No Fees Unless We Win
Riding through Seattle offers a freedom that few experiences can match. Open roads, mountain backdrops, and stretches of pavement far from city traffic make motorcycling one of the most rewarding ways to travel in Washington State. But every rider knows the risk. A motorcyclist involved in a crash has almost no physical protection, and the injuries that follow are often severe, permanent, and financially devastating. If you or someone you love has been hurt, a Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer at Colburn Law—Accident and Injury Lawyers can help you pursue the full compensation you deserve. Our team represents injured riders in Seattle and throughout Washington, and we understand what is at stake when your recovery depends on getting this right. Call us today at 206-919-3215 to schedule your free consultation.
When you hire our Seattle motorcycle accident lawyers, you get more than legal help. You get a team that truly cares about your future.
Our results in motorcycle accident cases reflect what focused advocacy and thorough preparation can achieve for injured riders:
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts and circumstances.
Washington’s motorcycle laws shape more than rider safety. Compliance also determines how fault is evaluated after a crash, which directly affects your ability to recover compensation.
Washington requires all motorcycle operators to carry a valid license endorsement, and courts and insurers treat that requirement seriously when assessing responsibility. Under RCW 46.37.530, motorcycles must also be equipped with required lighting and safety equipment to operate legally on public roads.
The state enforces a universal helmet law requiring every rider and passenger to wear a helmet meeting U.S. Department of Transportation standards, regardless of age. Riding without a compliant helmet can reduce what you recover after a crash. Operating a motorcycle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher is also illegal, and impairment at any level that affects vehicle control can result in criminal penalties and a diminished civil claim.
According to the most recent information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published in 2025, 6,335 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2023, representing 15% of all traffic fatalities. Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists were almost 28 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash. For families dealing with the aftermath, those figures are not abstract. They reflect the real danger that makes strong legal advocacy so important when a rider is hurt.
Washington mirrors those national trends in ways that hit close to home for Seattle-area riders. As noted by the most recent report from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Washington recorded 100 fatal motorcycle crashes in 2025, with August, May, and September marking the deadliest months and county roads and state routes accounting for the majority of locations.
Three factors drove most of those fatalities:
When any of these behaviors by another driver causes a crash, injured riders in Washington have the right to pursue full compensation for the resulting harm.
Motorcycle crashes produce some of the most serious injuries seen in personal injury law. Without the structural protection a car provides, riders absorb the full force of impact, and the consequences are often severe:
Many of these injuries require emergency surgery, extended hospitalization, and months of rehabilitation. Some produce permanent limitations that affect a rider’s ability to work, move, and live independently long after the crash itself.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:
Speaking with a motorcycle accident attorney in Seattle as early as possible gives you the best chance of protecting your claim and recovering what you are owed
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer in Seattle is the most proactive step you can take. While the state of Washington mandates minimum amounts of insurance coverage for motorists, these limits are often not enough to fully compensate for the extensive injuries of a motorcycle crash.
Fortunately, you may have other legal options. Victims of negligence may receive compensation for their injuries if:
A motorcycle injury settlement will not only compensate you for your tangible expenses, but it may also provide recourse for non-economic damages such as emotional distress and the pain of your injuries.
Get In Touch With Our Seattle Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
No Fees Unless We Win
The state of Washington has its own rules regarding shared fault in motorcycle crashes. These are called pure contributory negligence rules.
For example, say you were involved in a motorcycle crash and sustained $500,000 in damages. A police report or a court ruling finds you were 10% at fault for the accident (if you were hit by a distracted driver while driving over the speed limit). Your ultimate award will be decreased by your degree of fault:
10% of $500,000 = $50,000 and $500,000 – $50,000 = $450,000.
To collect compensation, you must be 50% at fault or less. If you’re 51% at fault for the accident, you won’t be eligible to seek damages under Washington’s shared-fault laws.
What a motorcycle accident case is worth in Seattle depends on the severity of the injuries, the strength of the liability evidence, and how fault is allocated under Washington’s comparative fault system. Cases involving serious or permanent injuries, clear negligence by another driver, and well-documented damages consistently recover more.
Washington follows a pure comparative fault system, meaning compensation adjusts based on your share of responsibility for the crash. Even if you were partially at fault, you can still recover damages, with your award reduced only by your percentage of fault. Insurance carriers routinely attempt to assign more fault to injured riders than the evidence supports, and disputing those assignments early is one of the most consequential things an attorney can do for the value of your case.
At Colburn Law—Accident and Injury Lawyers, we advocate for fair and complete settlements for our clients. Factors such as reliable legal representation and thorough evidence collection significantly impact your final settlement offer. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, reaching out to a Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer can make a difference in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Knowing what caused a crash is only part of the picture. What injured riders also need to understand is what they can recover, and Washington law allows motorcyclists to pursue two categories of compensation:
Economic damages cover the tangible costs tied to your injuries, including:
Non-economic damages address personal harm that goes beyond out-of-pocket expenses:
Washington places no cap on non-economic damages, meaning there is no arbitrary limit on what you can recover for pain and suffering. The quality of evidence and strength of the legal argument made on your behalf determine what that recovery looks like.
If you’ve been hurt by someone’s carelessness, here’s what you need to know:
I will listen. I will believe you. I will make sure your story is heard — and I will fight with everything I have to help you get back on your feet.
I don’t pick cases by their dollar signs — only by whether they deserve to be fought for. I’ll come to your home, sit with you in a café, or visit you in your hospital room. I understand how hard recovery is — I’ve been there myself.
Insurance companies begin evaluating your claim long before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Adjusters look for inconsistencies, gaps in treatment, and opportunities to shift fault onto the rider. Without legal representation, injured motorcyclists routinely accept settlements that fall short of covering future medical needs, long-term income loss, and pain and suffering.
A Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer helps injured riders counter those tactics from the start. Our team can:
Having a lawyer involved from the start ensures nothing is conceded before it needs to be.
After a serious crash, you should not have to fight an insurance company while you are still focused on healing. Colburn Law—Accident and Injury Lawyers represents injured motorcyclists across Seattle and throughout Washington State with focused advocacy and a commitment to full financial recovery. Call 206-919-3215 today to schedule a free consultation with a Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Greg Colburn’s path to personal injury law is rooted in personal experience. After a devastating fall left him in a wheelchair for two years, he took on insurance companies and legal obstacles to win his own case. That journey inspired him to fight for others facing similar challenges. Today, Greg is dedicated to helping injury victims hold negligent parties accountable and secure the justice they deserve.
Years of Experience: 20 years
Super Lawyers Profile: Greg Colburn
You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. A trusted personal injury attorney near me can help you protect your rights and guide you through the process.
Contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney and get the support you need to move forward.
At Colburn Law Personal Injury Lawyers, PLLC, we represent Motorcycle Accident victims across the Seattle area with dedication and experience. Visit us at IBM Building, 1200 5th Ave Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98101, United States — GeoCoordinates: 47.60843898311899, -122.33309121349147
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney, Greg Colburn who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a Washington Personal Injury Attorney.
We will come to your home, a coffee shop, or your hospital room, whichever works best for you. We’ll discuss your legal options, and if we should decide to move forward, we will offer our services on a contingency-fee basis.