70-Year-Old Man Injured in Port Townsend Bicycle Accident

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It’s in the blood of a lot of us Washingtonians to enjoy a bike ride here in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, riding in areas where there is automobile traffic can sometimes pose a great risk. Many drivers are unaware of bicyclists, and are never on the lookout for them. As a Renton bicycle accident attorney, I have seen how a split second loss of focus by a car driver can lead to seriously injuring a bicyclist. If you ride bikes in Western Washington, take a look at this article on safely riding bicycles in the city. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid a distracted driver, but as the following story shows, wearing a helmet can prevent even more serious injuries from resulting.

Around 1 pm yesterday, Allan Raichart, a 70-year-old from Port Hadlock, was struck by a 1996 GMC Suburban while riding his bicycle. The accident occurred a couple miles south of Port Townsend, when the driver of the Suburban left the roadway before striking the bicyclist. Raichart was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center where he is being treated for an arm injury, but fortunately he was wearing a helmet and his injuries are not life-threatening. The SUV driver was not hurt in the crash, and police do not believe that alcohol or drugs played a role in causing the accident. He will face charges of second-degree negligence.

Almost any accident involving a car and a bicyclist will result in an injury, but I am very relieved to hear that the injuries sustained in this crash are not serious enough to be considered life-threatening. As a Bellevue injury lawyer, I deal with a lot of cases like these where there is simply nothing an accident victim could do to prevent the collision from happening. As we approach spring and more people will be on the streets riding bicycles, it is important to learn from this accident and always be aware of bicyclists on the road and bike lanes.

If you have been injured in a Seattle bicycle accident and would like to speak with an experienced Washington bicycle injury lawyer, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

This information is provided by Straight Talk Law, where you can order free books on Bellevue auto accidents, purchasing Washington car insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by Seattle personal injury attorney Jason Epstein and his Washington auto accident, Tacoma motorcycle accident, and King County wrongful death law firm in Seattle, Washington.