Motorcycle Accidents

Kirkland Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

$35 Million Recovered. 40 Years Fighting for Injured Riders.

Motorcyclists have almost no physical protection in a crash, and the injuries that follow are rarely minor. What makes a hard situation worse is that insurance companies routinely respond to motorcycle accident claims by reaching for the “naturally reckless rider” stereotype, looking for any way to minimize or deny what you’re owed. They move fast, and they count on injured riders not knowing their rights.

If you’ve been badly hurt in a motorcycle accident in Kirkland, call (425) 657-5255 and connect with Lindquist & Kornfeld. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you understand your rights as an injured rider and identify who may be liable for your damages.

We’re ready to go to work for you. Call (425) 657-5255 or visit our contact page to request a free consultation. We make home and hospital visits for clients who can’t travel.

Reasons riders throughout Washington choose Lindquist & Kornfeld:

Secured more than $35 million for injured clients
40+ years of professional experience
Legal representation throughout Washington
Free initial consultations

Severe Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents

We’ve helped motorcycle accident victims pursue compensation for some of the most serious injuries a person can suffer. Our team has supported clients whose lives were permanently changed by another motorist’s actions, and we’re prepared to help you pursue compensation regardless of injury type.

Injuries commonly suffered by motorcycle accident victims include:

These injuries frequently require surgery, extended physical therapy, and long-term rehabilitation. The financial pressure builds quickly, and the road to recovery is rarely short. Whatever you’re facing, we’re here to help you pursue the compensation you need.

Can You File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Accident?

If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident, Lindquist & Kornfeld can help. We understand the intricacies of wrongful death claims and the sensitivity they require. We can advance your claim while you focus on grieving. You won’t feel overlooked or rushed; we build our approach around your situation from the start.

Wrongful death claims can pursue damages including:

Medical bills for the deceased’s final treatments
Funeral and burial costs
Wages the deceased probably would have earned
Pain and suffering the deceased likely experienced before death
Loss of companionship and daily care suffered by loved ones

Washington’s Comparative Fault Rule & Your Motorcycle Claim

Insurance adjusters frequently argue that a motorcyclist was speeding, following too closely, or otherwise partially responsible for the crash. Under Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule (RCW 4.22.005), that argument doesn’t end your claim. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you aren’t barred from recovery even if you share some responsibility. A rider found 20 percent at fault can still recover 80 percent of their damages.

That fault percentage matters enormously, which is why insurers push hard to inflate it. Our motorcycle accident attorneys contest unfair fault assignments and work to preserve as much of your recovery as possible. Washington also requires riders to wear a DOT-approved helmet under RCW 46.37.530. Riding without one doesn’t automatically defeat a claim, but insurers may use it to argue contributory fault for head injuries. Knowing how these arguments are constructed and how to counter them is central to how we build our cases.

Damages You Can Pursue After a Kirkland Motorcycle Accident

A serious motorcycle crash rarely produces a single medical bill and a quick recovery. Damages fall into two broad categories.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover measurable financial losses: past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and transportation costs during recovery.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the harder-to-quantify consequences: physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and inconvenience.

Because motorcycle injuries often have long-term or permanent consequences, an accurate valuation must account for future needs, not only bills already incurred. When more than one party is at fault, multiple defendants can be named, which may mean access to multiple insurance policies. We work to identify every available source of recovery so the compensation you pursue reflects the full scope of what you’ve lost.

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Our Proven Results

Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.

$750,000 Medical Malpractice
The Estate of Jane Doe v. Dr . Anesthesiologist: A patient with obvious facial and neck deformities went in for a routine D & C. Because the patient was overly sedated, the doctor was unable to timely awaken the patient from the paralytic drugs after she was unable to intubate and establish an airway in a timely fashion. As a result, the patient suffered severe hypoxia and brain damage and died one week later.

Medical Malpractice
$1,050,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Ankle Fracture Injury: $1,050,000 litigated settlement short of trial of an ankle fracture and surgery of female driver with permanent injuries after a roll over collision.

Car Accident
$2,300,000 Brain Injury
Dalgado v. Cosmos Shipping Lines: (Federal Court of Canada Court No. T-1601-98) (Vancouver, Canada) An unsecured gangway nearly drowned a merchant marine. The client suffered a traumatic brain injury and won a claim for lost wages, medical bills, and compensation for his head injuries.

Brain Injury
$210,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Jane Doe v. John Doe and Budget Rental Car company: Snohomish County Superior Court No. 03-2-09292-2. After a motor vehicle accident, a 35 year old woman underwent multiple injections in her cervical and lumbar spine, radiofrequency treatments, and a rhizotomy but still had limitations and discomfort after 4 years of treatment.

Brain Injury
$275,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Our client received a $275,000 third-party settlement after he was rear-ended and recruited our firm. The accident took a toll on our client’s spine and abdomen. He suffered a cervical strain, right trapezius strain, chest wall contusion, and abdominal wall contusion. Our client also sprained his left foot and ankle, sustained A.C. arthrosis and degenerative labral tears, and suffered mild chronic rotator cuff tendinosis.

Car Accident
$2,500,000 Medical Malpractice
John and Jane Doe v. HMO facility: The health care provider failed to diagnosis an intracranial aneurysm which ruptured and caused permanent brain damage to a 54 year old mother, grandmother and house wife. She will never work again and need care 24/7.

Medical Malpractice
$300,000 Motor Vehicle Accident
Witter v. Fireman’s Fund: Mr. Witter suffered from a fractured wrist and faced multiple wrist surgeries in the future caused from progressive post-traumatic arthritis.

Car Accident
$750,000 Brain Injury
Pierce v. Reliance: A commercial truck driver suffered a brain injury and underwent spinal surgery with placement of steel rods in his back.

Brain Injury
$22,763 Motor Vehicle Accident
Plaintiff was rear-ended and the Defendant was arrested for DUI. Plaintiff sustained a L5-S1 central disc protrusion and annular tear as well as neck and other back injuries and headaches. She has not fully recovered and continues to experience pain that is aggravated by day to day activities.

Car Accident

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Common Causes of Kirkland Motorcycle Accidents

Identifying the cause of your crash is the first step toward determining who is liable. If you were able to collect evidence at the scene, our attorneys will examine it. Crash scene photographs, eyewitness statements, and first-responder records all help us build a clearer picture of what happened.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

Drivers failing to check blind spots
Left-turn collisions with oncoming motorcyclists
Poor road conditions, sometimes combined with rough weather
Motorcycle part defects such as brake failures
Distracted or impaired driving
Rear-end collisions
Unsafe lane changes by other drivers

More than one party can sometimes share liability, which may mean multiple insurance policies to pursue. We handle every detail of that process so you don’t have to.

How to Prove Liability in a Kirkland Motorcycle Accident Case

Proving liability requires establishing four elements: the defendant owed a duty of care, failed to fulfill it, caused an accident as a result, and directly caused your injuries. Building that case takes evidence, including police reports, medical records, eyewitness testimony, and photos or video from the crash site.

Gathering all of that is difficult when you’re focused on healing from a serious injury. Our team handles evidence collection as part of our representation. Working with an experienced Kirkland motorcycle accident attorney from the start can improve your ability to pursue full and fair compensation for your damages.

Washington’s Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Claims

Washington gives motorcycle accident victims three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under RCW 4.16.080. That clock starts on the day of the accident, not when treatment ends or when you realize you have a claim. Missing the deadline typically eliminates your right to file, regardless of how strong your case is.

Acting early also protects the evidence that supports your claim. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witness recollections fade, and vehicle data can become unavailable. If a government entity’s road conditions contributed to the accident, different notice requirements and shorter deadlines may apply under RCW 4.92.110 and RCW 4.96.020. We can assess all applicable deadlines during your initial consultation so nothing is left to chance.

Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in Kirkland

The decisions you make in the hours and days after a crash can significantly affect the strength of your claim. Seek medical attention first. Beyond protecting your health, documented treatment creates an injury record that’s hard for insurers to dispute. Delays in care give adjusters an opening to argue your injuries weren’t serious.

If you’re physically able at the scene, photograph the damage, collect witness contact information, and make sure law enforcement responds. Under RCW 46.52.020, drivers involved in an injury accident are required to stop, remain at the scene, and exchange information. Once you have a police report number, avoid signing any paperwork or accepting a settlement offer from an insurer before speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer.

We know that seriously injured riders can’t always travel to a law office. Lindquist & Kornfeld offers consultations at home or in the hospital for clients who aren’t able to come to us. We also handle evidence gathering as part of our representation, so you don’t have to manage that process while you recover. Reaching out early gives us an opportunity to preserve what’s available and start building your case before insurers gain the upper hand.

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What Makes Our Firm Unique

40+ Years of
Proven Legal Experience
With decades of hands-on litigation and negotiation, we bring a deep understanding of how to build strong, successful cases.
Aggressive & Personalized
Representation
We tailor our legal strategies to your unique situation, relentlessly pursuing the maximum compensation you're entitled to.
Committed to Securing
Justice for Each Client
We treat every case with the urgency and dedication it deserves, ensuring your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
No Fees Unless
We Win Your Case

Our clients can focus on healing while we fight for results—because we only get paid when you do.

Back Your Case with Decades of Legal Experience

From the moment a crash happens, insurance companies are looking for ways to pay you less. Our Kirkland motorcycle accident attorneys push back. We provide aggressive, personalized representation for injured riders and work to help prevent an insurer with a financial interest in minimizing your claim from shortchanging you. Every crash victim deserves a fair fight, and that’s what we’re here to give you.

Contact us or dial (425) 657-5255 to speak with a member of our firm.

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