Compensatory damages are meant to compensate the victim of an accident financially. This includes two types of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are financial losses you suffer and can include: medical bills- both current and future, damage to your property, loss of income, and loss of earning capacity. Non-economic damages can be more difficult to prove and quantify. Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of certain activities.

Punitive damages are those that are meant to punish someone for reckless, intentional, or malicious actions. They are intended to deter future similar actions by the responsible party as well as sending a message to the general public. Punitive damages are uncommon in personal injury cases in Washington State.

Riding between lanes is tempting when you are on a motorcycle and the car traffic is slow or stopped. In Washington State riding between lanes or “lane splitting” is illegal and can increase the likelihood of an accident. If a motorcyclist is lane splitting and an accident occurs, they will likely be found to be responsible for the collision as they were breaking the law. If you have been involved in an accident that involves lane splitting it is very important to contact a motorcycle accident attorney immediately to protect your interests.

Motorcycle accidents are very different from car collisions. Due to the exposed nature of the motorcycle rider, their injuries tend to be more severe than car accident injuries. Motorcyclists are often seen as reckless or willing to take risks so insurance companies and even juries can have an implicit bias against awarding them the compensation they deserve. Juries need to be educated about bikes because they often do not understand how bikes work and therefore how the accident occurred. A personal injury lawyer is familiar with negotiating with insurance companies and also knows how much your settlement should be. If your case goes before a jury, your lawyer will know how to present the information so that the jury will learn about motorcycles and have a better understanding of the issues that can arise to cause accidents.

Washington requires that all riders wear a helmet to protect them in case of an accident. Additional safety gear can also reduce the severity of your injuries if you are involved in an accident. Gear such as gloves, heavy clothing or specially designed motorcycle body armor and protective shoes can help alleviate typical trauma suffered during a crash.

We look forward to meeting you and to discussing your case. We take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and get to know you in a friendly, no-pressure setting. We will also want to learn about your accident and any related injuries. It is often helpful for you to bring any documentation you currently have so we can gain a more thorough understanding of the situation.