Seattle-area traffic on I-5 and I-405 is among the heaviest in the West, and Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 sees snow, chain requirements and spin-outs every winter. Washington follows pure comparative fault and gives three years for most injury claims.
Is Washington a no-fault state?
No — Washington is an at-fault state. Washington is an at-fault state. The driver who caused the crash — through their liability insurer — is generally responsible for the injured person's losses. You can usually file a claim with that insurer, with your own insurer, or file a lawsuit.
Insurers in Washington must offer PIP, which you can reject in writing.
Learn more in our guide to what a no-fault state is.
How does shared fault work in Washington?
Washington follows pure comparative fault. If you were partly to blame, your compensation may be reduced by your share of fault, but you are not barred from recovering — even if your share is large.
For example, if a Washington jury decided you were 30% at fault, your compensation could be reduced by 30%. Because there is no cut-off, you may still recover something even if you were mostly to blame.
Read more: what comparative fault means.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Washington?
In Washington, the general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date of the injury, with some exceptions.
Other deadlines can be much shorter. Your insurance policy may require prompt notice of the crash, PIP and uninsured-motorist claims can have their own timelines, and claims against a city, county or the State of Washington often need formal notice within months. Different rules can also apply to minors and wrongful death claims.
What are Washington's minimum car insurance requirements?
Washington requires drivers to carry at least $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage.
Minimum limits are often not enough to cover a serious injury. If the at-fault driver has little or no insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, medical payments coverage or PIP may help. See what to do if an uninsured driver hit you.
What should I do after a car accident in Washington?
Get safe, get medical care and protect your evidence. These steps apply anywhere in Washington:
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and move out of traffic if it's safe — especially on busy roads like I-5 or I-90.
- Call the police and ask how to get the crash report. Washington generally requires reporting crashes that cause injury, death or significant damage.
- Exchange names, insurance and plate numbers, and photograph the vehicles, the scene and your injuries.
- Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
- See a doctor promptly, even if you feel fine.
- Notify your own insurer, but be careful about giving the other driver's insurer a recorded statement.
- Talk to an independent Washington attorney before signing any release, keeping the three years deadline in mind.
Our full what to do after a car accident guide goes into more detail.
Where do car accidents happen in Washington?
Crashes happen everywhere, but traffic is heaviest in and around Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue and Everett. Major routes include I-5, I-90, I-405, I-82, SR-520 and SR-99. Our attorney-matching service covers every county in Washington.