Bellevue Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

WASHINGTON PERSONAL INJURY

Motorcyclists have the same right to Bellevue roads as other drivers, but they have far less protection when a collision happens. A driver who fails to yield, changes lanes without looking, follows too closely, or becomes distracted can leave a rider with serious injuries and a long recovery.

McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC, represents injured motorcyclists throughout Bellevue and King County. Our Bellevue motorcycle accident attorneys investigate how crashes happen, gather evidence, deal with insurance companies, document injuries and financial losses, and prepare cases for litigation when necessary.

If you or a family member was injured in a Bellevue motorcycle crash, contact our law firm for a free consultation.

Motorcycle Crashes Present Different Risks for Bellevue Riders

Motorcycles are smaller and less visible than passenger vehicles, and riders do not have the protection of a vehicle frame, seat belts, or airbags. When a car or truck strikes a motorcycle, the rider can be thrown from the bike or directly exposed to the force of the collision.

Motorcycle accident claims can also involve questions that do not usually arise after an ordinary Bellevue car accident. An insurance company may examine the rider’s speed, lane position, helmet use, visibility, actions before the crash, and compliance with Washington motorcycle laws.

Evidence matters. Rather than relying on assumptions about either driver, our legal team investigates what actually happened and how the available evidence supports the motorcycle accident claim.

Motorcycle Accidents on I-405 and Bellevue Roads

Bellevue riders share busy roads with commuters, delivery vehicles, commercial trucks, rideshare drivers, and other traffic every day. Major routes such as Interstate 405 (I-405), I-90, and SR 520 carry vehicles through and around the city, while local roads connect Downtown Bellevue with residential neighborhoods, businesses, shopping areas, and nearby communities.

Heavy traffic on I-405 can create risks for riders when vehicles suddenly slow, drivers follow too closely, or motorists change lanes without carefully checking for a motorcycle.

Motorcycle collisions can also occur along Bellevue Way, NE 8th Street, 148th Avenue NE, and other heavily traveled Bellevue roads. Intersections can be particularly dangerous when a driver turns left across a rider’s path or fails to yield before entering traffic.

The location of a crash can also affect the evidence available afterward. Traffic cameras, nearby businesses, witnesses, traffic signals, road markings, and physical evidence at the accident scene may help determine how a collision happened.

Driver Negligence Can Put Motorcyclists at Risk

Many motorcycle collisions begin with the same negligent behaviors that cause other motor vehicle accidents, but riders may face more severe consequences.

Potential causes include:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Failure to yield
• Unsafe lane changes
• Following too closely
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Impaired driving
• Reckless driving
• Failure to check blind spots
• Driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions

A driver saying, “I didn’t see the motorcycle,” does not by itself determine fault. Drivers still have a responsibility to watch for other lawful road users before turning, entering an intersection, or changing lanes.

Washington Law Does Not Allow Motorcycle Lane Splitting

Washington law gives motorcycles the right to full use of a traffic lane. It also generally prohibits a motorcyclist from passing another vehicle within the same lane or operating between lanes or adjacent rows of vehicles.

That means lane splitting is not currently permitted for ordinary motorcycle riders in Washington.

Questions about lane position can still arise after a Bellevue motorcycle accident. An insurance company may argue that the rider was improperly positioned or passing unlawfully, while the motorcyclist may have evidence showing that another driver entered the rider’s lane or failed to yield.

The facts and physical evidence should determine responsibility rather than assumptions about how motorcyclists ride.

Evidence Can Establish How a Motorcycle Crash Happened

Fault is not always obvious after a motorcycle accident. Drivers may give conflicting accounts, and physical evidence can disappear after damaged vehicles are removed and the roadway is cleared.

Depending on the crash, useful evidence may include:

• Police reports
• Photos and videos from the accident scene
• Traffic or surveillance camera footage
• Witness statements
• Motorcycle and vehicle damage
• Skid marks and debris
• Traffic signals and signs
• Cell phone records when distracted driving is suspected
• Medical records
• Repair or replacement estimates
• Expert accident reconstruction when needed

An accident reconstruction expert may be useful in some motorcycle accident cases involving disputed speed, vehicle movement, impact points, or other technical questions.

Gathering and preserving evidence early can make it easier to determine what happened before memories fade or physical evidence disappears.

Insurance Companies May Try to Shift Fault to the Rider

An insurance adjuster may investigate whether the motorcyclist contributed to the collision. The insurer might argue that the rider was speeding, following too closely, improperly changing lanes, or otherwise failed to avoid the crash.

Those arguments should be evaluated against the evidence.

Police reports, witness statements, video footage, vehicle damage, photographs, and other physical evidence can help show how the collision occurred. In some cases, expert analysis may also be appropriate.

McNeese & Trotsky can handle communication with insurance companies, respond to disputed liability, document the motorcycle accident injuries, and present evidence supporting the claim.

Washington Comparative Fault Can Affect a Motorcycle Accident Claim

Washington follows a pure comparative fault system. An injured motorcyclist can recover compensatory damages even when assigned part of the responsibility for a crash, but the recovery is generally reduced by that percentage of fault.

For example, if a motorcycle accident caused $100,000 in compensatory damages and the rider was found 20% responsible, the damages would generally be reduced to $80,000.

This makes accurate fault evidence especially important when an insurance company attempts to place some or all of the responsibility on an injured motorcyclist.

Sharing fault does not automatically eliminate a personal injury claim.

Washington Requires Motorcycle Helmets

Washington law generally requires motorcycle operators and passengers to wear an approved motorcycle helmet while riding on a state highway, county road, or city street. The helmet’s neck or chin strap must also be securely fastened while the motorcycle is moving.

Helmet use and responsibility for causing a motorcycle collision are not necessarily the same issue.

For example, another driver may have caused a crash by making an unsafe left turn regardless of what protective equipment the rider was wearing. Depending on the injuries and circumstances, however, an insurance company may raise helmet use as part of its arguments concerning damages or comparative fault.

A Bellevue motorcycle accident attorney can evaluate the cause of the crash and any separate dispute concerning the rider’s injuries.

Serious Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident

Because riders have little physical protection during a collision, motorcycle accident injuries can require emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care.

Injured motorcyclists may suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head trauma
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Road rash
• Internal injuries
• Nerve damage
• Soft tissue injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Chronic pain
• Permanent disability

Not every serious injury is immediately obvious at the accident scene. Head injuries, internal injuries, and other conditions can develop or become noticeable after the initial collision.

Seek appropriate medical attention after a motorcycle crash and follow the treatment recommendations of your medical providers. Medical records can also help document the injuries diagnosed and the care required after the accident.

Compensation After a Bellevue Motorcycle Accident

When another party’s negligence causes a motorcycle crash, the injured rider may be able to pursue economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages may include:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospital and doctor bills
• Surgery
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages and lost income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Motorcycle repair or replacement
• Other property damage
• Other documented accident-related expenses

Non-economic damages address losses that do not have a fixed price, including physical pain, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

The value of a motorcycle accident claim depends on the individual circumstances. The injuries, medical treatment, ability to work, future care needs, available insurance coverage, disputed fault, and supporting evidence can all affect the damages involved.

Insurance Coverage After a Motorcycle Accident

Insurance coverage can affect where compensation comes from after a Bellevue motorcycle accident.

When another driver causes the collision, that driver’s liability coverage may be one potential source of recovery. Depending on the policies involved, additional insurance coverage may also apply when the at-fault driver is uninsured or does not have enough liability coverage for the losses caused.

Insurance issues can become more complicated when a motorcycle crash involves a rideshare vehicle, a commercial driver, a government vehicle, or multiple at-fault parties.

Our attorneys can review the applicable policies and identify potential sources of insurance coverage rather than assuming only one policy applies.

Fatal Motorcycle Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims

Some motorcycle collisions result in fatal injuries. When another party’s negligence or wrongful act causes a death, Washington law may allow eligible parties to pursue a wrongful death claim.

These cases can involve funeral and burial expenses and other damages available under Washington law depending on the circumstances.

McNeese & Trotsky can investigate a fatal motorcycle crash, preserve evidence, identify responsible parties and insurance coverage, and explain the legal options available to the family.

The Motorcycle Accident Claim Process

A motorcycle accident claim usually begins with investigating how the collision happened and documenting the resulting injuries and losses.

Our legal team can obtain available accident evidence, review the police report, speak with witnesses, collect medical records, identify insurance coverage, and document lost wages and other damages.

When appropriate, a demand may be submitted to the insurance company. Negotiations may follow as the insurer evaluates liability, injuries, medical treatment, and damages.

If the insurance company does not agree to an appropriate resolution, a motorcycle accident lawsuit may be filed. Litigation can involve written discovery, depositions, expert testimony, motions, further negotiations, and trial.

Not every case follows the same path. The legal process depends on the evidence, disputed issues, injuries, and positions taken by the parties and insurers involved.

Washington Generally Allows Three Years for an Injury Lawsuit

Washington generally provides three years to file an action involving injury to a person. However, the exact deadline can depend on the circumstances, parties, and legal claims involved.

Waiting until the deadline approaches can create evidence problems even when a lawsuit is still legally permitted. Video may be overwritten, motorcycles and vehicles may be repaired, and witnesses may become difficult to locate.

Starting an investigation early gives the legal team more time to preserve evidence and determine which deadlines apply to the motorcycle accident case.

Motorcycle Accident Cases Are Handled on a Contingency Fee Basis

McNeese & Trotsky handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. Clients do not pay hourly attorney fees while the case is pending. Attorney fees are instead tied to the outcome according to the written fee agreement.

The terms of the contingency fee and potential case expenses should be explained before representation begins.

Our firm also offers a free consultation. You can discuss the Bellevue motorcycle accident, ask questions about the legal process and insurance claim, and learn what information may be needed to evaluate the case.

Why Choose McNeese & Trotsky After a Bellevue Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accident cases should be built around evidence, not stereotypes about riders.

McNeese & Trotsky represents injured motorcyclists from our Bellevue office. Our attorneys can:

• Investigate how the motorcycle collision occurred
• Preserve available physical and electronic evidence
• Obtain police reports and available video footage
• Interview witnesses
• Review insurance coverage
• Document medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages
• Respond when an insurer attempts to shift fault to the rider
• Work with accident reconstruction and medical experts when appropriate
• Negotiate with insurance companies
• Prepare a personal injury lawsuit for litigation and trial when necessary

Whether your crash happened in heavy traffic on I-405, at a Bellevue intersection, along Bellevue Way, or on another local roadway, our legal team can investigate the circumstances and explain your options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bellevue Motorcycle Accidents

Can I recover compensation if I was partly responsible for my motorcycle accident?

Yes. Washington’s comparative fault law generally allows an injured motorcyclist to recover compensatory damages even when the rider shares responsibility for the crash. The damages are reduced according to the rider’s percentage of fault. For example, if the rider is assigned 20% of the responsibility, the compensatory damages would generally be reduced by 20%.

Is lane splitting legal for motorcycles in Washington?

No. Washington law generally prohibits motorcycle riders from operating between lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles. Motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane, and drivers of other motor vehicles may not deprive a motorcycle of that full lane use. Whether a lane-position issue contributed to a particular accident depends on the evidence surrounding the crash.

Do motorcycle riders have to wear helmets in Washington?

Washington generally requires motorcycle operators and passengers to wear approved helmets on state highways, county roads, and city streets, subject to limited statutory exceptions. The chin or neck strap must be securely fastened while the motorcycle is moving. A helmet issue does not by itself determine which driver caused the collision, although it may become relevant to arguments concerning certain injuries or damages depending on the facts.

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

Washington generally provides three years for an action involving injury to a person, although the exact deadline can depend on the parties and circumstances. Because video footage, witnesses, damaged vehicles, and other evidence can become harder to obtain over time, it is useful to identify the applicable deadline and preserve evidence long before the filing period approaches.

What evidence should I save after a Bellevue motorcycle accident?

Save photographs and videos, witness contact information, the police report, insurance correspondence, medical records, medical bills, motorcycle repair or replacement estimates, receipts, and records showing lost wages or time away from work. If traffic or business surveillance cameras may have captured the collision, identifying those sources quickly can also be useful because recordings may not be stored indefinitely.

What compensation may be available after a motorcycle crash?

Depending on the circumstances, a motorcycle accident claim may include medical expenses, future medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, motorcycle and other property damage, physical pain, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and other economic or non-economic damages. The amount available depends on the injuries, evidence, insurance coverage, comparative fault, and other facts of the individual case.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Bellevue Motorcycle Accident Attorney

If you or a family member was injured in a motorcycle accident on I-405, I-90, SR 520, Bellevue Way, or another Bellevue road, McNeese & Trotsky, PLLC can review the crash and explain your options.

Our Bellevue office is located at 11711 SE 8th Street, Suite 301, Bellevue, WA 98005.

Call 206-332-1918 or contact McNeese & Trotsky to schedule a free consultation with a Bellevue motorcycle accident attorney.