King County Metro recently settled a Seattle motorcycle / Vespa scooter accident case for $7 million one day before trial was to begin.

Elizabeth Newman was broadsided by Metro van in November 2007 as she rode her Vespa scooter to work. The Metro van blew through a stop sign at an intersection in Seattle failing to yield to Ms. Newman's right of way.  The impact with the van threw Ms. Newman 40 feet.  Ms. Newman suffered sever injuries (likely a sever head injury) that left her in a coma for several days following the scooter accident.  I don't know for sure, but it's my guess that she was wearing a helmet and that helmet saved her life. She also suffered compound fractures to both legs.  Ms. Newman has not yet been able to return to work as a Swedish Hospital operating room nurse.

Cases like this are why Washington bikers need an experienced Washington Motorcycle accident attorney on their side when severely injured in an accident.  King County Metro and/or its insurance company refused to offer an acceptable settlement until the day before trial was to begin.  Ms. Newman was forced to go through all the hassle and expense of a lawsuit to force Metro or its insurance company to do the right thing. 

When dealing with a motorcycle or scooter accident case it is not uncommon for defendants and their insurance companies to use deny, delay and refuse tactics in an attempt to wear out the already traumatized injury victim.  Defendants often try to make the injury claim process as long, frustrating, stressful, expensive and privacy invading as possible in hopes you'll buckle under the pressure and take the small settlement offers they make.  Don't fall for these types of slimy tactics.

The best place to start after you've been injured in a Washington motorcycle accident is by ordering our FREE book "7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Washington Motorcycle Accident Case."  By doing a little research and getting some education on the motorcycle injury claim process you can make an informed decision on who to hire for your motorcycle accident case.  Every case does not need an attorney.  However, cases like Ms. Newman's most certainly do.