Washington Personal Injury Lawyer

Getting hurt is hard enough. Then come the bills, the missed paychecks, and an insurance company that wants to pay as little as it can. Rich Martin is a Washington personal injury lawyer who has spent 28 years on the injured person’s side, with more than 2,000 cases and more than 30 jury trials. We have offices in Bellevue and Tacoma and help people across King, Pierce, and Snohomish County.

Start with your city below. Each city page covers the local court, the busiest roads, nearby trauma centers, and how to file a claim against that city.

Find your city

City	County	Where a lawsuit is usually heard	Our nearest office
Seattle	King	King County Courthouse, Seattle	Bellevue, about 11 miles
Bellevue	King	King County Courthouse, Seattle	Bellevue, in town
Tacoma	Pierce	County-City Building, Tacoma	Tacoma, about 8 miles
Everett	Snohomish	Snohomish County Courthouse, Everett	Bellevue, about 29 miles
Kent	King	Maleng Regional Justice Center, Kent	Bellevue, about 18 miles
Redmond	King	King County Courthouse, Seattle	Bellevue, about 8 miles
Renton	King	Maleng Regional Justice Center, Kent	Bellevue, about 11 miles
Kirkland	King	King County Courthouse, Seattle	Bellevue, about 6 miles
Federal Way	King	Maleng Regional Justice Center, Kent	Tacoma, about 17 miles
Issaquah	King	King County Courthouse, Seattle	Bellevue, about 10 miles
Shoreline	King	King County Courthouse, Seattle	Bellevue, about 18 miles
Mercer Island	King	King County Courthouse, Seattle	Bellevue, about 4 miles

Distances are from city hall, by road. In King County, the court location depends on where the injury happened (LCR 82). Pierce and Snohomish County cases are heard at the Pierce County and Snohomish County Superior Courts.

Live somewhere else in Washington? Call anyway. Many cases can be handled by phone, email, and mail, and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help.

Cases we handle

Most of our cases start on the road. Each type has its own rules and its own page:

Car accidents: rear-end, T-bone, head-on, hit-and-run, and uninsured drivers.
Truck accidents: semis, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles.
Motorcycle accidents: riders hit by drivers who didn’t look.
Pedestrian accidents: people hit in crosswalks, parking lots, and on the shoulder.
Bicycle accidents: riders hit by cars or car doors.
Uber and Lyft accidents: passengers, drivers, and others hit by a rideshare car.
Slip and fall injuries: hazards a store, landlord, or business ignored.
Wrongful death: families who lost someone to another’s carelessness.

Five Washington rules that shape every injury case

Whatever kind of case you have, these rules come up again and again.

Fault is shared, not all-or-nothing. If you were partly at fault, your recovery shrinks by your share. It doesn’t disappear (RCW 4.22.005).
Three years is the usual deadline to file a lawsuit (RCW 4.16.080). Waiting is risky, because evidence fades long before then.
Children get more time. For an injured child, the clock usually doesn’t start until age 18 (RCW 4.16.190).
Government claims come first. Before suing a city, county, or the state, you file a claim form and wait 60 days (RCW 4.96.020; RCW 4.92.110). State claims go to the Office of Risk Management.
Your own policy may pay first. PIP pays medical bills regardless of fault (RCW 48.22.085), and UIM can step in when the other driver has too little insurance (RCW 48.22.030).

When more than one party is at fault

Many injuries have more than one cause: two drivers, a driver and a road defect, a store and its cleaning contractor. Washington divides fault among everyone responsible. Usually each one pays only its own share (RCW 4.22.070). But if you were not at fault at all, the at-fault parties can each be responsible for the whole amount.

That’s why a Washington personal injury lawyer looks for every responsible party early. Missing one can leave part of your loss unpaid.

What an injury claim can include

Washington law lets you recover for the ways the injury changed your life, not just the bills.

Type of loss	Examples
Medical costs	ER, surgery, therapy, medicine, and future care
Lost income	Missed work now, and lower earning power later
Pain and suffering	Physical pain, anxiety, lost sleep, and things you can’t do anymore
Household help	Paying someone for chores or care you used to handle
Property	Your car, phone, bike, or other damaged things

Read about the damages you can recover.

How a case moves, step by step

Free call. You tell us what happened. We tell you honestly whether we can help.
Evidence. We gather reports, photos, video, records, and witness statements.
Treatment. You focus on getting better. We deal with the insurers.
Demand. When your recovery is clear, we send the full claim to the insurer.
Negotiation. Most cases settle here.
Lawsuit and trial, if the insurer won’t be fair.

Wondering about time? See how long settlements take.

Questions to ask any injury lawyer

Choosing a Washington personal injury lawyer is a big decision. Whoever you talk to, these questions are fair to ask on the first call:

Who will actually handle my case? At some firms, you meet a lawyer once and then deal with staff. With us, Rich handles your case himself.
How is the fee figured, and when is it paid? Get the answer in writing.
Who pays the case costs if we lose? With us, you owe nothing if we don’t win.
Have you taken cases like mine to trial? Insurers pay attention to which lawyers will go to court.
How will you keep me updated? You should know who to call and how quickly you’ll hear back.

A good lawyer won’t rush you into signing. Take the time you need.

Not sure which kind of case you have? That’s common. A crash can involve a truck and a pedestrian, or a fall can happen on a city sidewalk outside a store. You don’t need to sort it out first. Call, tell us what happened, and we’ll explain which rules apply.

How we’re paid: No Win, No Fee

You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the money we recover for you. There are no hourly bills and no retainer. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing, not even the case costs.

Meet Rich Martin, or read what clients say. We’re rated 4.8 on Google from 44 reviews.

Talk to a Washington personal injury attorney

You don’t need to have it all figured out before you call. Tell us what happened and we’ll take it from there. Call (425) 635-2000 or send us a message.

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 →

Cities we serve

Bellevue Seattle Tacoma Kent Everett Renton Federal Way Kirkland Redmond Mercer Island Issaquah Shoreline

Common questions

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.

Do you only take cases in your listed cities?

No. Most of our clients live in King, Pierce, and Snohomish County. If you live somewhere else in Washington, call, and we'll tell you whether we can help.

Which court will hear my case?

Usually the Superior Court for the county where the injury happened. In King County, a court rule sends cases to Seattle or Kent depending on where the injury happened.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Washington?

Usually three years (RCW 4.16.080). Claims against the government need a claim form first, and children often have until age 18 before the clock starts.

Do I need a Washington personal injury lawyer for every injury?

No. Small claims with no injury may not need one. If you were hurt, missed work, or the insurer is pushing back, a free call can help you decide.

Will I have to go to court?

Most cases settle without a trial. But Rich prepares every case as if it will go to trial, and insurers know it.

Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.