Redmond traffic is a mix of commuters, delivery vans, buses, and drivers who know the roads a little too well. When one of them causes a crash, you’re left with the fallout: a damaged car, medical appointments, and an insurer that may already be looking for ways to pay less. Rich Martin is a Redmond car accident lawyer whose Bellevue office is about 8 miles away. He has 28 years of injury experience, and your first call is free.
Redmond: local facts
- County
- King County
- Court
- King County Superior Court, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle (crashes in the Seattle case area)
- Major roads
- SR 520, SR 202 (Redmond-Woodinville Road), Redmond Way, Avondale Road NE, Bel-Red Road
- Hospitals
- EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland and Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue (both Level III trauma centers)
- Population
- 83,320 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 8 miles away (about 14 minutes without traffic).
Why a Redmond car accident lawyer helps
Insurance companies handle claims every day. Most people go through one or two in a lifetime. That gap is the reason to have someone on your side who knows how claims are valued and where insurers cut corners.
- We take over communication with every insurer.
- We lock down evidence such as video, photos, and witness statements.
- We make sure PIP pays your medical bills while the claim is open.
- We count the future, not just today’s bills.
- You pay nothing unless we win, including case costs.
Redmond traffic safety at a glance
Redmond adopted its Safer Streets Action Plan in 2025 to reduce serious crashes. A few of its findings, based on 2018 to 2022 crash data for city roads:
| Finding | Detail |
|---|---|
| People walking and biking | Involved in 47% of the crashes that killed or seriously injured someone |
| Speed | 52% of those crashes happened on roads posted at 30 to 40 mph |
| Corridors flagged for full-length safety work | Avondale Road and 148th Avenue NE |
| Walking and biking crash cluster | Redmond Way between 160th Avenue NE and SR 520 |
| Severe sideswipes | Redmond Way and SR 202 between 161st and 185th Avenue NE |
The city’s 2025 annual report counted 16 crashes that killed or seriously injured someone in 2025, including one death. The city uses this data to plan safety fixes. Federal law generally keeps it out of injury lawsuits, so your case is built on the evidence from your own crash.
Do this, not that, after a Redmond crash
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Call 911 and ask for police and medical help | Agree to “just swap information” when someone is hurt |
| Take photos of both cars, the road, and any signals | Move the cars before photos unless it’s unsafe to stay |
| Get checked by a doctor within a day | Wait to see if the pain goes away |
| Tell your own insurer so PIP can start | Give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement |
| Keep every bill, receipt, and pay stub | Post about the crash or your recovery online |
| Write down what happened while it’s fresh | Sign a medical release or settlement offer without advice |
A driver who flees leaves you 72 hours to get a police report on file. Don’t let that window close.
Redmond roads and crash spots
- SR 520, which ends in Redmond at a signal with SR 202. Tolls apply only on the floating bridge across Lake Washington, not in Redmond (WSDOT).
- Redmond Way and SR 202, where WSDOT calls the SR 520 interchange a key constraint (WSDOT) and the city found severe sideswipe crashes.
- Avondale Road and 148th Avenue NE, flagged by the city for full-length safety improvements.
- Downtown Redmond, with commuter traffic and a new light rail station.
Redmond is home to Microsoft’s corporate headquarters (Microsoft), and the city lists Microsoft as its largest employer, with over 52,000 workers (City of Redmond). That’s a lot of weekday commuting on Redmond’s roads.
Questions Redmond drivers ask
Who writes the police report?
It depends on the road. City streets are typically Redmond Police territory; SR 520 and the other state routes typically belong to the State Patrol. Either way, we order a copy and check it line by line.
How do my doctor bills get paid?
PIP on your own auto policy goes first, and fault doesn’t matter for it (RCW 48.22.085). Basic PIP includes at least $10,000 for medical expenses (RCW 48.22.095). Health insurance covers the rest until the claim settles.
What if the other driver has no insurance or drove off?
Look to your UIM coverage (RCW 48.22.030). If the driver disappeared, the law adds two conditions: police must hear about it within 72 hours, and someone or something besides you, such as a bystander or a camera, must back up what happened (subsection 8).
What if I was partly to blame?
You can still recover. Washington reduces your recovery by your share of fault (RCW 4.22.005).
Comparative fault in practice
Will my case go to court?
Probably not. Most car crash claims settle. If yours doesn’t, we file a lawsuit and keep negotiating.
If a Redmond case goes to court, it’s filed in King County Superior Court. The court’s local rule assigns an injury case to the area where the injury happened, and everything in King County north of I-90 falls in the Seattle case area (LCR 82). So Redmond cases are usually handled at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.
How long do I have?
Usually three years from the crash (RCW 4.16.080). Claims against a city, county, or transit agency start with a claim form and a 60-day wait (RCW 4.96.020).
Buses, light rail, and public vehicles
Light rail is new here. Sound Transit’s 2 Line opened Downtown Redmond and Marymoor Village stations on May 10, 2025 (Sound Transit), and service across Lake Washington to Seattle was set to begin in March 2026 (Sound Transit). King County Metro buses also serve Redmond. Stations bring more people walking, biking, and catching rides near busy streets.
Claims against a government have their own process. The City of Redmond’s Claims Division takes claims online or by mail. King County handles claims for county property and Metro buses through its Office of Risk Management Services, and Sound Transit takes light rail claims online, by email, or by mail. State law requires a 60-day wait after filing before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Injuries after a crash
Car crashes cause neck and back sprains, herniated discs, concussions, broken bones, and anxiety about driving. Some symptoms take days to appear. Learn about delayed neck pain, lower back pain claims, and brain injuries.
Serious injuries from Redmond are often treated at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland or Overlake in Bellevue, both Level III trauma centers. The most critical patients go to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the region’s Level I center (state Department of Health).
Liability insurance and who pays in the end
Washington is an at-fault state. The driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, is responsible for your losses (RCW 46.30.020). That payment usually comes when the claim settles. If their limits are too low, your UIM coverage can add to it. Read who pays your car accident claim.
What a Redmond car accident claim may be worth
No honest lawyer can give a number before reviewing your records. The injury, the treatment, missed work, how clear the fault is, and the insurance available all matter. Two examples from our car crash cases: a jury awarded $1.55 million to a client with a brain injury, and an insurer paid its full $800,000 policy for a disc injury. Past results don’t guarantee yours. See our results and Eastside car accident settlements.
Rideshare, delivery, and company cars
If an Uber or Lyft driver was involved, the coverage depends on whether the app was on and whether a passenger was in the car. See our rideshare accident page. If a delivery van or company vehicle hit you, the employer’s commercial policy may apply, and those often carry higher limits.
Your car, a rental, and car seats
Property damage is part of the claim: repairs, or your car’s value if it’s totaled, plus the cost of getting around without it. Get your own estimate so you can compare it with the insurer’s. If a child safety seat was in the car, ask about replacing it, even if it looks fine.
Read replacing a car seat after a crash.
Meeting with us
Redmond is practically next door. Our office is at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, in Bellevue. That’s about 8 miles from Redmond city hall, or around 14 minutes without traffic. Stop by when it suits you, or handle the case mostly by phone and email.
Talk to a Redmond car accident lawyer
Call (425) 635-2000 or send us a message. Hurt in Bellevue instead? See our Bellevue car accident page or the Washington car accident page.
Car 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 Redmond car 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.
Is a lawyer worth it for a small Redmond crash?
Sometimes not. If there's no injury and the insurer is being fair, you may not need one. A short free call can sort that out.
Which agency investigates crashes on SR 520?
The State Patrol, in most cases. City streets are typically Redmond Police.
Can I meet you in person?
Yes. Our Bellevue office is about 8 miles from Redmond. Call to set a time.
Whose insurance pays the doctor first?
Yours. PIP on your auto policy pays early, whoever caused the crash.
What if I never got the other driver's information?
If they fled, a police report within 72 hours and outside proof can keep a UIM claim open.
How long do I have to sue?
Usually three years from the crash (RCW 4.16.080).
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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