Recovering from a motorcycle crash happens on three tracks at once: your body, your finances, and your legal claim. They affect each other, and it’s easy to lose sight of one while focusing on another. As a Kirkland motorcycle accident lawyer, Rich Martin keeps the legal and insurance tracks moving so you can focus on healing. His Bellevue office is about 6 miles away, and your first call is free.
Kirkland: 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-405, NE 85th Street, NE 116th Street, NE 124th Street, Market Street
- Hospitals
- EvergreenHealth Medical Center (Level III trauma center)
- Population
- 98,860 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 6 miles away (about 12 minutes without traffic).
How we help Kirkland riders
- Proof of what the driver did, from the scene, the vehicles, and any video.
- Every source of payment, including coverage in your own household.
- The full loss: injuries, income, your motorcycle, and your gear.
- You pay only if we recover.
Statewide, 104 riders died in 2025, down from 142 in 2023 (Washington Traffic Safety Commission). Every one of those numbers was someone’s family member, and many more riders were seriously hurt.
Kirkland’s numbers show the risk. From 2019 to 2023, motorcycles were involved in just 2% of crashes on city streets, but 11% of the crashes that killed or seriously injured someone (City of Kirkland).
Track 1: Your medical recovery
Expect a longer road than after a car crash. Fractured limbs and collarbones, skin lost to road rash, concussions, and back injuries are typical for riders. Go to every appointment and follow your doctor’s plan. Tell your doctors about every symptom, even ones that seem small. Gaps in care give insurers a reason to say you weren’t badly hurt. See what to know about brain injury claims and spinal injury compensation.
EvergreenHealth Medical Center, right in Kirkland, is a state-designated Level III adult trauma center. Patients with the gravest injuries are often taken to Harborview in Seattle, which holds the Level I designation (Washington DOH).
Track 2: Your money right now
Bills don’t wait for a settlement. One surprise for many riders: the quick-paying PIP coverage that drivers rely on usually isn’t part of a motorcycle policy. Washington’s PIP statute is written around passenger cars (RCW 48.22.005; RCW 48.22.085). So riders patch together other sources.
| Source | What it can pay | When |
|---|---|---|
| Medical payments coverage (if on your bike policy) | Medical bills up to its limit | Early |
| Health insurance | Ongoing treatment | As you’re treated |
| Disability or paid leave through work | Part of lost income | Depends on your plan |
| The at-fault driver’s liability insurance | Your full losses | At settlement |
| Your UIM coverage | What the driver’s policy can’t | When the driver is underinsured or fled (RCW 48.22.030) |
Keep a folder of every bill, receipt, pay stub, and letter. It all becomes part of the claim.
Track 3: Your legal claim
Proving fault
Many rider crashes involve a driver turning left, changing lanes, or pulling out without seeing the motorcycle. That’s the driver’s failure to look. If the insurer argues you share some fault, Washington reduces your recovery by that share but doesn’t erase it (RCW 4.22.005).
Helmets and lane splitting
State law says everyone on a motorcycle wears a helmet (RCW 46.37.530). Skipping it doesn’t let a careless driver off the hook, but expect it to come up if you had a head injury. Lane splitting is off-limits in Washington (RCW 46.61.608); riding two abreast in one lane is allowed.
Deadlines
You generally get three years to sue (RCW 4.16.080). A bad city street or a public vehicle changes the order: claim form first, then 60 days, then suit (RCW 4.96.020).
A claim against the City of Kirkland has specific rules. The city’s Claim for Damages form must be notarized (city staff will notarize it for free) and mailed or placed in the drop box at City Hall. Electronic and faxed copies aren’t accepted. State law then requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Where the case goes
Lawsuits from Kirkland injuries belong to King County Superior Court’s Seattle case area, which covers the county north of I-90 (LCR 82). Expect the case to be managed from the downtown Seattle courthouse, though most never get that far.
Kirkland roads riders know
- 124th Avenue NE between NE 104th and NE 90th Streets, a city hotspot with two fatal and two serious-injury crashes.
- NE 68th / NE 70th Street from State Street to the I-405 interchange, the segment with the most fatal and serious crashes in the city’s plan.
- Juanita Drive NE, with four serious-injury crashes in one stretch.
- NE 132nd Street, Lake Washington Boulevard NE, and NE 85th Street, where serious crashes cluster.
- I-405, where express toll lanes have run between Bellevue and Lynnwood since 2015 (City of Bellevue), with a toll-lane ramp at NE 128th Street (WSDOT).
Road rash is a real injury
Road rash can look like a scrape, but deep abrasions can become infected, need skin grafts, and leave permanent scars. Treatment and scarring are part of your claim. Photograph the wounds as they heal, and keep every wound-care receipt.
When the driver blames the road
Sometimes a driver says gravel, rain, or a pothole caused the crash, not them. Road conditions don’t excuse a driver who was going too fast for them or not paying attention. And if a poorly maintained road really was a cause, the agency or contractor responsible for it may share the blame. We look at both.
Kirkland spots that call for extra care
Kirkland’s 2025 safety plan names several places where serious crashes cluster, and several are roads riders use often (City of Kirkland). Juanita Drive NE had four serious-injury crashes along one stretch. The NE 68th / NE 70th Street segment near I-405 had the most fatal and serious crashes of any segment in the city. Lake Washington Boulevard NE and NE 85th Street also show clusters.
Construction at the I-405 and NE 85th Street interchange adds lane shifts and new roundabouts through winter 2027 (WSDOT). Roundabouts are a common place for drivers to misjudge a motorcycle’s speed.
How long a rider’s claim takes
If you heal quickly, a claim can settle within a few months. With surgery or long therapy, it’s usually wiser to wait until your doctors can describe your long-term outlook, so the settlement covers what’s ahead. If the insurer won’t pay fairly, a lawsuit adds time but can bring a better result. We’ll tell you where things stand at every stage.
Your bike and gear
The claim covers your motorcycle at its real value, including upgrades, plus your helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, and electronics. Gather receipts and before-crash photos. Don’t let the bike be scrapped until it’s documented.
What to do this week
- Keep every medical appointment.
- Leave your gear and bike as they are.
- Save helmet-cam footage and ride-app data.
- Write down what you remember and who saw it.
- Send insurance calls to us.
More: how to choose a motorcycle attorney and motorcycle claims on the Eastside.
What a Kirkland motorcycle case may be worth
Value depends on the injuries, recovery, lost income, lasting effects, and available insurance, plus your bike and gear. Past results don’t guarantee yours. See our results.
Meeting with us
Kirkland is one of our closest neighbors. You’ll find us in Bellevue’s Eastridge Corporate Center (11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303), roughly 6 miles and a 12-minute drive from Kirkland city hall. Meet us there, or keep things simple by phone and email.
Talk to a Kirkland motorcycle accident lawyer
Ready to talk? Dial (425) 635-2000 or write to us. Riders in Bellevue and Redmond have their own pages.
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 Kirkland 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.
How do I pay medical bills before the case settles?
Medical payments coverage on your bike policy, health insurance, and sometimes work benefits can help. The at-fault driver's insurer pays at settlement.
Why didn't my bike insurance pay my hospital bill right away?
Motorcycle policies often lack PIP. Look for medical payments coverage, and lean on health insurance until the claim settles.
Does riding without a helmet sink my case?
No. It may come up for a head injury, but the driver who caused the crash is still responsible.
How close is your office?
About 6 miles from Kirkland city hall, in Bellevue.
What's the deadline to sue after a motorcycle crash?
Three years in most cases (RCW 4.16.080).
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
Related pages
Helpful articles
Washington Comparative Negligence in Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are among the most devastating collisions on Washington roads. Riders have little physical protection, and even a low-speed crash can produce life-altering…
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Bellevue, Washington what to do after a motorcycle accident — those five words can change the…
Bellevue Car and Motorcycle Accidents
The Reality of Car and Motorcycle Accidents in Washington A collision between a car and a motorcycle is often far more devastating than a…