You did everything right: lights on, eyes up, riding where you’re supposed to. Then a driver turned across your path or opened a door without looking. Rich Martin is a Tacoma bicycle accident lawyer. One of his cyclist clients, hurt in the spine, recovered $9.25 million in a settlement reached during trial. We have a Tacoma office, and the first call is free.
Tacoma: local facts
- County
- Pierce County
- Court
- Pierce County Superior Court, County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma
- Major roads
- I-5, SR 16, SR 509, Pacific Avenue, South 38th Street
- Hospitals
- Tacoma General Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center
- Population
- 231,000 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Tacoma office is about 8 miles away (about 13 minutes without traffic).
Hit while riding in Tacoma?
Insurers often treat cyclists as if they took a risk just by riding. Washington law doesn’t see it that way. Drivers owe you the same care they owe anyone else on the road.
- We gather proof fast: video, ride data, scene photos, and witness names.
- We document your bike and gear before anything is repaired or thrown away.
- We handle every insurer, including your own.
- No Win, No Fee. No fee and no case costs unless we win.
Riding in Tacoma: more lanes, real risks
Tacoma has been building its bike network. As of January 2025, the city counted about 60 miles of on-street bikeways and 22 miles of shared-use paths (Tacoma Transportation Master Plan draft). Public Works maintains 15.5 miles of trails for walking, hiking, and biking (City of Tacoma).
But more riding means more chances to meet a careless driver. Tacoma’s Vision Zero report found that about 30% of the crashes that killed or seriously injured cyclists from 2019 to 2023 happened on five streets:
- Pacific Avenue
- South Tacoma Way
- Portland Avenue
- South 96th Street
- North Narrows Drive
Statewide, 12 bicyclists died in traffic crashes in 2024 and 12 more in 2025 (Washington Traffic Safety Commission). Many more were seriously hurt.
How bike crashes happen
- The right hook. A car overtakes you and cuts right at the next corner.
- The left cross. A driver coming toward you turns left without waiting.
- The door zone. Someone in a parked car swings the door open as you reach it.
- The squeeze. A driver tries to share your lane and clips your handlebar.
- Driveway and parking lot exits: a driver pulls out looking only for cars.
- Streetcar tracks and road defects that catch a tire and throw you.
Each crash type points to different evidence. A right hook calls for turn signals and video. A dooring crash calls for witnesses on the sidewalk. A road defect calls for city repair records.
Washington bike laws that help your claim
| The rule | What it says | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Room to pass | Where there’s a second lane, a passing driver has to use all of it. Where there isn’t, the driver has to slow down and keep a 3-foot gap if possible | RCW 46.61.110 |
| Car doors | No one may open a door into traffic unless it’s safe | RCW 46.61.620 |
| Stop signs | You may roll through a stop sign like a yield sign, as long as it’s safe and you give way to others | RCW 46.61.190 |
| Crosswalks | Drivers must stop for people walking or biking in a crosswalk | RCW 46.61.235 |
| Shared fault | Your recovery goes down by your share of fault, but doesn’t go away | RCW 4.22.005 |
Read more: can cyclists treat stop signs as yields?
Helmets and your claim
Wear a helmet. It’s the best protection you have. But if you weren’t wearing one, you can still bring a claim. The insurer may argue a helmet would have made a head injury less serious. That doesn’t change who caused the crash.
If you were wearing a helmet, keep it. A cracked helmet shows how hard you hit.
Who pays after a bike crash
Many riders are surprised to learn their car insurance can cover them on a bike. Here’s the usual order.
- PIP, if your household has it on a car policy. The PIP law treats anyone not inside a motor vehicle as a pedestrian, which includes a rider (RCW 48.22.005). It can pay medical bills early.
- Health insurance for the rest of your care.
- The driver’s liability insurance when the case settles.
- UIM coverage on your own policy when the driver is uninsured, underinsured, or gone (RCW 48.22.030).
Renters or homeowners insurance may also help replace your bike.
Common bike crash injuries
- Concussions and brain injuries. Read about brain injury claims.
- Broken collarbones, wrists, and elbows from hitting the ground hands-first.
- Shoulder injuries that may need surgery.
- Spinal injuries. See spinal cord injury compensation.
- Road rash and scarring.
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) that doesn’t go away. One of our cyclist clients received $850,000 from a jury for it.
Tacoma has two adult Level II trauma centers, Tacoma General Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center, plus Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital for kids, according to the state Department of Health.
What to do after a bike crash in Tacoma
- Get checked by a doctor, even if you rode home.
- Call police and get a report number.
- Photograph your bike, the car, and the road.
- Save your ride data from your bike computer, watch, or app.
- Don’t fix the bike yet. It’s evidence.
- Call us before you talk to the driver’s insurer.
Trail, path, and road defect crashes
Not every crash involves a car. A pothole, a broken trail edge, or a tree root can throw a rider. If the City of Tacoma maintains that street or trail, the claim starts with the City Clerk and a 60-day wait (RCW 4.96.020). If a contractor left a work zone unsafe, the contractor may be responsible.
Crashes with other riders, scooters, or dogs on paths are possible too. Who pays depends on who caused the crash and what insurance they have.
E-bikes and scooters
If you were riding an e-bike or scooter, you may have the same claim as on a regular bike. If the device itself failed, the maker or a rental company may share the blame. Keep the device and any app records of your ride.
Kids on bikes
Children ride on sidewalks, in parks, and on neighborhood streets. Drivers backing out of driveways often don’t see them. A child’s claim can include years of future care. The usual three-year deadline is paused until the child turns 18 (RCW 4.16.190). Still, evidence fades, so call early.
Riding at night and in the rain
Tacoma’s dark, wet months make riders harder to see. Washington law requires a bike ridden after dark to have a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear reflector. A red rear light is allowed too (RCW 46.61.780).
If you had lights and a driver still hit you, that’s strong evidence the driver wasn’t looking. If you didn’t, you may still have a claim. The question is whether the driver could have seen you and avoided the crash. Photos of the street lights and the scene at the same time of night can help answer it.
Who helps us prove a bike case
- A crash reconstruction expert can work out speeds, sight lines, and who had the right of way.
- A bike shop or mechanic can document frame cracks, bent wheels, and broken parts.
- Your doctors explain your injuries and what care you’ll need next.
We pay for this work up front. You don’t owe us for it unless we win.
Your ride data is evidence
Bike computers, smartwatches, and ride apps record your speed, route, and time, second by second. That data can show you were riding at a normal pace, stopped where you should have, and were where you said you were. It can also prove how far you rode before the crash, which helps show how active you were.
Export or screenshot the ride before your account syncs or deletes old files. Don’t edit or crop it. Send it to us as it is.
When riding was part of your life
For many Tacoma riders, the bike isn’t just a way to get around. It’s exercise, stress relief, and time with friends. If your injuries keep you off the bike, that loss counts. Pain, lost activities, and changes to daily life are part of what a claim can cover. We’ll ask about the riding you did before, so your claim reflects what you lost.
What your Tacoma bicycle accident case may be worth
Three things matter most: the injury, the evidence of what the driver did wrong, and the insurance behind the driver. We add up your treatment, lost income, pain, and the cost of replacing your bike and gear.
- $9.25 million settlement, reached during trial, for a cyclist with a spinal injury.
- $850,000 jury verdict for a cyclist with tinnitus.
Past results don’t guarantee future results. See all results and read our Tacoma bike crash guide.
Where your case would be filed
Most cases settle without a lawsuit. If yours doesn’t, a case from an injury in Tacoma can be filed in Pierce County, where it happened (RCW 4.12.020). Pierce County Superior Court is in the County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, in downtown Tacoma.
Most lawsuits must be filed within three years of the crash (RCW 4.16.080).
Visit our Tacoma office
Our Tacoma office is at 10116 36th Ave Ct SW, #206, Tacoma, WA 98499. The office line is (425) 449-1005. Call ahead and we’ll set a time to meet. If it’s hard for you to get out, we can start by phone.
Why riders choose Rich Martin
- A record with cyclists that includes a $9.25 million recovery.
- We know the bike laws and use them for you.
- A Tacoma office close to home.
- Rich handles your case himself.
Meet Rich Martin, read client reviews, or see our Seattle bicycle accident lawyer page.
Talk to a Tacoma bicycle accident lawyer today
Call (425) 635-2000 or send us a message. The call is free.
Bicycle Accidents: results for our clients
Past results don't guarantee future results. Every case is different. See all results →
Your attorney: Rich Martin
28 years. More than 2,000 injury cases. More than 30 jury trials. When you call, you talk to Rich, and he handles your case himself.
About Rich Martin →Questions about Tacoma bicycle accidents
What does No Win, No Fee mean?
You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the money we win for you. No hourly bills. No retainer. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. Not even the case costs.
Does my car insurance cover me on a bike?
Often, yes. PIP and UIM on a household car policy can cover you while riding. We'll check your policies.
I wasn't wearing a helmet. Can I still recover?
Yes. Not wearing a helmet doesn't end your claim. The insurer may argue it made a head injury worse.
Do I have to come to a full stop at stop signs?
Not always. Washington lets riders slow down and yield instead, if it's safe (RCW 46.61.190).
How much room must a driver give me?
If there's another lane, the driver must move all the way into it. If not, the driver must slow down and give you 3 feet where possible (RCW 46.61.110).
A pothole on a Tacoma street caused my crash. What now?
File a claim with the City of Tacoma first. State law requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Should I get my bike fixed right away?
Not yet. Photograph it and keep it as it is until we've documented the damage.
Where would my case be filed?
If it goes to court, usually in Pierce County Superior Court in downtown Tacoma.
Can I meet you in Tacoma?
Yes. Our Tacoma office is at 10116 36th Ave Ct SW, #206, Tacoma, WA 98499. Call (425) 449-1005 to set a time.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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