Shoreline sits just north of Seattle, with I-5 and Aurora Avenue carrying heavy traffic through the city every day. If someone’s carelessness hurt you here, you deserve a lawyer who will take your case seriously. Rich Martin has spent 28 years on injury cases, more than 2,000 of them, and works as a Shoreline personal injury lawyer from our Bellevue office. A first conversation costs nothing.
Shoreline: 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-5, SR 99 (Aurora Avenue North), N 175th Street, N 185th Street, 15th Avenue NE
- Hospitals
- UW Medical Center – Northwest in Seattle (Level IV) and Harborview Medical Center (Level I)
- Population
- 64,710 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 18 miles away (about 26 minutes without traffic).
How we help Shoreline clients
- We answer your questions in plain words, starting with a free call.
- We take over all contact with insurance companies.
- We build the claim with records, photos, video, and witnesses.
- We charge no fee and no case costs unless we win.
Shoreline crash data
Shoreline’s 2024 Annual Traffic Report tracks crashes on city streets. The city counted 510 crashes in 2023 and 532 in 2024. Crashes that killed or seriously injured someone fell from 17 in 2023 to 8 in 2024.
Shoreline crashes that killed or seriously injured someone
Over 2015 to 2024, people walking or biking were in just 5% of crashes but 40% of those that killed or seriously injured someone. The city lowered speed limits on Aurora Avenue and Ballinger Way from 40 to 35 mph. Federal law keeps this kind of safety data out of injury lawsuits, so a case is built on evidence from the crash itself.
What makes a Shoreline injury case different
Aurora Avenue and I-5
- Aurora Avenue North (SR 99), where the city recorded the most pedestrian crashes near N 200th, N 185th, N 192nd, and N 160th Streets (2020–2024).
- I-5, which runs along Shoreline’s east side.
- N 175th Street, with intersections at Midvale and Meridian Avenues on the city’s high-crash list.
- Ballinger Way, where the city also cut the speed limit to 35 mph.
State routes, including Aurora (SR 99) and SR 104, accounted for about 30% of Shoreline’s fatal and serious crashes from 2020 to 2024 (City of Shoreline). Crashes on these roads are usually investigated by the Washington State Patrol or Shoreline Police, depending on location.
New light rail stations
Link light rail reached Shoreline on August 30, 2024, with new stations at Shoreline South/148th and Shoreline North/185th (Sound Transit). Station areas bring more buses, drop-offs, and people walking. Claims involving Sound Transit or King County Metro have their own processes (Sound Transit, King County).
Where the case would be heard
King County’s court rule puts everything north of I-90 in the Seattle case area (LCR 82). A Shoreline injury case that goes to court is usually handled at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle, a short trip down I-5.
Injury cases we handle in Shoreline
Car crashes
Start with your own PIP, which pays treatment without a fault fight (RCW 48.22.085). An uninsured or vanished driver points to your UIM (RCW 48.22.030), and a hit-and-run needs a police report within 72 hours. See our Seattle car accident page.
Truck crashes
Delivery trucks, semis, and work vehicles use I-5 and Aurora every day. Trucking companies only have to keep drivers’ hours records for six months, so it’s important to act quickly. Read our Shoreline truck accident guide.
Motorcycle crashes
Riders are often hurt when drivers turn or change lanes without looking. Motorcycle insurance often lacks PIP, because Washington’s PIP law is written for passenger cars (RCW 48.22.005). See our Seattle motorcycle page.
Pedestrians
People walking were part of 30% of Shoreline’s crashes that killed or seriously injured someone from 2015 to 2024 (City of Shoreline). On Aurora Avenue, pedestrian crashes cluster near N 200th, N 185th, N 192nd, and N 160th Streets.
Crosswalks give walkers the right of way (RCW 46.61.235), and drivers owe care to people on foot everywhere else too (RCW 46.61.245).
Cyclists
Shoreline completed its section of the Interurban Trail in 2008, running north and south through the city (City of Shoreline). Off the trail, riders share busy streets: cyclists were part of 10% of the city’s fatal and serious crashes from 2015 to 2024.
A rider may roll a stop sign like a yield when it’s clear (RCW 46.61.190). And yes, a household’s car insurance can cover a cyclist’s medical bills.
Slips and falls
Businesses must look for and fix hazards that could hurt customers (Tincani). The proof usually centers on how long the hazard was there and whether anyone checked.
The city tells property owners they’re responsible for clearing snow and ice off sidewalks near their property (City of Shoreline). Whether an owner, a business, or the city is responsible for a particular fall depends on the facts.
Wrongful death
The family’s case is filed by whoever the court names to represent the estate (RCW 4.20.010). Spouses, partners, and children are first in line to benefit, then parents and siblings (RCW 4.20.020). See our Seattle wrongful death page.
Paperwork to keep
- Every medical bill, receipt, and explanation of benefits.
- Pay stubs, plus a note from your employer about time you missed.
- Photos of the scene, your injuries, and any damage, with dates.
- Letters and emails from any insurance company.
- A simple journal of pain, sleep, and things you couldn’t do.
A folder or a phone album is enough. These records are the backbone of your claim, and gaps are hard to fill later.
Rules that apply to every claim
| If… | Then… | Law |
|---|---|---|
| you were partly to blame | your recovery is cut by your percentage, not erased | RCW 4.22.005 |
| you want to sue | file within about three years in most cases | RCW 4.16.080 |
| a public agency is responsible | submit a written claim and wait 60 days first | RCW 4.96.020 |
A claim against the City of Shoreline goes to the City Clerk at 17500 Midvale Avenue North, by mail or by hand. The city doesn’t accept claims electronically. State law then requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
What a claim can cover
Your claim can reach every cost the injury caused: hospital and therapy bills, future care, missed work, reduced earning ability, and a damaged vehicle. It can also reach the human cost, from chronic pain to giving up things you enjoyed. See how settlements are valued.
UW Medical Center – Northwest, just south of Shoreline, is a Level IV trauma center. The most serious injuries are usually taken to Harborview Medical Center, the region’s Level I center (state Department of Health).
Fees
We work on contingency: a share of what we win, nothing if we don’t, and no bill for the costs we advance. Learn how that works.
Working with us from Shoreline
We don’t have an office in Shoreline. Our Bellevue office, at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, is about 18 miles away, roughly 26 minutes without traffic. Most of a Shoreline case can be handled by phone, email, and mail, and we can meet in person when it’s useful.
See results Rich has obtained and client reviews.
Talk to a Shoreline personal injury lawyer
Shoreline residents can call (425) 635-2000 or write to us. See also our Seattle and Everett injury pages.
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 →Injury cases we handle in Shoreline
Car Accidents
Rear-ended on I-405 or hit at a light? We take over the calls with the insurance company.
Truck Accidents
Trucking companies call their lawyers the same day. We start working on your case just as fast.
Motorcycle Accidents
Insurers often assume the rider was speeding. We find the proof of what really happened.
Pedestrian Accidents
Hit in a crosswalk or a parking lot? These injuries are serious. So is the way we handle them.
Bicycle Accidents
Hit by a car or a car door? We know Washington's bike laws and use them for you.
Uber & Lyft Accidents
Several insurance policies may cover you. We find every one of them.
Wrongful Death
Lost someone you love? We hold the people responsible to account, so your family doesn't have to.
Slip & Fall
Fell because a store or landlord ignored a hazard? They may owe you for your injuries.
Questions about Shoreline injury cases
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 have an office in Shoreline?
No. Our Bellevue office is about 18 miles away, and much of a case can be handled by phone and email.
Which court hears Shoreline cases?
King County Superior Court in downtown Seattle, because Shoreline is north of I-90.
I was hit near a light rail station. Who pays?
Usually the driver's insurance, starting with PIP for your medical bills. If a transit vehicle was involved, special claim rules apply.
I might have been partly careless too. Should I still call?
Yes. Washington still lets you recover, reduced by your share (RCW 4.22.005).
Do I pay for the first call?
No, it's free.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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