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Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Seattle | Get Maximum Compensation!

Last updated on December 6, 2024

You or a loved one has suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident. You’re hurt, you’re frustrated, and you want nothing more than to put the entire thing behind you. But you’ve got medical bills stacking up, another day of unemployment has gone by, and it looks like you may be in for a long road to recovery.

You might be thinking: “This wasn’t even my fault! Why do I have to pay for it?”

That’s a good question. And the hard-working Seattle motorcycle accident lawyers at Pendergast Law are ready to help you answer it. For nearly half a century, we’ve been helping injured riders just like you regain their futures by holding the right parties accountable for their actions. We understand the unique challenges motorcyclists face on the road and in the courtroom, and we help you calculate what your overall losses will be, including wages from missed work, future medical bills, and pain and suffering. Call our office toll-free 888-539-9211 to set up a free consultation today.

Why Choose Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys?

With a proven track record of success in motorcycle accident cases and in-depth knowledge of Washington state motorcycle laws, we use our extensive negotiating skills with the insurance companies to maximize your compensation. We’ll handle every detail of your case, including:

Reviewing all insurance policies
Obtaining accident reports
Investigating the accident and injuries
Consulting experts, such as accident reconstructionists and medical professionals
Gathering evidence of negligence, including accident photos and surveillance footage
Calculating the costs of your injuries, both in terms of financial and personal costs
Negotiating settlements
Representing you in court if a jury trial is necessary
Providing consistent updates on your case

Washington Motorcycle Accident Case Results

$685,000 recovery for a man who fractured his left wrist, arm, and leg in a motorcycle accident in Enumclaw.
$225,000 recovery for leg fracture in Seattle motorcycle accident.
$220,000 recovery for a man who sustained a concussion and fractured ribs when he was hit while riding his motorcycle in Pierce County.
$175,000 recovery for a man who injured his clavicle and ribs when a car swerved and knocked him off his motorcycle in Bellevue.

View more Case Results here.

What Are Common Motorcycle-Related Injuries?

Over the years, we’ve represented many motorcycle collision victims and a wide variety of associated injuries. Because of a motorcycle’s size and exposure, injuries to riders are often severe, demanding a great deal of medical attention and rehabilitation to fully recover.

Road rash – Severe abrasions from sliding on asphalt when a rider is thrown from a bike
Degloving – Skin loss exposing underlying muscles, tendons and tissues, potentially causing disfigurement, issues regulating blood pressure and nerve damage
Paralysis – Trauma to the spine, neck or brain after motorcycle accidents that can lead to an inability to move one’s arms and legs
Broken bones – Most common for older riders’ hips and lets, this can lead to permanent disabilities or even an amputation.
Burns – Gasoline that ignites and burns motorcycle accident victims, leaving third-degree burns that need extensive grafting and treatment.
Brain trauma – Helmets are not enough to protect the head in a high-speed collision so riders can suffer severe head trauma, resulting in impairment to memory, cognitive functions, sight, motor functions, and even emotions and personality

Our motorcycle accident attorneys work with medical experts to calculate the full extent of your losses, including wages from missed work, future medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Common Motorcycle Accidents In Seattle

There is almost no such thing as a minor motorcycle accident. Seattle bikers suffer extensive injuries almost every day and require costly medical treatments, from emergency surgeries to months of rehabilitation, to fully recover … if they can recover at all. When a 4,000-pound car traveling at high speeds collides with a lighter motorcycle, riders rarely walk away with a bruise and strain.

There are several causes behind motorcycle accidents throughout the Seattle area, most of which can be attributed to negligent drivers.

Left-Turn Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that 70% of motorcycle collisions occur at intersections, with at least 33% happening because another motorist turned into the path of the motorcycle. In many cases, these drivers are:

Speeding through the intersection
Driving while intoxicated, distracted, or fatigued
Failing to give right-of-way
Failing to use turn signals

When these behaviors have caused a left-turn motorcycle accident, the driver engaging in those behaviors will likely be found at fault for the accident.

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end accidents occur when one vehicle crashes into another vehicle from behind. This can occur because a driver was tailgating, making a dangerous lane change, or being distracted as he approached an intersection. In any situation, drivers who rear-end motorcyclists are often found at fault for a collision.

Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents occur when a driver doesn’t check his blind spots before merging or turning into the motorcyclist’s lane. The motorcyclist may be hit or forced to evade the car by laying down his bike, colliding with another object, or just losing control altogether.

Driver distraction is at the root of many motorcycle sideswipe accidents. It is why many motorists involved in motorcycle collisions state that they “never saw the victim at all!” before the crash occurred. When drivers are texting or talking on the phone, changing radio stations, interacting with other people in the car, driving impaired, or making aggressive maneuvers, they can be found liable for a rider’s injuries.

Being Thrown From A Bike

Motorcycles don’t have restraint systems like seatbelts or shoulder straps. While some motorcycles can be fitted with airbags, the majority of bikers don’t have these safety features. When a motorcycle is struck by another vehicle or runs into a stationary object, such as a suddenly opening car door, the rider is often thrown off of the bike.

Determining liability in these types of accidents will depend on who was at fault for the initial impact. If another driver crashed into the motorcycle, he would most likely be found at fault for the biker being thrown from the bike and any injuries resulting from the collision.

Other Factors

Sometimes, dangerous road conditions or defective parts on vehicles can also cause an accident. When this is the case, manufacturers or government entities can be partially or wholly at fault for the accident. A good attorney can find out.

What Are Your Options After An Accident On A Motorcycle?

Unfortunately, motorcyclists face more difficulties when filing a claim than other motorists. There is a general concept in the U.S. known as “motorcycle bias,” which portrays riders as dangerous, reckless or thrill-seekers. Many insurance companies share these views and do not provide fair compensation for injured bikers. Some may outright deny a claim, arguing that the motorcyclist is completely at fault for his injuries.

However, with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at your side, you have nothing to fear. Our team is well-versed in representing injured riders and knows just how devastating your injuries are. We firmly believe that every person on the road deserves proper compensation when another person injures them, no matter what vehicle they are operating. Even in a situation where you are partially at fault, we will provide aggressive representation to get you the money you need to heal comfortably.

If you work with Pendergast Law, we can handle every aspect of your case, including:

Reviewing all available insurance policies, including your own
Obtaining a copy of your accident report
Investigating the circumstances of your injuries and the nature of your accident
Speaking to experts, including accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and others
Collecting evidence of negligence, including accident photos and surveillance footage
Calculating the costs of your injuries, both in terms of financial and personal costs
Negotiating on your behalf in a settlement negotiation
Representing your claim in a jury trial, if necessary
Providing consistent and reliable updates about your case

Never assume that you cannot pursue compensation after a motorcycle accident, and do not accept any offers from an insurance company without speaking to an attorney first. We at Pendergast Law, can explain your rights in a free consultation and determine who is liable for your injuries.

Who Is Liable After a Motorcycle Accident?

All drivers, whether they’re driving a car or a semi-truck, owe a duty of care to other people on the road: they must act in a reasonable and responsible way to keep everyone safe. When a driver is negligent and speeds, drives distracted or breaks other rules of the road, he has breached his duty of care and can be found at fault in certain situations.

However, while motorcycle accidents are often the fault of negligent drivers, you should remember that Washington is a “pure contributory fault state.” Contributory fault recognizes that both parties involved in an accident may share fault. Suppose you were speeding on your motorcycle when you were hit by a driver who was texting at the time. A jury may decide that you were 10% at fault for the accident because you were speeding, and the other driver was 90% at fault because he was texting. If the settlement you were seeking was $100,000, you would only be able to collect 90% of that settlement, or $90,000.

But contributory fault only applies to jury trials and, with a skilled attorney at your side, you may be able to recover compensation during settlement negotiations without having to take your case to court.

What Compensation Can Injured Bikers Ask For?

Compensation varies, depending on the accident. A number of factors, such as the severity of your injuries and whether the injuries affect your ability to do a job, can contribute to the amount of compensation. The degree of fault may also affect the level of damage. Compensation available to motorcycle accident victims includes:

Medical bills, current and future, related to the crash
Lost income, whether lost wages or lost earning capacity
Pain and suffering, and other “soft” or “intangible” costs of the crash
Property damage, such as vehicle repairs

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Ready To Help Bikers With Injuries

The Seattle injury attorneys at Pendergast Law have dealt with the nuances of representing motorcyclists and know what it takes to secure your case. You can rest assured that we will use every tool at our disposal to obtain the compensation you need to recover – and put the blame where it belongs.

If you were seriously injured or your loved one was killed in a motorcycle crash, contact our office to set up a case consultation. We are dedicated to representing injured riders, and there is no cost to sit down with us. In addition, we work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we do not get paid unless we win your case.

Let our motorcycle accident attorneys handle the details while you focus on recovery. Call our office toll-free at 888-539-9211 today or submit your information online.