Vancouver, WA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Vancouver’s bike network runs along the Waterfront Renaissance Trail on the Columbia River, the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail through the center of the city, and marked lanes on Main Street, Broadway, and Fourth Plain Boulevard. Riders share Mill Plain Boulevard and Andresen Road with heavy commuter traffic and limited bike infrastructure, and drivers turning across bike lanes at unsignalized intersections cause some of the most serious crashes we see. If a negligent driver injured you while cycling in Vancouver, the bicycle accident lawyers at DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law can help you recover what Washington law allows.

Why Choose A Vancouver Bicycle Accident Lawyer From DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law?

Our firm has handled bicycle accident claims across the Portland-Vancouver metro area since 2008, including cases filed at Clark County Superior Court. We take a limited number of cases so each client works directly with an attorney, we advance all case costs, and we charge nothing unless we recover compensation. Our in-house medical department connects clients with treating providers in Vancouver when they do not have a doctor.

Where Bicycle Accidents Happen in Vancouver

The crashes we see most often happen where bike lanes end or cross heavy traffic: the Mill Plain Boulevard and Fourth Plain Boulevard corridors, unsignalized crossings along the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail, and the intersections feeding the Waterfront Renaissance Trail near downtown. Right-hook and left-cross collisions, where a driver turns across a cyclist’s path, are the most common serious crash pattern, along with dooring incidents in the Uptown Village and downtown business districts. Crashes on city streets are investigated by Vancouver Police, and our attorneys obtain the report and any nearby business or traffic camera footage before it is overwritten.

Washington Bicycle Laws and How They Apply to Your Claim

Washington law treats a bicycle as a vehicle, giving cyclists the same rights and responsibilities as drivers, and RCW 46.61.755 requires drivers to give cyclists a safe distance when passing. Washington’s pure comparative fault rule under RCW 4.22.005 means that even if the insurance company argues you contributed to the crash, such as by not using a bike lane or wearing dark clothing, you can still recover damages reduced by your share of fault rather than being barred outright. Our bicycle accident practice area page covers the full legal framework.

Damages Available to Vancouver Bicycle Accident Victims

You can recover economic damages, including medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, and bicycle and equipment damage, and noneconomic damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Washington does not cap noneconomic damages. Bicycle crashes often cause serious injuries, including fractures, road rash requiring skin grafts, and traumatic brain injuries, since cyclists have none of a vehicle’s protection; our personal injury practice handles the more catastrophic cases.

How Long Do You Have to File a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Washington?

Washington’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, RCW 4.16.080, gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit, and that deadline remains in effect as of 2026. If a City of Vancouver vehicle or roadway defect was involved, a claim must be presented to the government first, with a 60-day wait under RCW 4.96.020 before filing suit.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Vancouver

Call 911 and get medical attention, even for injuries that seem minor. Photograph the scene, your bicycle, and your injuries. Get the driver’s insurance and contact information and collect witness statements. Do not give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurer before speaking with a lawyer. For other types of crashes in Clark County, see our Vancouver personal injury lawyer page.

Contact A Vancouver Bicycle Accident Attorney From DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law

If you were injured while cycling in Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, or anywhere in Clark County, DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law offers a free consultation and charges no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us online or call (503) 222-4411 today.