Proving Liability in a Seattle Motorcycle Crash

In late April 2017, a Renton man was critically injured in a Seattle motorcycle accident, according to Seattle Patch. The accident happened in South Seattle just prior to 7 p.m. that day. The 26-year-old man was allegedly hit by an impaired driver of an SUV.

According to Seattle police, the motorcyclist was traveling near the intersection of 56th Avenue South and South Bangor. It was a few blocks north of the Skyway area. The driver of the BMW SUV, an 80-year-old man, was traveling eastbound when he allegedly decided to make a U-turn. He was attempting to go westbound by making the U-turn. The 27-year-old motorcyclist was also headed east when the alleged U-turn was made. That is when the collision happened.

Seattle detectives were continuing to investigate the crash at the time the article was published. The driver of the SUV was released by police pending the results of a blood test. The motorcyclist aunt set up a GoFundMe page to help with his medical expenses. The outcome of any criminal investigation is not known at this time. It is also not know if the motorcyclist will file a lawsuit to recover damages sustained from the crash.

Who is at Fault for a Seattle Motorcycle Crash?

Fault, or liability, is the way a Seattle personal injury court determines if a plaintiff receive money for the motorcycle accident. Money is also commonly referred as damages in a civil suit. To prove fault in a motorcycle accident requires showing the driver had a duty of care towards them. Duty of care is a legal responsibility of every driver on the road. They have the responsibility to avoid harming pedestrians, drivers and motorcyclists while operating a motor vehicle. For example, the driver of the SUV had a duty to avoid harming the motorcyclist, any drivers and pedestrians while operating a motor vehicle.
The Motorcyclist must Show the Driver Caused the Accident in Seattle

To be liable for the accident, a driver must be the cause, or reason, the accident happen. This means the motorcyclist was obeying all the traffic laws at the time of the crash and the driver was not. If the driver broke the law prior to the crash, they breached their duty to avoid harming someone. A breach of duty can happen when a driver decides to consume alcohol prior to driving, speed or make an improper turn.

The Motorcyclist Must Show Damages

Damages in a personal injury lawsuit involve expenses sustained during and after the crash like:

● Medical bills
● Damage to the motorcycle
● Lost wages

Contact Gosanko, O’Halloran, Lepore PLLC for Help with Your Motorcycle Accident Case

You or your loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident. You were following the traffic laws, but were injured by someone else’s negligence. We are here for you. At Gosanko, O’Halloran, Lepore PLLC, we will work hard to get you the money you need to pay your expenses. Contact us immediately for help.

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