Motorcycle accidents in Washington
Riders are more likely to be seriously hurt in a crash and more likely to be blamed for it. Two rules come up in almost every motorcycle claim: the helmet law and the lane-splitting law.
Washington’s helmet law
Every motorcycle rider and passenger must wear a helmet.
Not wearing a required helmet can be raised to argue that part of a head injury was the rider’s own fault. It does not excuse the driver who caused the crash.
Source: Rev. Code Wash. § 46.37.530
Lane splitting
Lane splitting is not legal in Washington.
Source: Rev. Code Wash. § 46.61.608
Bias against riders
The most common motorcycle crash is a car turning left across the rider’s path, with the driver saying they “never saw” the bike. Not seeing a vehicle that was there to be seen is a failure to keep a lookout, not a defense — but adjusters routinely open with the assumption that the rider was speeding.
Fault and deadlines
Under Washington’s pure comparative fault rule, a driver found 30% at fault recovers 70% of their damages, and a driver found 80% at fault still recovers 20%.
Washington’s injury deadline is 3 years (Rev. Code Wash. § 4.16.080(2)).
Real Washington results
Documented Washington verdicts and settlements from public court records.
| Case | Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
Liu v. State Farm Ins. Co 2021 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,500,000 verdict |
Gomez v. Clark 2022 · Car accident | Car accident | $400,000 verdict |
Laughner v. Spokane Authority Spokane County, 2015 · Rear-end collision | Rear-end collision | $1,500,000 settlement |
Mershon v. Hurley 2024 · Intersection crash | Intersection crash | $375,000 verdict |
Brown v. Aguilar King County, 2021 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,484,417 verdict |
Real cases, shown as recorded in public court records. Verdicts are jury awards; settlements are agreed payments. They are other people’s cases and not predictions of what your case is worth. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is lane splitting legal in Washington?
Lane splitting is not legal in Washington.
Do I have to wear a helmet in Washington?
Every motorcycle rider and passenger must wear a helmet.
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This page is general information about Washington law, reviewed September 2026. It is not legal advice, laws change, and the right answer for your claim depends on its facts. CaseChecker.ai is not a law firm; it connects people with independent attorneys licensed in their state.