Most riders who get hurt weren’t doing anything risky. They were going straight, at a normal speed, when a driver pulled out or turned without seeing them. If that’s what happened to you, an Everett motorcycle accident lawyer can help you push back when the insurer starts blaming the bike. Rich Martin has handled injury cases for 28 years, and your first call costs nothing.
Everett: local facts
- County
- Snohomish County
- Court
- Snohomish County Superior Court, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett
- Major roads
- I-5, US 2 (Hewitt Avenue Trestle), SR 526, Evergreen Way, Broadway
- Hospitals
- Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (Level II trauma center)
- Population
- 114,900 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 29 miles away (about 39 minutes without traffic).
Why rider claims need extra care
With no frame around you, even a slow crash can mean fractures, road rash, or a head injury. Insurers know rider claims tend to be large, so they look hard for reasons to pay less. We get ahead of that.
- Evidence of the driver’s mistake: the scene, the damage, and any video.
- Every policy that might pay, including ones in your household you may not think of.
- The full cost of the crash: treatment, lost work, your motorcycle, and your gear.
- No upfront cost. We’re paid only if you are.
A statewide problem
Washington lost 142 motorcyclists on its roads in 2023. That number fell to 113 in 2024 and 104 in 2025, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The trend is better, but it still means about two riders killed every week, and many more injured.
In Everett, the gap is stark. Motorcycles were involved in just 2% of all crashes from 2019 to 2023, but riders were 10 of the 51 people killed, about 20% (City of Everett).
Everett roads riders know
- Broadway, Evergreen Way, and SE Everett Mall Way, where the city found most fatal and serious crashes.
- Casino Road, Airport Road, and 19th Avenue SE, also on the city’s high-injury network.
- SR 526, the route to the Paine Field and Boeing industrial areas, which WSDOT says carries more traffic as Everett grows (WSDOT).
- The US 2 trestle, the only direct highway route across the Snohomish River to I-5 (WSDOT).
- I-5, which runs through the middle of the city.
Where a crash happened tells us what to look for. On a freeway it’s usually following distance and lane changes. On a busy arterial it’s turning traffic and cars coming out of driveways.
The driver errors behind most rider crashes
A driver turning left misjudges how fast the bike is coming. A driver changing lanes checks the mirror but not the blind spot. A driver in slow traffic follows too closely and can’t stop. A driver leaving a parking lot looks for cars, not motorcycles. In every one of these, the law expected the driver to look and yield.
Washington rules for riders
Washington requires riders and passengers to wear helmets (RCW 46.37.530). If you weren’t wearing one, you can still bring a claim. The other side may argue that a helmet would have reduced a head injury, but that doesn’t excuse the driver who caused the crash.
Riding between lanes of moving traffic isn’t legal here (RCW 46.61.608), though two motorcycles may ride side by side in one lane. And if you share some fault, your recovery is reduced by that share rather than lost (RCW 4.22.005).
Coverage questions for riders
Car policies must come with an offer of PIP (RCW 48.22.085), but the PIP law only counts passenger cars as automobiles (RCW 48.22.005). That leaves many motorcycle policies with no PIP. Look for medical payments coverage on your bike policy. Health insurance and your UIM coverage (RCW 48.22.030) can also help. We’ll check each policy in your home.
Injuries
Rider injuries we help with include traumatic brain injuries, fractured legs and wrists, broken collarbones, pelvic injuries, and spinal damage. Road rash can scar or need grafts. Learn about brain injury claims and spinal cord injury compensation.
Serious injuries in Everett are often treated at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, a Level II trauma center for adults and Level III for children, according to the state Department of Health.
Right after the crash
- Get checked by a doctor, even if adrenaline says you’re fine.
- Leave your helmet and gear as they are. Scuffs and cracks are evidence.
- Take pictures of the bike, the other vehicle, and the pavement.
- Collect names and numbers from anyone who stopped.
- Don’t let the bike be scrapped before it’s documented.
- Have the driver’s insurer call us, not you.
Helpful reading: choosing a motorcycle attorney and Washington motorcycle claims.
Bad pavement and work zones
Gravel, potholes, and raised seams can take a bike down. When a city street caused it, the claim goes first to the City of Everett, with a 60-day wait before suing (RCW 4.96.020). On a state route, the claim goes to the state (RCW 4.92.110). Contractors who leave a work area unsafe can share the blame.
Riding two-up
Passengers are often hurt as badly as the rider. A passenger can claim against the driver who caused the crash, and in some cases the rider’s own coverage can help too.
Your motorcycle and gear
Your claim should cover the motorcycle itself, at repair cost or its value if it’s totaled. Add aftermarket parts, your helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, and anything else damaged in the crash. Keep receipts and photos. Don’t let a tow yard or insurer dispose of the bike until it’s documented.
How long a motorcycle claim takes
A simple case with a quick recovery may settle in a few months. If you need surgery or long therapy, we usually wait until your doctors can say what your recovery will look like. Settling earlier can leave future care unpaid. If the insurer won’t be fair, we file suit.
Getting back on the bike
Some riders can’t wait to ride again. Others never feel safe on a motorcycle after a crash. Both are normal. If the crash took riding away from you, even for a season, that loss is part of your claim. Tell us what riding meant in your life: commuting, weekend trips, time with friends. It helps us show what you lost.
What the driver’s insurer may try
Expect a few familiar moves. The adjuster may ask for a recorded statement and then point to anything you say about speed. They may ask for access to all your medical records, hoping to find an old injury to blame. They may suggest your gear or riding style caused the harm. Or they may offer a quick check before you know how serious the injury is.
You don’t have to deal with any of that. Once you hire us, the insurer has to talk to us instead of you, and we answer with evidence.
Case value
Value comes down to the injury, recovery time, missed work, lasting effects, and the insurance behind the driver. Your bike and gear are included. Results in past cases don’t predict yours, but you can see what we have recovered.
Court and deadlines
Few injury claims ever reach a courtroom. When one does, Washington lets the injured person sue in the county where the harm happened (RCW 4.12.020). For Everett, that’s Snohomish County Superior Court at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in downtown Everett. You won’t need to travel to Seattle for hearings.
Plan on three years from the crash as the usual deadline to file (RCW 4.16.080).
Working with us from Everett
We don’t have an office in Everett. Our Bellevue office, at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, is about 29 miles away. Many Everett clients never need to make the drive. We can handle most of your case by phone, email, and mail, and meet in person when it helps.
Call an Everett motorcycle accident lawyer
Reach us at (425) 635-2000 or through our contact page. In King County? See our Seattle rider page.
Motorcycle 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 Everett motorcycle 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.
No helmet. Is my claim gone?
No. The insurer may say a helmet would have reduced a head injury, but the driver who caused the crash is still responsible.
Why doesn't my bike insurance have PIP?
Washington's PIP law is written for passenger cars, not motorcycles. Medical payments coverage, health insurance, and UIM can help instead.
I was splitting lanes. Can I still recover?
Lane splitting isn't legal here (RCW 46.61.608), but if the driver was also at fault, you may still recover part of your losses.
Will I have to go to court in Seattle?
No. An Everett case that goes to court is usually filed in Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett.
Does my passenger have a claim?
Yes. A passenger can bring a claim against the at-fault driver.
Do I need to come to Bellevue?
No. We can work by phone and email. Our Bellevue office is about 29 miles away if you'd like to meet.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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