Motorcycle accident
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Seattle, Washington
The firms in this guide
- Stritmatter Law Call Stritmatter Law: (206) 448-1777
- Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon PLLC (SGMC Law) Call Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon PLLC (SGMC Law): (425) 226-7920
- Brumley Law Firm Call Brumley Law Firm: (833) 832-2727
- Fang Law Firm Call Fang Law Firm: (206) 489-5140
- Malcolm Law Firm PLLC Call Malcolm Law Firm PLLC: (206) 659-9514
1. Stritmatter Law
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car and motorcycle collisions, left-turn accidents involving motorcycles, intersection motorcycle accidents, highway motorcycle accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injuries from motorcycle collisions, traumatic brain injuries from motorcycle crashes, spinal cord injuries from motorcycle accidents, road rash injuries, dangerous road conditions affecting motorcyclists
Case Types Handled: Left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, rear-end collisions with motorcycles, head-on motorcycle collisions, multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents, road hazard accidents, pothole accidents, gravel on road accidents, pavement edge drop-off accidents, defective highway design cases, wrongful death motorcycle accidents, motorcycle passenger injury claims
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, motorcycle accident reconstruction, witness interviews, police report analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, government liability claims
Background: Paul Stritmatter has practiced since 1969 and served as President of the Washington State Bar Association (1993-1994). WSBA Bar No. 4532. Willamette University College of Law graduate. Former clerk to Washington State Supreme Court Justices Matthew Hill and Charles Stafford. Recipient of WSBA Award of Merit (1995), WSAJ Trial Lawyer of the Year (1987), and Lifetime Achievement Award (2009). Karen Koehler is a partner who graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 1985 and served as President of Washington State Association for Justice. The firm secured a $44.7 million verdict in a motorcycle versus car crash in 2022, representing the largest motorcycle crash verdict in Washington State history.
Location: 3600 15th Ave W, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98119
Contact: (206) 448-1777 | [email protected] | https://www.stritmatter.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available. Contingency fee arrangement.
2. Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon PLLC (SGMC Law)
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, commercial truck versus motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, traumatic brain injury, catastrophic injury cases involving motorcyclists
Case Types Handled: Cars making left turns in front of oncoming motorcyclists, drivers changing lanes without checking blind spots, motorists following motorcyclists too closely, reckless driving accidents, distracted driving motorcycle accidents, drunk or drugged driving motorcycle collisions, multi-party liability cases
Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence gathering, witness interviews, accident reconstruction consultation, insurance company negotiation, trial representation, settlement negotiation, medical expense documentation, lost wage calculation, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, employer liability claims, government entity claims
Background: The firm works with accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and economic experts. They have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for motorcycle accident victims. The firm handles cases throughout Washington State and maintains resources to invest in complex motorcycle accident litigation.
Location: 4512 Talbot Road South, Renton, WA 98055
Contact: (425) 226-7920 | https://sgmc-law.com
Consultation: Free, no-obligation consultations. Contingency fee basis with no upfront fees.
3. Brumley Law Firm
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, uninsured and underinsured motorist accidents, catastrophic injuries, personal injury throughout Western Washington
Case Types Handled: Driver inattention motorcycle accidents, speeding accidents, alcohol and drug impairment accidents, weather-related motorcycle crashes, intersection accidents, highway motorcycle collisions, uninsured motorist claims, underinsured motorist claims
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, personal injury litigation, evidence gathering, police report analysis, medical record compilation, witness interviews, trial representation, settlement negotiation, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering documentation
Background: Joshua R. Brumley is the founder and lead attorney. WSBA Bar No. 49851, admitted October 2015. University of Washington graduate with MBA from Jacksonville University and JD from Florida Coastal School of Law. Recognized as Super Lawyers Rising Star for multiple consecutive years (2020-2023). Received Avvo Clients Choice Award. Former president of the Young Lawyers Division of Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association. Serves on the board of directors for the Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution. Member of Puyallup Tribal Bar, Tulalip Tribal Bar, South King County Bar Association, and Federal Bar Association. Previously worked for insurance companies, providing insight into insurer tactics.
Location: 701 5th Ave, Suite 4200, Seattle, WA 98104 (Columbia Tower office)
Contact: (833) 832-2727 | [email protected] | https://www.brumleylawfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultations available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contingency fee basis.
4. Fang Law Firm
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, personal injury, insurance claims, uninsured motorist accidents throughout King County and Washington State
Case Types Handled: Left-turn motorcycle accidents, lane change accidents, rear-end motorcycle collisions, failure to yield accidents, distracted driving motorcycle crashes, uninsured motorist claims, underinsured motorist claims
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, civil lawsuit filing, trial preparation and representation, settlement negotiation, uninsured motorist insurance claims, medical bill documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims
Background: The firm has over ten years of experience in accident litigation. Attorneys handle motorcycle collision cases throughout King County, Washington. The firm emphasizes knowledge of Washington motorcycle laws and insurance company tactics.
Location: Seattle, WA (King County)
Contact: (206) 489-5140 | https://www.fanglawfirm.com
Consultation: Free case consultation available. Contingency fee arrangement.
5. Malcolm Law Firm PLLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, personal injury, motor vehicle collisions throughout Seattle and King County
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle versus car collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, rear-end collisions with motorcycles, intersection accidents, distracted driving motorcycle crashes
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiation, comparative negligence arguments, evidence gathering, medical expense documentation
Background: Sean Malcolm is the lead attorney. The firm handles motorcycle accident cases throughout the Seattle area with experience in Washington motorcycle laws and vehicular code requirements specific to motorcyclists.
Location: Seattle, WA
Contact: (206) 659-9514 | https://www.malcolmlawfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultation available.
Helmet Rules, Lane Use and Underinsured Coverage for Seattle Motorcycle Crashes
A Seattle motorcycle crash claim in Washington starts with the rider’s equipment and lane position: state law requires a helmet for every rider and passenger and bars riding between lanes. Washington’s underinsured motorist statute also treats motorcycles differently from cars, and fault is divided among every entity that caused the crash.
The Helmet Requirement
Under RCW 46.37.530(1)(c), it is unlawful to operate or ride on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped on a state highway, county road or city street without a motorcycle helmet, and the neck or chin strap must be fastened while the vehicle is moving. The exceptions are an antique motor-driven cycle and a vehicle with a steering wheel, seat belts and a manufacturer-certified enclosed seating area.
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. Under (1), every motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a lane, and no motor vehicle may be driven so as to deprive a motorcycle of it.
Underinsured Coverage on a Motorcycle
Under RCW 48.22.030(2), the underinsured, hit-and-run and phantom vehicle coverage an auto policy must include does not have to apply while the insured is operating or occupying a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. Under (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.
Fault Shared Across Every Entity
Under RCW 4.22.070(1), the trier of fact determines the percentage of fault of every entity that caused the damages, and each defendant’s liability is several only, unless the defendants acted in concert, one acted as another’s agent or servant, or the rider was found not at fault.
Seattle Motorcycle Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue after a Seattle motorcycle crash?
Three years under RCW 4.16.080(2), the period for any other injury to the person or rights of another not otherwise listed. If a City of Seattle vehicle was involved, the claim must first be presented to the agent the city appoints under RCW 4.96.020, and under 4.96.020(4) suit may not begin until 60 calendar days after presentment, with the limitation period tolled during those 60 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 $95,000 in damages and 40 percent of the fault on the rider: the recovery would be $57,000.
What if a car forced me off the road without touching me?
Under RCW 48.22.030(8), a vehicle that causes injury without physical contact counts as a phantom vehicle for underinsured coverage only if the facts are corroborated by competent evidence other than the testimony of the insured or another claimant and the crash was reported to law enforcement within 72 hours. Whether the rider’s own policy carries that coverage depends on the motorcycle rules above.