When you’re hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, the hardest part is often not knowing what happens next. Rich Martin is an Issaquah personal injury lawyer with 28 years of experience and more than 2,000 injury cases, working from an office about 10 miles away in Bellevue. Here’s what the first month looks like when you work with us.
Issaquah: 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
- I-90, SR 900, Front Street, East Lake Sammamish Parkway, Issaquah-Hobart Road
- Hospitals
- Swedish Issaquah (emergency room) and Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue (Level III trauma center)
- Population
- 41,590 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 10 miles away (about 17 minutes without traffic).
Why Issaquah clients choose us
- Direct access. You talk to the lawyer handling your case.
- Courtroom record. Over 30 jury trials behind him.
- Short trip. West on I-90 to Bellevue.
- Contingency fee. Nothing owed, costs included, if we don’t recover.
Traffic risk around Issaquah
Issaquah hasn’t published a citywide crash study, but the wider picture is clear. King County had 146 fatal crashes in 2022, 151 in 2023, and 140 in 2024, and 52 people walking or rolling died in the county in 2024 (Washington Traffic Safety Commission; 2024 preliminary).
I-90 is Issaquah’s main artery. WSDOT is repaving about 2.5 miles of westbound I-90 between SR 900 and East Sunset Way, a stretch last paved in 2005, with bridges built in 1971 (WSDOT). East of town, near Snoqualmie, WSDOT opened a new diverging diamond interchange at I-90 and SR 18 in July 2025, designed to cut potential collision points from 26 to 14 (WSDOT).
Your first 30 days with us
- Day 1: A free conversation. You tell us what happened. We tell you honestly whether you have a case and what it may involve.
- Days 1–3: We step in. Insurers are told to contact us, not you. Evidence letters go to anyone who may have video or records.
- Week 1: Your bills. We help open PIP or other coverage so treatment isn’t delayed.
- Weeks 2–4: The facts. Police and incident reports, photos, witness statements, and scene details.
- Ongoing: Your recovery. You focus on treatment. We track your records and keep you updated.
Most claims take longer than a month to resolve, especially when injuries need time to heal. But a strong first month protects everything that comes after.
Case notes by injury type
Car crashes
Most crash victims can use PIP from their own auto policy right away; fault doesn’t matter for it (RCW 48.22.085). Our Issaquah car crash page has the rest.
Truck crashes
Trucking companies must keep drivers’ hours records for only six months, so early evidence letters matter. See our Bellevue truck accident page.
Motorcycle crashes
Helmets are required (RCW 46.37.530), but riding without one doesn’t excuse a driver who failed to look. Motorcycle policies often lack PIP, so riders rely on other coverage. See our Bellevue motorcycle page.
Hit while walking
Downtown streets, school routes, and shopping centers mix people walking with turning cars and busy parking lots. Drivers have to watch for pedestrians everywhere, not just at signals.
At a crosswalk, the driver yields (RCW 46.61.235). Anywhere else, a driver still owes due care to a person walking (RCW 46.61.245).
Bike crashes
Issaquah sits at the south end of the paved, 11-mile East Lake Sammamish Trail, which links Redmond, Sammamish, and Issaquah and connects to the Issaquah–Preston Trail. Riders who leave the trail share roads like East Lake Sammamish Parkway with fast traffic.
A passing driver must leave a safe gap (RCW 46.61.110). PIP can cover a rider too (RCW 48.22.005).
Slips and falls
Stores owe their customers regular checks for hazards (Tincani). A spill nobody looked for, or a broken step nobody fixed, can be the basis of a claim.
Issaquah’s code requires owners of property next to a sidewalk to keep it “in a safe condition free of any and all obstructions or defects including but not limited to ice and snow” (IMC 12.08.030), and the city’s winter weather page repeats that sidewalks are the abutting owner’s job. Who is responsible for a particular fall still depends on the facts.
Wrongful death
Washington routes a death claim through the estate. Its representative files (RCW 4.20.010), and the spouse, children, or, if none, parents and siblings benefit (RCW 4.20.020). See who can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Before you sign anything
- A medical release from the other side’s insurer can open your whole medical history. Ask what it covers.
- A settlement check often comes with a release that ends the claim for good, even if your injuries get worse.
- A recorded statement isn’t required. You can decline politely.
- A repair or rental agreement should say clearly who is paying.
If you’re unsure about any paper an insurer sends, send it to us first. Reviewing it is part of the free consultation.
Rules every claim follows
Partly at fault? You still recover, minus your share (RCW 4.22.005). Waiting too long? Most claims expire after three years (RCW 4.16.080). Government involved? File a claim first and wait 60 days (RCW 4.96.020).
A claim against the City of Issaquah is filed on the city’s claim form, signed under penalty of perjury, and delivered to City Hall at 130 E. Sunset Way or mailed to the city. The city’s insurance pool investigates. State law requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Issaquah is one of the cities King County’s court rule names in its Seattle case area (LCR 82). If an Issaquah injury case goes to court, it’s usually handled at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.
What a claim can cover
A full claim adds up treatment already received and treatment still ahead, wages lost, the earning power an injury may cost you, damage to property, and the cost of help at home. It also counts the pain itself. Examples: case results.
Issaquah doesn’t have a state-designated trauma center. Injured people are often taken to Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, a Level III trauma center, or to Harborview in Seattle, the Level I center (state Department of Health).
Fees
There’s no retainer. We take a percentage only when money comes in, and we carry the costs until then. Read about contingency fees.
Meeting with us
Issaquah clients have a short drive west on I-90 to see us. Our office at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, in Bellevue is about 10 miles from Issaquah city hall, around 17 minutes without traffic. If coming in is hard, phone and email work fine.
Get to know Rich and see reviews from clients.
Talk to an Issaquah personal injury lawyer
Phone (425) 635-2000 or use our online form to start. Nearby: our Redmond and Seattle injury pages.
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 →Injury cases we handle in Issaquah
Car Accidents
Rear-ended on I-405 or hit at a light? We take over the calls with the insurance company.
Truck Accidents
Trucking companies call their lawyers the same day. We start working on your case just as fast.
Motorcycle Accidents
Insurers often assume the rider was speeding. We find the proof of what really happened.
Pedestrian Accidents
Hit in a crosswalk or a parking lot? These injuries are serious. So is the way we handle them.
Bicycle Accidents
Hit by a car or a car door? We know Washington's bike laws and use them for you.
Uber & Lyft Accidents
Several insurance policies may cover you. We find every one of them.
Wrongful Death
Lost someone you love? We hold the people responsible to account, so your family doesn't have to.
Slip & Fall
Fell because a store or landlord ignored a hazard? They may owe you for your injuries.
Questions about Issaquah injury cases
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.
What happens after I call?
We listen, tell you honestly if we can help, and if you hire us, we contact the insurers and start gathering evidence right away.
How far is your office from Issaquah?
About 10 miles, in Bellevue.
Would I go to court in Issaquah?
No. Issaquah is in King County's Seattle case area, so a lawsuit goes downtown. Most settle without trial.
Does shared blame stop my claim?
It only lowers the amount by your percentage (RCW 4.22.005).
How much is the first consultation?
It's free.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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