Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Washington

Motorcyclists make up a small share of the vehicles on Washington roads and a large share of the serious injuries. A rider has no steel frame, no airbag and no crumple zone, so a collision that would dent a car can mean a traumatic brain injury, a shattered leg or a spinal cord injury for a motorcyclist. Then the insurance company suggests the rider was speeding, weaving or simply hard to see.

The motorcycle accident attorneys at Ritchie-Reiersen Injury & Immigration Attorneys know that bias and know how to answer it with evidence. We represent injured riders and their families across Washington from eleven offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. No fees unless we win.

Washington Motorcycle Law and Your Claim

• Fault: Washington’s pure comparative fault rule means a rider who was partly at fault still recovers, reduced by their percentage of fault. The most common crash, a driver turning left in front of a motorcycle, is almost always the driver’s fault, but insurers argue speed and visibility to shift blame.
• Helmets: Washington requires every rider and passenger to wear a DOT-compliant helmet. Not wearing one does not bar a claim, but the insurer will argue it contributed to a head injury. Wearing one removes the argument.
• Lane splitting is not legal in Washington. Riding between lanes of traffic gives the insurer a comparative fault argument even when the other driver caused the collision.
• Statute of limitations: three years from the crash for injury claims; a tort claim form and 60-day wait apply to claims against government entities, including road-design claims.
• Insurance: motorcycle liability policies in Washington follow the same minimums as cars. PIP is not required to be offered on motorcycle policies and is often absent, which makes the rider’s UM/UIM coverage and health insurance critical.

How Motorcycle Crashes Happen

• Left-turn collisions at intersections, where a driver fails to see or misjudges the speed of an oncoming motorcycle
• Unsafe lane changes and drivers who do not check blind spots
• Rear-end crashes in stop-and-go traffic on I-5, I-405 and SR-167
• Dooring and sideswipes in city traffic
• Road hazards: gravel, potholes, uneven pavement and grooved surfaces on mountain highways
• Impaired and distracted drivers
• Crashes on the popular riding routes over Chinook, White and Stevens passes, where emergency response times are long

Injuries Riders Suffer

Even with full protective gear, motorcycle crashes produce injuries that change lives: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and paralysis, fractures of the legs, pelvis and arms, road rash requiring skin grafts, internal injuries and amputations. These injuries bring long recoveries, multiple surgeries and permanent limitations, and the claim must account for the full cost, not just the emergency room bill.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

• Get medical care immediately, even if adrenaline makes you feel able to ride home
• Photograph the vehicles, the intersection, skid marks, debris and your gear
• Identify witnesses. In left-turn cases, an independent witness to the driver’s turn is the most valuable evidence there is
• Keep your helmet, jacket and damaged gear; they are evidence of the forces involved
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer and do not accept an early offer
• Contact an attorney before the insurer builds its version of events

What Your Claim Can Include

• Medical expenses, past and future, including surgery, rehabilitation and prosthetics
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability and loss of enjoyment of life, including the loss of the ability to ride
• Damage to the motorcycle and gear
• Loss of consortium for a spouse or domestic partner
• Wrongful death damages when a crash is fatal

Washington does not cap damages. Because motorcycle injuries so often exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits, we review the rider’s own UM/UIM coverage, any umbrella policy and every other source of recovery before negotiating.

How We Handle Your Case

• Immediate investigation, including scene documentation, witness statements and, when needed, accident reconstruction to establish speed and sightlines
• Direct response to the rider-bias arguments: helmet use, speed, visibility and lane position, with evidence rather than assumptions
• Full documentation of the injury and its long-term cost
• Demand and negotiation with every applicable insurer
• Litigation in superior court when the insurer will not pay fair value, prepared for trial from the start

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Near You

We handle these cases from every office: Seattle, Kennewick, Tacoma, Auburn, Yakima, Moses Lake, Everett, Spokane, Wenatchee, Portland, OR, Twin Falls, ID, Mesa, AZ. Phone and video consultations are available anywhere in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona.

Our Personal Injury Attorneys

Brandon Ritchie

Brandon Ritchie has devoted his entire legal career to personal injury and has personally represented more than a thousand injured clients. He holds a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law and an MBA from Washington State University.

Guy Zimmerman

Guy Zimmerman’s practice has focused exclusively on litigation since law school, including trial experience as a prosecutor in Twin Falls County. He is admitted to practice in Washington and Idaho and focuses solely on personal injury litigation.

Attorney Steve Ritchie, admitted in Washington, also handles personal injury claims; before law school he spent seven years in rental car management working with customers and insurance companies during the claims process. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.

Related Reading

• Navigating Personal Injury Claims After a Motorcycle Accident

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington require motorcycle helmets?

Yes. All riders and passengers must wear a DOT-approved helmet. Not wearing one does not prevent you from bringing a claim, but the insurer may argue it contributed to a head injury under comparative fault.

Is lane splitting legal in Washington?

No. Riding between lanes is not permitted in Washington. If you were lane splitting when hit, you can still recover, but expect the insurer to assign you a share of fault.

The driver said he never saw me. Does that help my case?

Usually yes. Drivers have a duty to look for and yield to motorcycles. A statement that he did not see you is an admission that he failed to keep a proper lookout, not a defense.

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Washington?

Three years from the date of the crash. Claims against a government entity, including dangerous road conditions, require a tort claim form and a 60-day waiting period first.

What if the driver who hit me is uninsured?

Your own uninsured motorist coverage pays, if you carried it on your motorcycle policy. If your injuries exceed the driver’s limits, underinsured motorist coverage applies. Send us your policy declarations and we will tell you what is available.

Talk to a Washington Injury Lawyer

Call (888) 884-7337 or send us a message for a free consultation. No fees unless we win. Se habla español.