A crash on SR 167 or Kent-Kangley Road usually takes seconds. Sorting out the injuries, the car, and the insurance can take months. A Kent car accident lawyer can carry most of that load. Rich Martin has 28 years of experience and more than 2,000 injury cases behind him, and he’ll tell you on a free call whether you even need a lawyer.
Kent: local facts
- County
- King County
- Court
- King County Superior Court, Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Avenue North, Kent (crashes in the Kent case area)
- Major roads
- SR 167, SR 516 (Kent-Des Moines Road and Kent-Kangley Road), West Valley Highway, Central Avenue, I-5 on the west side
- Hospitals
- Valley Medical Center in Renton (Level III trauma center) and MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
- Population
- 140,400 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 18 miles away (about 26 minutes without traffic).
Car crash help for Kent drivers
- One number for the insurers to call: ours.
- Evidence saved early, before business and traffic video is overwritten.
- Medical bills paid while you heal, through your PIP coverage.
- A claim built for the long run, including care you’ll need later.
- Nothing owed if we don’t win. No fee and no costs.
Kent traffic safety by the numbers
Kent’s Target Zero Action Plan found that from 2018 to 2022, an average of 8 people were killed and 39 seriously injured each year on city-run streets. In 2019 to 2023, the average rose to 13 deaths a year. Those numbers leave out I-5, SR 167, and SR 516.
Fatal crashes on Kent city streets
The plan found that 51% of the crashes that killed or seriously injured someone happened on just 7.5% of Kent’s streets. Crashes involving alcohol or drugs doubled, from 23 fatal crashes in 2014 to 2018 to 47 in 2019 to 2023.
Where Kent crashes happen
- SR 167, which cuts through Kent and carries both commuters and freight. Its express toll lanes run between Renton and Sumner (WSDOT).
- SR 516, known locally as Kent-Des Moines Road and Kent-Kangley Road.
- SE 248th Street at 116th Avenue SE, which the city says ranks high for crashes.
- Central Avenue, Meeker Street, and Kent-Kangley Road, which residents raised as safety concerns in the city’s planning.
- West Valley Highway and the industrial streets of the Kent Valley.
- I-5, along Kent’s west side.
WSDOT counted 24 deaths and 120 serious injuries along the SR 167 corridor from 2015 to 2019, including a stretch of northbound SR 167 in Kent between the 84th Avenue South on-ramp and the South 212th Street exit (WSDOT). Agencies use 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.
A Kent car accident claim, start to finish
At the scene
Call 911. Ask for police and an ambulance if anyone is hurt. If it’s safe, take photos of every vehicle, the plates, the intersection, and any skid marks or debris. Get the other driver’s insurance and the phone numbers of anyone who saw it. Kent Police usually handle crashes on city streets. On SR 167 and other state highways, it’s usually the Washington State Patrol.
The first 24 hours
See a doctor, even if you feel fine. Neck, back, and head injuries often show up later. Tell your own insurer about the crash so your PIP coverage can start paying medical bills. If the other driver’s insurer calls, you don’t have to give a statement. You can tell them your lawyer will be in touch.
The first few weeks
We request the police report, send letters asking businesses and agencies to keep video, and talk with witnesses. If the other driver fled, the crash must be reported to police within 72 hours to protect a UIM claim, and the facts need support beyond your own account (RCW 48.22.030, subsection 8).
While you’re in treatment
Your job is to get better. Keep every appointment and follow your doctor’s advice. We gather your records and bills as they come in. Gaps in care are something insurers point to, so tell us if cost or transportation is a problem.
The demand and negotiation
When your doctors understand your recovery, we send the insurer a demand that lays out your medical costs, lost income, and the impact on your life. Most cases settle in this stage.
If they won’t be fair
We file a lawsuit. Filing doesn’t mean a trial is certain. Many cases still settle, often after the insurer sees the evidence up close.
If the other driver fled, the clock is short: report it to police within 72 hours.
Crash types we help with
- Rear-end collisions in stop-and-go traffic and at red lights.
- Left-turn crashes where a driver turns across oncoming traffic.
- Side impacts when someone runs a light or a stop sign.
- Sideswipes on multi-lane roads during lane changes.
- Parking lot crashes at shopping centers and business parks.
- Crashes with uninsured or unknown drivers.
Each type leaves its own evidence. A rear-end crash often settles fault quickly. A left-turn or side-impact crash may turn on the signal timing and what witnesses saw.
Five mistakes that shrink a claim
- Skipping the doctor because the pain seems minor. Injuries often show up later, and a gap in care hurts the claim.
- Saying “I’m fine” at the scene or to an adjuster. It gets written down.
- Giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer.
- Signing a broad medical release that opens your whole history.
- Accepting the first offer before you know what your recovery will cost.
Already made one? It’s usually fixable. Call us. More: reasons to get a lawyer after a crash.
Repairs, rentals, and your car
Your claim covers the vehicle too. That means repair costs, or the car’s value if it’s totaled, and the cost of getting around while you’re without it. Get your own repair estimate so you have something to compare. If you had a child safety seat in the car, ask about replacing it.
Who pays, and when
| Coverage | Pays for | Timing | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your PIP | Medical bills, some lost wages | Right away, regardless of fault. Basic PIP: at least $10,000 for medical | RCW 48.22.085, RCW 48.22.095 |
| Your health insurance | Remaining treatment | As you’re treated | Your policy |
| Other driver’s liability | Your full losses | At settlement | RCW 46.30.020 |
| Your UIM | What the other driver can’t cover | When the driver is uninsured, underinsured, or unknown | RCW 48.22.030 |
Learn more: who pays after a Washington car crash and when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
Buses, trains, and government vehicles
Transit in Kent is growing. Sound Transit opened Kent Des Moines Station, next to I-5 at the SR 516 exit, on December 6, 2025 (Sound Transit). Sounder trains stop at Kent Station downtown, and King County Metro buses also serve Kent. More riders means more people walking to and from stops.
Government claims have their own steps. A claim against the City of Kent goes by mail to the Kent City Clerk at 220 Fourth Avenue South. Claims against King County, including Metro buses, go to its Office of Risk Management Services. Sound Transit takes claims online, by email, or by mail. State law then requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Injuries after a crash
Whiplash and back strain are familiar, but crashes can also cause disc herniations, concussions, broken bones, and lasting anxiety. Read about neck pain that starts later, headaches after a crash, and brain injuries.
Nearby Valley Medical Center in Renton and MultiCare Auburn Medical Center are both Level III trauma centers, and the most serious injuries go to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the state’s Level I center, according to the state Department of Health.
Fault in Washington
Shared fault, step by step
The other insurer will often argue you were partly at fault, because every point it gains lowers what it pays. We answer with the evidence. More: who is at fault in a Washington crash.
Where a Kent case is filed
King County Superior Court sits in two places. Its local rule sends an injury case to the area where the injury happened, and Kent falls in the court’s Kent case area (LCR 82). That means a Kent case is usually handled at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Avenue North in Kent, not the downtown Seattle courthouse.
In most cases, you have three years from the crash to file a lawsuit (RCW 4.16.080).
What a Kent car accident case may be worth
There’s no formula. The injury, the medical care, the time off work, the strength of the fault evidence, and the insurance available all matter. Our car crash results include a $1.55 million jury verdict for a brain injury, a $900,000 jury verdict for a shoulder injury, and an $850,000 jury verdict in a parking lot crash. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome. See our case results and our settlement calculator guide.
Meeting with us
Kent clients don’t have far to go. Our Bellevue office, at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, is about 18 miles from Kent city hall, roughly 26 minutes without traffic. If the drive is hard, much of the work can happen by phone and email instead.
Talk to a Kent car accident lawyer
Call (425) 635-2000 or send a message. Nearby: our Tacoma and Seattle car crash pages, and our 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 Kent 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.
Who takes the report for a crash on SR 167 in Kent?
Usually the Washington State Patrol. Kent Police usually handle crashes on city streets.
Where would my Kent car crash case be filed?
If it goes to court, usually at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, part of King County Superior Court.
The driver drove away. Do I have any options?
Possibly, through your UIM coverage. Report the crash to police within 72 hours and look for a witness or video.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor crash?
Not always. If you were hurt, missed work, or the insurer is pushing back, a free call can help you decide.
Who pays my medical bills right now?
Your own PIP coverage, regardless of fault.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
Usually three years (RCW 4.16.080). Claims against a government agency have earlier steps.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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