Redmond’s streets fill with commuters every weekday, and riders share every one of them. When a driver pulls out or turns without seeing you, the injuries can be serious and the questions pile up fast. Rich Martin is a Redmond motorcycle accident lawyer with 28 years of injury experience. His Bellevue office is about 8 miles away, and talking with him is free.
Redmond: 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
- SR 520, SR 202 (Redmond-Woodinville Road), Redmond Way, Avondale Road NE, Bel-Red Road
- Hospitals
- EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland and Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue (both Level III trauma centers)
- Population
- 83,320 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 8 miles away (about 14 minutes without traffic).
How we help Redmond riders
- We tell the rider’s side, backed by evidence, not assumptions.
- We find the coverage that will actually pay.
- We value everything: injuries, lost work, the bike, and your gear.
- No cost unless we win.
Statewide, 104 motorcyclists died in 2025, down from 142 in 2023, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Even with the drop, riders have far less protection than people inside a car.
Redmond’s safety plan found that more than half of the city’s most serious crashes happen on roads posted at 30 to 40 mph, and it flagged severe sideswipes along Redmond Way and SR 202 (City of Redmond). Sideswipes and lane changes are especially dangerous for riders.
A rider’s claim has five parts
A motorcycle claim comes down to five questions. Here’s what each one means for you.
Part 1: Fault
Who caused the crash? Often, it’s a driver who turned left across the rider’s path, changed lanes into them, or pulled out from a side street. The law expects drivers to look for motorcycles. If you share some fault, your recovery is reduced, not lost (RCW 4.22.005).
Two rules come up often. Washington requires helmets for riders and passengers (RCW 46.37.530), but riding without one doesn’t excuse the driver. And riding between lanes of traffic isn’t allowed (RCW 46.61.608), though two motorcycles may share a lane.
- SR 520, which ends in Redmond at a signal with SR 202. Tolls apply only on the floating bridge across Lake Washington, not in Redmond (WSDOT).
- Redmond Way and SR 202, where WSDOT calls the SR 520 interchange a key constraint (WSDOT) and the city found severe sideswipe crashes.
- Avondale Road and 148th Avenue NE, flagged by the city for full-length safety improvements.
- Downtown Redmond, with commuter traffic and a new light rail station.
Part 2: Coverage
Which insurance pays? Car policies come with an offer of PIP (RCW 48.22.085), but Washington’s PIP law covers passenger cars, not motorcycles (RCW 48.22.005). So a rider often relies on other coverage.
| Coverage | What it does |
|---|---|
| Medical payments (on your bike policy) | Pays medical bills early, if you bought it |
| Health insurance | Pays ongoing treatment |
| Driver’s liability insurance | Pays your losses at settlement |
| Your UIM | Pays when the driver has too little insurance or fled (RCW 48.22.030) |
Part 3: Injuries
Rider injuries tend to be serious: broken legs, wrists, and collarbones, road rash, head injuries, and spinal damage. Your claim should cover not just today’s bills but surgery, therapy, and limits that may last. Read about brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
Serious injuries from Redmond are often treated at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland or Overlake in Bellevue, both Level III trauma centers. The most critical patients go to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the region’s Level I center (state Department of Health).
Part 4: Property
Your motorcycle, its upgrades, and your riding gear are part of the claim: helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, boots, and any camera or communicator. Keep receipts and photos. Don’t let the bike be scrapped before it’s documented, because it’s evidence too.
Part 5: Time
Most claims must be filed within three years (RCW 4.16.080). If a city street defect or work zone caused the crash, a government claim must come first, with a 60-day wait (RCW 4.96.020, RCW 4.92.110). Time also matters for evidence: video and witness memories fade quickly.
Claims against a government have their own process. The City of Redmond’s Claims Division takes claims online or by mail. King County handles claims for county property and Metro buses through its Office of Risk Management Services, and Sound Transit takes light rail claims online, by email, or by mail. State law requires a 60-day wait after filing before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
If a Redmond case goes to court, it’s filed in King County Superior Court. The court’s local rule assigns an injury case to the area where the injury happened, and everything in King County north of I-90 falls in the Seattle case area (LCR 82). So Redmond cases are usually handled at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.
Why drivers miss motorcycles
A motorcycle is narrow, and a driver scanning for cars can look right at one without registering it. Pillars, mirrors, and glare make it worse. None of that is an excuse. Washington expects drivers to look carefully before turning, merging, or pulling out, and “I didn’t see the bike” usually means the driver didn’t look hard enough.
Your own evidence
Many riders carry their own proof without realizing it. A helmet camera, a phone mount that records, a GPS ride app, or a smartwatch can show your speed, your lane, and the moment of impact. Save those files right away and don’t edit them. Scuffs on your gear can also show how you landed.
Talking to the adjuster
The driver’s insurer may call within days. Adjusters often ask riders about speed, lane position, and riding experience, then use the answers to shift blame. You can decline a recorded statement. Give the adjuster our number, and we’ll respond with the evidence instead.
Riding with a passenger
A passenger hurt in a motorcycle crash usually has a claim against whoever caused it, whether that’s the other driver or, in some cases, the rider. Passengers have no handlebars to brace on, so their injuries can be severe. We can explain how coverage works when the rider and passenger are family.
Back to work, and back on the bike
Some riders return to work and riding within weeks. Others need surgery, months of therapy, or a different job. We don’t settle until your doctors can describe your long-term outlook, so future care and lost earning power aren’t left out. If riding was a big part of your life, losing it counts too.
What to do right now
- Follow up with your doctor about every symptom.
- Save your gear and the bike as they are.
- Write down everything you remember.
- Collect contacts for witnesses and other riders.
- Send insurer calls to us.
More: finding a motorcycle lawyer near you and your rights after a car and motorcycle crash.
How long a rider’s case takes
A case with a quick recovery can settle in a few months. If you need surgery or long therapy, it’s usually better to wait until your doctors know how you’ll heal. That way the claim covers future care too. If the insurer won’t be fair, we file a lawsuit and keep pushing. We’ll give you honest updates the whole way.
What a Redmond motorcycle case may be worth
It depends on all five parts above. Serious injuries, clear fault, and good coverage lead to larger recoveries. Past results don’t guarantee yours, but you can see our results.
Meeting with us
Redmond is practically next door. Our office is at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, in Bellevue. That’s about 8 miles from Redmond city hall, or around 14 minutes without traffic. Stop by when it suits you, or handle the case mostly by phone and email.
Talk to a Redmond motorcycle accident lawyer
Call (425) 635-2000 or send a message. See also our Bellevue motorcycle 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 Redmond 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.
Does my motorcycle insurance include PIP?
Often not. Washington's PIP law covers passenger cars. Check for medical payments coverage, and use health insurance and UIM.
I wasn't wearing a helmet. Do I still have a case?
Yes. The insurer may argue it made a head injury worse, but it doesn't excuse the driver.
Is lane splitting allowed in Washington?
No (RCW 46.61.608). Two motorcycles may share a lane, though.
Can I meet you close to Redmond?
Yes. Our Bellevue office is about 8 miles away.
How long do I have to file?
Usually three years from the crash (RCW 4.16.080).
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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