Motorcycle accident
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Spokane, Washington
The firms in this guide
1. Crary, Clark, Domanico & Chuang, P.S.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, moped accidents, motorbike accidents, personal injury, wrongful death claims arising from motorcycle collisions, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Rear-end motorcycle collisions, front-end collisions, T-bone accidents, accidents along Interstate 90 and Highways 395, 95, and 2, wrongful death motorcycle cases, accidents involving spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, head trauma, orthopedic injuries
Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence gathering, medical specialist consultation, accident reconstructionist collaboration, expert witness testimony, insurance claim negotiations, settlement negotiations, trial representation, wrongful death claim representation
Background: Robert Crary and James Domanico have over 60 years of combined legal experience handling motorcycle accident cases. The firm has been serving the Spokane area since 1948 and since 1981 for the current partners. Both attorneys are experienced motorcycle riders themselves. Cases handled on contingency fee basis.
Location: Spokane and Spokane Valley, WA
Contact: Contact via website | https://ccdlaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, no fee unless recovery is obtained
2. Sweetser Law Office
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death claims
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions caused by driver negligence, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, rear-end collisions, accidents involving failure to yield, distracted driving motorcycle accidents, drunk driving motorcycle collisions, uninsured motorist claims
Legal Services: Accident scene investigation, Google Earth analysis, traffic collision report review, witness location and interviews, evidence preservation, liability determination, damages calculation, insurance company negotiations, litigation, trial representation
Background: The firm has over 35 years of legal experience. Attorneys at Sweetser Law Office handle motorcycle accident cases throughout the Spokane area. The firm emphasizes thorough preparation, honest communication, and ethical representation.
Location: Spokane, WA
Contact: (509) 444-4444 | https://www.sweetserlawoffice.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement
3. Albrecht Law PLLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injuries resulting from motorcycle collisions
Case Types Handled: Left-turn motorcycle accidents, rear-end collisions, lane change accidents, intersection accidents, accidents caused by failure to yield, drunk driving motorcycle collisions, distracted driving accidents, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents
Legal Services: Fault determination, evidence gathering, negligence investigation, medical provider coordination, insurance claim handling, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claim representation, litigation, trial representation
Background: The firm serves injured motorcyclists throughout Washington state. Attorneys have relationships with local doctors and medical specialists familiar with motorcycle injuries. The firm works on contingency fee basis.
Location: 5105 E 3rd Ave, Suite 101, Spokane Valley, WA 99212
Contact: (509) 495-1246 | https://albrechtlawfirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, no fee unless case is successful
4. Parke Gordon Law
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, bicycle accidents, semi-truck accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle versus car accidents, motorcycle versus truck accidents, intersection accidents, highway accidents, accidents caused by negligent drivers, accidents involving traumatic injuries
Legal Services: Case investigation, evidence collection, witness interviews, police record acquisition, documentation gathering, insurance company negotiations, settlement negotiations, litigation when necessary
Background: The firm has a Spokane office location and has obtained significant results including a $3,000,000 motorcycle accident settlement. Attorneys represent clients injured in various accidents and have experience holding insurance companies accountable.
Location: Spokane, WA
Contact: Contact via website | https://www.parkegordon.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation, contingency fee arrangement
5. Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions on I-90, Division Street, and North Spokane Corridor, accidents caused by negligent drivers, intersection accidents, highway accidents, wrongful death motorcycle cases
Legal Services: Case management from start to finish, insurance company communications, attorney communications, collections agency management, evidence gathering, liability investigation, settlement negotiations, trial representation
Background: Attorneys come from diverse backgrounds including former judges, blue-collar workers, advocates, and leaders in the Washington State Association for Justice. The firm has experience handling serious injury cases throughout Washington. Paula, Dave, Matt, and Dean (Retired) are available for consultations.
Location: Spokane, WA
Contact: Contact via website | https://washingtoninjury.com
Consultation: Free case review, contingency fee arrangement
Helmet Standards, Handlebar Height and Survival Claims for Spokane Motorcycle Crashes
A Spokane motorcycle crash claim in Washington can involve the state’s helmet standard, its equipment rules for the motorcycle itself and the ban on riding between lanes. Washington also lets a rider’s claim survive to the estate and stops the limitation clock for listed disabilities.
What Counts as a Motorcycle Helmet
Under RCW 46.37.530(1)(c) and (3), a rider or passenger on a state highway, county road or city street must wear a motorcycle helmet with a hard outer shell, inside padding and a neck or chin strap fastened while moving, carrying the manufacturer’s certification under 49 CFR 571.218 that it meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards. Under (1)(e), selling a motorcycle helmet that does not meet these requirements is also unlawful.
Handlebars and Mirrors
Under RCW 46.61.611, no person may operate a motorcycle on a public highway with handlebars or grips more than 30 inches higher than the operator’s seat. Under RCW 46.37.530(1)(a), a motorcycle must have left and right mirrors giving a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear, with exceptions for listed restored antique motorcycles and motorcycles made before January 1, 1931.
Riding Between Lanes
Under RCW 46.61.608(3), no person may operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles, and under (4) motorcycles may not ride more than two abreast in a single lane.
When an Injured Rider Dies
Under RCW 4.20.046, the rider’s causes of action survive to the personal representative, who may recover the estate’s economic losses and, for the beneficiaries RCW 4.20.020 lists, the rider’s own pain and suffering, anxiety, emotional distress or humiliation, whether or not the death was caused by the crash injury.
Spokane Motorcycle Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue after a Spokane motorcycle crash?
Three years under RCW 4.16.080(2). Under RCW 4.16.190, if the rider was under 18, incompetent or disabled to the point of being unable to understand the proceedings, or imprisoned on a criminal charge before sentencing when the claim accrued, that time is not counted. A claim over a City of Spokane vehicle or a state vehicle is presented before suit, to the city’s appointed agent under RCW 4.96.020 or to the office of risk management under RCW 4.92.110, and no suit may begin until 60 calendar days after presentment, with the limitation period tolled during those days.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes. Under RCW 4.22.005, contributory fault reduces compensatory damages in proportion but does not bar recovery. For example, imagine $130,000 in damages and 30 percent of the fault on the rider: the recovery would be $91,000.
How does underinsured coverage work on a motorcycle policy?
Under RCW 48.22.030(10), an insurer writing motorcycle insurance must give named insureds who bought motorcycle liability coverage the opportunity to reject underinsured coverage for that motorcycle in writing, and under (2) the coverage an auto policy must carry does not have to apply while the insured is on a motorcycle. Check the motorcycle policy’s declarations for underinsured coverage or a signed rejection before counting on it.