After a motorcycle crash in Washington, it can feel like the odds are already stacked against you. Many riders know this feeling too well. The stereotype that motorcyclists are reckless sometimes slips into police reports or insurance evaluations, shifting blame where it doesn’t belong. And that bias can make getting fair compensation harder than it should be.
You have every right to recover for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. The hard part is turning that right into results, especially when you’re also forced to prove that your riding wasn’t the problem.
At Narwal Injury Law, we understand these hurdles because we see them every day. Our focus is simple: make sure your story is told clearly, backed by evidence, and heard by the people who decide what happens next.
If you have questions after a crash, call (425) 474-2714 for a direct, no-pressure conversation about your options.
Reach out to our Redmond motorcycle accident lawyer for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward fair compensation.
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Redmond Motorcycle Accident Guide
Why Does an Experienced Lawyer Matter for Your Case?
Our founder, Gurjot “Gurj” Narwal, spent a decade as an Assistant State Attorney General and Assistant Seattle City Attorney. He saw firsthand how the system works from the inside. He knows the strategies insurance companies and government lawyers use to downplay claims and how to build a case that stands up to their scrutiny. This courtroom and government experience gives our clients a distinct advantage.
We built Narwal Injury Law to give individuals a real voice. We are part of the Redmond community, with our main office located at 7981 168th Avenue NE, #110, right near the Redmond Library.
Our Commitment to You:
- A Free, No-Pressure Case Review: We will listen to you, review the details of what happened, and give you a straightforward assessment of your legal options.
- You Pay Nothing Unless We Win: We work on a contingency fee basis. This means our fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
- Direct Access to Your Legal Team: You will work directly with our attorneys. Your case will never be handed off to a case manager because we believe in providing personalized, dedicated attention.
What Compensation Is Available After a Motorcycle Crash?
The goal of a personal injury claim is to restore your financial stability. The law allows you to pursue payment for every cost and loss the accident inflicted on you. This compensation is divided into two main categories.
Economic Damages: The Tangible Costs
Think of these as a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for your measurable financial losses. They include:
- Medical Bills, Past and Future: This covers everything from the initial ambulance ride and emergency room treatment to ongoing physical therapy, future surgeries, and medication costs.
- Lost Income and Earning Ability: If the accident caused you to miss work, you can pursue the wages you lost. If your injuries permanently affect your ability to do your job or earn a living, we calculate that future loss and pursue it as well.
- Property Damage: This pays for the repair or replacement of your motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and any other personal property damaged in the crash.
Non-Economic Damages: The Human Impact
These losses are just as real, but they don’t come with a neat price tag. They are meant to compensate you for the ways the accident has diminished your quality of life.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress your injuries have caused.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This applies if your injuries stop you from participating in hobbies or activities you once loved, whether that’s riding your bike, hiking, or playing with your kids.
How Does Washington’s “Contributory Fault” Rule Affect Your Claim?
Washington uses a “pure comparative fault” rule. This means your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Insurance companies know this rule well. They frequently try to shift even a small percentage of blame onto motorcyclists to reduce their payout. A key part of our job is to use evidence to build a case that accurately portrays what happened and minimizes any unfair allocation of fault to you.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Washington?
In Washington, you generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. The clock typically starts on the date of the accident.
If you miss this deadline, the court will almost certainly refuse to hear your case, and you will lose your legal right to seek compensation from the at-fault party. Three years may sound like a long time, but building a strong case (gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and negotiating with insurers) takes time. That’s why it is so important to speak with an attorney sooner rather than later.
There are some narrow exceptions to this rule. For instance, if the injured person was under 18, the three-year clock doesn’t start until their 18th birthday. However, relying on an exception is risky. The best course of action is to assume the three-year deadline applies to you and speak with a lawyer immediately.
How Do You Prove Negligence and Counter the Rider Bias?
Winning a motorcycle accident claim isn’t just about showing you were hurt; it’s about proving the other driver was negligent. This means demonstrating four key things:
- Duty: The other driver had a responsibility to operate their vehicle safely.
- Breach: They failed in that duty (e.g., they were texting, speeding, or made an illegal turn).
- Causation: Their failure directly caused the accident.
- Damages: You suffered real losses as a result.
Because of the unfair bias against motorcyclists, insurance companies will look for any opportunity to argue you breached your duty—i.e., that you were the one who was unsafe. Our role is to keep them accountable and ensure no blame is unjustly put on you. We do this by conducting our own thorough investigation, which may include:
- Securing Evidence: We immediately work to preserve evidence like photos and videos from the scene, police reports, and witness contact information.
- Interviewing Witnesses: Independent witness testimony can be incredibly powerful in countering a driver’s self-serving story.
- Hiring Accident Reconstruction Experts: In some cases, we bring in engineering experts who can analyze the physical evidence—like skid marks and vehicle damage—to scientifically prove how the accident happened.
- Subpoenaing Records: We can obtain cell phone records to check for distracted driving or records from a commercial vehicle’s “black box” to verify speed and braking data.
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What Are Common Scenarios in Redmond Motorcycle Accidents?
Some of the most common situations we encounter include:
- A Car Turns Left in Front of You: This is one of the most frequent causes of motorcycle crashes. Drivers often misjudge the speed and distance of an oncoming bike or simply fail to see it at all.
- Unsafe Lane Changes: A driver who merges or changes lanes without properly checking their blind spot can easily sideswipe a rider.
- Rear-End Collisions: These impacts, usually happening at stoplights or in slow traffic, can eject a rider from their motorcycle.
- “Dooring” Accidents: A driver or passenger in a parked car opens their door directly into the path of an approaching motorcyclist.
Riders are exposed to the full force of impact in these crashes. Without the shell of a car to protect them, the injuries are frequently severe:
- Road Rash: Abrasions from sliding across pavement can be deep enough to require skin grafts and may lead to serious infections or permanent scarring.
- Broken Bones: The force of hitting the ground or another vehicle commonly fractures bones in the legs, arms, and wrists.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Even with a quality helmet, a rider’s head can suffer an impact that causes anything from a concussion to a life-altering brain injury.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine can lead to partial or complete paralysis, changing every aspect of a person’s life.
Are There Specific Washington Laws That Apply?
Yes, several state laws are especially relevant to motorcycle accident claims.
- Helmet Law: Washington requires all riders and passengers to wear a helmet that meets Department of Transportation standards. If you were not wearing a DOT-compliant helmet, an insurance company will argue it contributed to your head injuries.
- Lane Splitting: It is illegal for a motorcyclist to ride between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction in Washington. This is defined under RCW 46.61.608. If an accident occurs while a rider is lane splitting, it makes it much easier for an insurer to place most or all of the fault on the motorcyclist.
How Will the Insurance Company View Your Claim?
You might expect the at-fault driver’s insurance company to make a fair settlement offer. However, their goals are different from yours.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. This means they must balance paying out legitimate claims with protecting their bottom line. Their adjusters are skilled negotiators trained to investigate every claim for reasons to deny it or reduce its value. They may look for any evidence to argue you were at fault or that your injuries aren’t as bad as you say they are.
What Should You Watch Out For?
- A Quick, Low Settlement Offer: An insurer might make an early offer before you even know the full extent of your injuries. If you accept, you forfeit your right to ask for more money later, even if you find out you need surgery or long-term care.
- Requests for a Recorded Statement: You are not obligated to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Adjusters can use your words out of context to damage your claim. It is best to let your attorney handle all communications.
- A Tedious and Demanding Process: The claims process is filled with paperwork, requests, and deadlines. It is easy to get frustrated and feel worn down as the medical bills pile up, which sometimes pressures people into taking a lower settlement than they should. Our job is to manage this entire process for you.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Claim’s Value?
While we handle the legal work, there are simple things you can do from home that provide powerful support for your case.
- Do Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan: Go to every appointment, take prescribed medications, and follow all medical advice precisely. This creates a documented record of your injuries and shows you are committed to your recovery.
- Don’t Post About the Accident on Social Media: Insurance investigators will review your social media profiles. A photo of you at a friend’s barbecue or a post saying you’re “feeling better” can be taken out of context and used to argue your injuries are not significant. The safest approach is to stay offline until your case is resolved.
- Do Keep All Receipts and Paperwork: Save every bill, receipt, and letter connected to the accident. This includes medical bills, pharmacy receipts, and estimates for motorcycle repairs.
- Do Start a Simple Journal: On a regular basis, jot down notes about your daily pain levels, physical challenges, and the ways your injuries are impacting your life. This creates a detailed record of your suffering that can be very helpful later on.
Bias Should Not Decide Your Future
The fact that you were on a motorcycle should not penalize you or reduce the compensation needed to put your life back together. Don’t let an unfair bias stand in the way of your recovery.
We are here to answer your questions and lay out your options clearly, so you can make informed decisions while focusing on your health.
For a direct, confidential assessment of your case from a Redmond personal injury lawyer, call Narwal Injury Law today at (425) 474-2714.
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(425) 842-8888