Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Coluccio (SKWC) bike injury lawyers are known throughout the region for their long record of highly successful settlements and verdicts on behalf of injured cyclists. Because SKWC has a reputation among insurance companies as a feared contender for personal injury cases, our firm is usually the first choice for seriously injured cyclists. We have the best resources, legal support team, and experts at our finger tips.

Gendler v. State of Washington

Most recently, the case of Gendler v. State of Washington received significant attention from the media with its $8 million settlement. A significant result of this bicycle injury case was how it held the State of WA accountable for an unsafe roadway surface for bicyclists who lawfully crossed the Montlake Bridge–whether they were traveling on the deck with other traffic or were on the bridge sidewalk.  

Gendler's bike tire caught on Montlake Bridge deck, causing catastrophic injuries. WSDOT knew about this potential for bicyclist injuries for years, but ignored the obvious dangers.

The $8 million settlement was well justified, as it will help to cover exorbitant medical bills, ongoing medical care, 24/7 assistance, facility accommodations at home and at work, etc.  However, proponents of legislation to reduce the government’s liability frequently target the Gendler case because of the high settlement amount. We believe that most Washingtonians recognize the importance of keeping the government accountable, when government entities ignore safety issues that could ultimately result in catastrophic injuries to innocent citizens.

We invite you to learn more about the Gendler case, and decide for yourself whether the State should be immune to lawsuits that stem from its negligence or intentional wrongdoing.

SKWC Trial Lawyers Teach Other Lawyers to How to Fight for Injured Clients

SKWC has the highest number of Super Lawyers out of any personal injury law firm in the State of Washington. We use the “team approach” for each and every one of our clients, so that no detail goes unnoticed and every phone call or email is returned promptly. Because SKWC cyclist injury attorneys are so prominent in the Northwest, they are often asked to speak or write about areas of the law related to representing seriously injured clients.

Keith L. Kessler, one of SKWC founding partners, and the lead attorney on the now famous Gendler case was just awarded the prestigious 2011 Best Lawyers’ Seattle Area Personal Injury Litigator of the Year.  Other partners, including Paul Stritmatter, Karen Koehler, and Kevin Coluccio have also gained significant recognition for their work in representing injured cyclists and their families.

Most recently, Keith Kessler spoke to other attorneys, providing an update on tort law (forthcoming publication).

Contingency Fees Means You Only Pay When We Recover Money For You

The last thing an injured cyclist needs to worry about is covering legal fees. Rest assured, you need not concern yourself about racking up large hourly fees with SKWC. Only when we recover money for you, will you have to pay anything. This is what is referred to as a “contingency basis” fee arrangement.

Learn More About SKWC Bike Injury Attorneys and Their Injured Cyclist Cases

Review a small sample of injured cyclist cases that SKWC lawyers have added to their list of successes.

Learn more about the wealth of experience that our bike injury attorneys offer to clients seriously injured in a cycling accident.