A Marysville man was riding his motorcycle on I-5 near Marysville, Washington when his tire blew out.  The man was attempting to move over to the shoulder when a car hit him from the rear, sending the biker to the pavement in what could have been a tragic rear-end Washington motorcycle accident.  Luckily, the man appeared not to be seriously injured.  

One of the motorcycle's tires was worn out and should have been replaced, the steel cords were visible according to police.  However, that does not mean other vehicles get off the hook for hitting a motorcyclist from behind.  Washington law states that drivers need to leave enough room between them and other vehicles to safely stop in case of an emergency. RCW 46.61.145.  The car here failed to do so and is therefore may be negligent for causing this motorcycle accident.  If the biker turns out to be injured, which in our experience is likely even when they say they're fine at the accident scene, the car may be liable for the injuries to the biker.

If the biker makes an injury claim, you can bet that the car's insurance company will say the accident was the motorcycle's fault for riding on bad tires.  It's a good point, but does not get the car totally off the hook.  The motorcycle may have some comparative fault for the accident because of the tires.  

In a case like this, the motorcycle rider needs to order our free book “7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Washington Motorcycle Accident Case” and call for a free consultation.  Dealing with the insurance company by yourself in this situation will make it very difficult for the motorcyclist to achieve a good result in his injury claim. Speaking with an experienced Washington motorcycle accident attorney before talking to the insurance adjuster often makes a huge difference. 

Ride Safe!