CCD Law of Spokane safeguards cyclists after they’ve been hurt by careless motorists. We hold drivers fully responsible for their negligence that leads to painful injuries and long recoveries. Contact a skilled Spokane Attorney to get a free case consultation. It’s an easy, no-obligation way to determine how to hold an insurance company fully accountable for your hardships after a bicycle collision.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Spokane Bicycle Accident?
If you only suffer very minor injuries in a collision, you may not need the help of a lawyer when filing a claim. But if your injuries are more serious, such as a broken bone or a head injury, and a driver caused the impact, it’s a good idea to speak to a skilled Spokane Bicycle Accident Lawyer.
When medical bills are more than a few hundred dollars, you are more likely to meet resistance when you seek help from auto insurance companies. The higher bills will tempt insurers to find ways to blame you for what happened so they can reject your claim. They’ll also look to cast doubt on how serious your injuries are.
Your CCD Law attorney is your shield against this shady behavior. Your lawyer conducts a deep investigation into your accident. We use the evidence to back up our demands for the most injury compensation available on your behalf.
Spokane Bicycle Safety and Laws
Many drivers in Spokane don’t know that cyclists have as much right to the road as any driver. But a lack of awareness of the law isn’t an excuse when a careless motorist strikes a rider.
CCD Law is an advocate for safe rides in Spokane, and we fight for injured cyclists who are hurt by reckless drivers. We believe drivers and their car insurance companies must be held fully responsible for the cost of the best care available for injured riders. That support should last until victims are ready to return to the bike rides they love.
Of course, the best thing for cyclists is to prevent these collisions in the first place. We wanted to present the most important state and local laws in this article. We also included some important safety tips that will hopefully keep drivers focused on local roads and allow more riders to return home safely.
Types of Bike Lanes and Paths in Spokane
Generally, you’ll find three types of bike lanes along Spokane streets. The features of each type of bike lane are laid out in the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Design Manual for Bicycle Features.
Here’s a look at each type:
- Conventional Bike Lane – This type of lane is the most common bike lane found along streets in Washington. It provides the least protection for cyclists because it’s marked off only with painted white lines along the normal traffic lane. According to WSDOT, these lanes are supposed to be at least 5 feet wide. However, on streets with a speed limit greater than 35 mph, the minimum width is 6 feet.
Pictured Below: A Conventional Bike Lane along 10th Avenue Near Sherman Street.
- Buffered Bike Lane – These lanes have a similar look to conventional bike lanes except that they add an additional buffer between the bike lane and the traffic lane. The buffer is usually an additional space beside the conventional bike lane set off with an extra white line, sometimes with diagonal lines inside. It may also have Raised Pavement Markers (RPMs) that serve as little bumps to alert drivers when they’ve entered the buffer zone. According to WSDOT, the buffer should be no less than 2 feet wide. The minimum for the bike lane itself remains 5 feet. The bike lane may be wider in areas with heavy cycling traffic to allow riders to pass each other. In steep areas, the bike lane might also expand.
Pictured Below: Buffered Bike Lane along Howard Street.
- Separated Bike Lane – These lanes offer the most reliable protection of all bike lanes placed along streets. They are usually marked off by plastic strips sticking straight up in the air. They won’t stop a veering car, but they are almost impossible for drivers not to notice. Spokane doesn’t have a lot of these protected bike lanes, but they are in the works. (see more on the plans below)
Pictured Below: Separated Bike Lane along Howard Street at Joe Albi Way.
Other bike features you’ll encounter in Spokane:
- Shared Lanes or Sharrows – Streets where there are no bike lanes. Riders and cars must share the regular traffic lanes. These are more safety reminders than any real protection. You’ll see them indicated by “sharrows” pavement markings. It’s a symbol of a bicycle with two arrows above it. Sharrows come from the combination of the words “share” and arrows.” When drivers see this signage, they are supposed to be reminded that they must share the lanes with cyclists. Hopefully, drivers will slow down and pay extra attention to any riders they encounter.
Pictured Below: A Sharrows symbol painted on a lane along Wall Street in Spokane.
- Bike Boulevards or Greenways – These are bike paths that are just meant for cyclists and sometimes shared with pedestrians. The Spokane Centennial Trail is an example of a bike boulevard. The path runs through downtown, along Riverfront Park, and goes for 40 miles, all the way to Idaho. Work on the Pacific Avenue Greenway will also offer another bike path for cyclists far away from traffic.
Pictured Below: Spokane’s Centennial Trail Pedestrian and Bike Greenway
Washington State Bike Laws
Washington State has many laws in place to protect vulnerable cyclists of all ages. One of the most important laws is the one that gives cyclists the right to use most any street lane they need to travel safely. They have the same rights as any motorist on the road, and drivers must show them caution while sharing lanes with a rider.
Revised Code of Washington RCW 46.61.755
(1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780, except as provided in RCW 46.61.190, and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
(2) Every person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk or crosswalk must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to a pedestrian by this chapter.
Cyclists enjoying the rights of drivers and pedestrians must observe all the applicable laws that pertain to motorists and those on foot. Riders can be cited when they don’t follow traffic laws.
Here is information on some other important cycling laws in Washington State:
RCW 46.61.110 – Three Feet for Safety Bicycle Law
RCW 46.61.160 – Cyclists and Restricted Highways
RCW 46.61.770 – Do Spokane Cyclists Have to Use Bike Lanes?
RCW 46.61.190 – Spokane Bicyclists at Stop Signs
RCW 46.61.780 – Requirements for Riding Bicycle at Night in Spokane
RCW 46.61.758 – Hand Signals Spokane Cyclists Must Know
RCW 46.61.700 – Parent or Guardian’s Responsibility for Children When Riding in Spokane
Pictured Below: Conventional Bike Lane along Howard St near First Avenue.
Spokane Bike Laws
Spokane follows Washington State’s bicycle laws, but also has its own additions to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe.
Washington State has no overall bicycle helmet law. Spokane used to have one, but according to the Spokesman-Review, the requirement was scrapped in 2023. Spokane bicyclists no longer have to wear helmet protection.
Spokane County does have a helmet requirement:
Spokane County Code of Ordinances 8.66.030 – Helmet required.
- Any person riding or otherwise operating any bicycle, electric-assisted bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, in-line skates, roller skate(s), skate shoe(s), scooter or skateboard, including any passenger thereon and/or person being towed thereby, on any public area within the unincorporated area of Spokane County shall wear an approved helmet, and shall have either the neck or chin strap of the helmet fastened securely while the device is in motion.
Here are some more Spokane-specific bicycle laws and codes:
- Spokane Municipal Code SMC Section 16A.61.787 – Riding on Sidewalks
- Spokane Bike Speed Limits
- No Helmets for E-bike and E-scooter Rental Riders
Pictured Below: Division Street with no bike lanes.
Plans in the Works for a Safer Spokane for Bicyclists
Spokane has never been known for its bike-friendly routes. Overall, Walk Score gives the city a 52 rating for bike score (out of 100). The website notes that Spokane is a car-dependent city but has some bike infrastructure. The Riverside and Logan neighborhoods score much higher than the city as a whole, getting 77 and 69, respectively. By comparison, Seattle sports a current bike score of 71.
Hopefully, Spokane’s rating will shoot up in the next few years. The hope comes in the form of a new proposal known as “27 By 2027.” According to KXLY-TV, the plan, still drawing input, strives to add 27 miles of bike paths to Spokane.
Local officials are also working off of Spokane’s Bicycle Master Plan, first instituted in 2009 and updated several times since then. The plan continues to move forward with projects that would make Spokane a much easier place for people who want to ditch their cars and take safe trips to work and elsewhere.
Vision Zero is another guidepost in place to help bicyclists, pedestrians, and all motorists get home safely. The Vision Zero plan is used in many cities across the Pacific Northwest. It sets a goal of zero fatalities or serious injuries in traffic accidents by a certain date in the future.
The City of Spokane agreed to join the initiative in 2023. They set an end date for 2042. Vision Zero will work in conjunction with plans like the “27 by 2027” and “Bicycle Master Plan” projects to bring more upgrades for Spokane cyclists.
Standing Up for Injured Spokane Cyclists
Regardless of whether or not a helmet was worn, bicyclists involved in collisions with other vehicles are usually badly hurt, often sustaining head injuries, spinal injuries and sometimes fatal injuries. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, we want to help you.
Since 1981, Crary & Domanico, P.S. have been successfully representing injured clients involved in bicycle collisions in Spokane and throughout the surrounding Washington and Idaho areas.
Dedicated Spokane Valley Bike Injury Attorneys Who Will Be There for You
Spokane bicycle accident attorneys Robert Crary and James Domanico understand the physical and legal complications you face when you have been hurt in a bicycle accident. Having spent the last three decades helping injured clients obtain millions of dollars in recoveries, our team has the legal knowledge and experience to help you hold the responsible party accountable in your case.
Bicycle accidents are common on highly-traveled city roads, like those in the downtown Spokane area. Although a car may only be traveling under 30mph, it is still enough speed to do serious damage to bicyclists in the event of a collision.
Our team at Crary & Domanico, P.S., has helped clients suffering from a wide range of life-threatening injuries, including:
- Head injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Road rash/abrasions
- Lacerations
- Paralysis
Our lawyers also represent the family members of wrongful death victims who sustained fatal bicycle injuries.
We are committed to aggressively pursuing full and fair compensation for your injuries. While financial compensation may not erase the pain you have suffered from your bicycle accident, it can help you overcome the medical costs and other associated damages.
We urge you to contact our attorneys at Crary & Domanico, P.S. today, if you have been involved in a bicycle accident. We will work with you to obtain the evidence needed to prove your injuries. If settlement in not an option, our trial attorneys will tenaciously defend your rights in court.
Finding Support for Spokane Bicycle Accident Victims
The victim of a reckless driver would be eligible to have all of their damages covered. That would include the economic hardships created by things like medical bills at the same time that paychecks start to disappear while they can’t work.
Victims should also receive support for the non-economic damages that affect the lives of victims just as much. This can include the PTSD symptoms that may continue for the victim, stemming from the moment of impact. The loss of the ability to enjoy bike rides and family activities due to a severe injury should also be factored in.
Bicycle accident settlement checks should include support for these and other factors:
- Past medical bills and medical bills reasonably expected to be incurred in the future
- Lifelong support for a physical disability
- Support for the pain experienced and that may continue for years to come
- Support for the emotional trauma caused by a frightening bicycle accident
- Support for the anxiety and depression that may occur due to a difficult recovery
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of intimacy with a spouse or partner
- Past lost earnings and earnings reasonably expected to be lost in the future
- Wrongful death benefits for families who lose a loved one in a tragic bicycle collision
Frequently Asked Questions
If I get hit while I’m not wearing a helmet, can I get compensation?
If you get hit by a car while riding a bicycle, the fact that you weren’t wearing a helmet—even though it’s required in Spokane—won’t keep you from getting compensation. However, in Washington state, the courts are allowed to assign fault based on a percentage of negligence and a jury might reduce the amount of compensation if they felt that it was unreasonable not to wear one.
How long do I have to make a claim for injuries sustained while riding my bike?
In Washington state, any injuries that were due to someone else’s negligence has a three-year statute of limitations. This means that if you are riding a bike and get hit by a car, then you have three years from the date of the accident to file your claim.
What if I’m riding my bike in the street in Spokane and get hit by a car?
In Washington state, a bicycle is considered the same as any other legal vehicle on the streets and is subject to all the rules of the road. Thus if you are injured in a bicycle and car accident, then the law will determine who was negligent, and that person will have to pay for your injuries.
Contact Crary & Domanico, P.S., Today
We invite you to contact the law office of Crary & Domanico, P.S., today at 509-926-4900, or e-mail us, to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
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Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to give you a consultation!
