The family of 19-year-old Bryce Lewis, who died in a Seattle bicycle accident two years ago, has settled a lawsuit against Nelson & Sons Construction of Woodinville, whose dump truck crushed Lewis, the Seattle Times reports. Lewis was riding with his friend Caleb Hall in a bike lane on Eastlake Avenue East near University Bridge in September 2007 when the dump truck driven by David McLane made a sudden right in front of the young men at Fuhrman Avenue East. Hall apparently banged on the side of the dump truck yelling for McLane to stop, but Lewis was pulled under the truck and killed. McLane didn't realize that he had hit Lewis and continued for a short distance before stopping.
This fatal Seattle bicycle accident spurred a demonstration by scores of bicyclists who called on the city of Seattle to do more about bicycle safety, particularly in Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood. Lewis' parents have settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. Earlier this month, King County settled another bicycle accident lawsuit for $3.5 million. That one involved 31-year-old Jeffrey Totten who suffered a debilitating brain injury after hitting a poorly maintained depression along Novelty Hill Road east of Redmond in 2006.
According to the Washington Department of Transportation's traffic accident statistics, in 2007, there were 1,314 bicycle involved collisions in Washington State. These traffic accidents involved 13 fatalities and 124 serious injuries and 1,100 bicyclists suffered less-serious injuries.
I'm pleased that the parents of this young bicyclist were able to settle with the dump truck company and put this heartbreaking chapter of their lives behind them. For many personal injury victims that Bisnar | Chase has represented, this is one of the important reasons they decide to pursue their legal rights. In this particular case, it also helped bring to light the hazards bicyclists face on the streets of Seattle. Hopefully, the city will now take the necessary steps and implement the changes to make Seattle safer for bicyclists.
SLS Consulting