of the population.
- Cyclists riding on the road accounted for more than half of these fatal and serious injury crashes which caused researchers to point out the need for better transportation networks for cyclists and pedestrians.
Washington State’s Target Zero program
Washington State launched the Target Zero program in 2000, which is aiming for zero deaths by 2030. At the time, pedestrian and cyclist fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was consistently on the downward trend. The depressing data from the 2018 Active Transportation Annual Safety Report has some questioning whether the state’s goal is realistic.
Bicycle accidents involving a car
If you have been injured in an accident with a car, it is vital to report the accident to the police, file a police report immediately and to seek prompt medical treatment. Document and preserve the evidence from the scene of the accident if you are able and keep receipts and transcripts from all resulting medical care. You should also notify your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible but do not speak to the at-fault insurance agency or accept a settlement without first speaking with a bike accident attorney.
If you have lost a loved one or been injured through no fault of your own, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the justice and fair compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring, tireless and experienced wrongful death attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County and surrounding areas since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
