What to do after a car accident in Washington
Every rule below is quoted from Washington law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
Washington is an at-fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays for injuries and damage they cause. A driver must report a crash if it hurt or killed someone, or caused $500 or more in damage to one person's property. The written report is due within four days, to city police if the crash was in a city, or to the county sheriff or State Patrol if it happened outside a city. You have three years from the crash to sue for your injuries.
Deadlines in Washington
- 3 years
- to sue for injuriesRCW 4.16.080(2)
- 3 years
- to sue for car or property damageRCW 4.16.080(2)
- 3 years
- for a family to sue after a deathRCW 4.16.080(2)
- 60 days
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedRCW 4.96.020
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a crash must stop immediately at or near the scene, stay there, give their name, address, insurance company and policy number, and vehicle license number, show their driver's license, and help anyone hurt, including arranging transport to a doctor or hospital.
“shall give his or her name, address, insurance company, insurance policy number, and vehicle license number and shall exhibit his or her vehicle driver's license... shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying or the making of arrangements for the carrying of such person to a physician or hospital”
When you must call the police
A driver must report a crash if it hurt or killed someone, or caused $500 or more in damage to one person's property. The written report is due within four days, to city police if the crash was in a city, or to the county sheriff or State Patrol if it happened outside a city.
“the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to the property of any one person to an apparent extent equal to or greater than the minimum amount... within four days after such accident, make a written report”
Moving your car out of traffic
If a crash only caused property damage, drivers must move their vehicles off the roadway or freeway lanes, shoulders, and median as soon as possible, to a spot like an exit ramp shoulder, a frontage road, or the nearest safe cross street.
“must move the vehicle as soon as possible off the roadway or freeway main lanes, shoulders, medians, and adjacent areas to a location on an exit ramp shoulder, the frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
Washington's crash report law does not send drivers to a separate DMV form. The same written report described in police_report_duty goes to city police, the county sheriff, or the State Patrol within four days when the crash meets the injury, death, or $500 property damage threshold.
“within four days after such accident, make a written report”
Getting a copy of the crash report
You can request a Washington State Patrol collision report online through the WRECR system, or by mail to the Collision Records Section in Olympia. The fee is $10.50 per report. Reports are typically ready within 2 to 4 weeks, since officers have up to that long to finish and get their report approved.
“search for a collision report from a computer station with internet access and an e-mail account... a fee of $10.50 will be charged per RCW 46.52.085... It may take up to a total of 2-4 weeks before the report is available for request”
Who pays for the damage
Washington is an at-fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays for injuries and damage they cause.
“not less than twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, to a limit of not less than fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident”
Insurance rules in Washington
What insurance every driver must carry
The minimum liability limits are $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for two or more people injured or killed in one crash, and $10,000 for property damage.
“not less than twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, to a limit of not less than fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident... not less than ten thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Washington does not require drivers to carry personal injury protection. Insurers must offer it on every new or renewed policy, and the driver can reject it in writing.
“No new automobile liability insurance policy or renewal of such an existing policy may be issued unless personal injury protection coverage is offered as an optional coverage”
If the other driver has no insurance
Insurers must offer underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage on every new or renewed auto policy. A driver or their spouse can reject it in writing, and the rejection carries over to future renewals unless they ask for the coverage again in writing.
“No new policy or renewal of an existing policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, or property damage...shall be issued...unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of underinsured motor vehicles”
Medical payments coverage
Washington does not require medical payments coverage by that name, but every insurer must offer personal injury protection, which pays medical bills regardless of fault, on every new or renewed policy. The driver can decline it in writing.
“No new automobile liability insurance policy or renewal of such an existing policy may be issued unless personal injury protection coverage is offered as an optional coverage”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
You can file a complaint against your insurance agent or insurance company with Washington's Office of the Insurance Commissioner online, or call their consumer line for help.
“You can file a complaint against your insurance agent or insurance company, or check the status of an existing complaint.”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have three years from the crash to sue for your injuries.
“An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have three years to sue over damage to your vehicle or other property from a crash.
“An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
A wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within three years, the same general injury deadline used for other car crash claims.
“An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
Before suing the state or a Washington city or county over a crash, you must first present a written claim to the government, then wait 60 days before filing suit. The claim must be presented within the normal injury lawsuit deadline, and that deadline pauses during the 60 day wait.
“No action subject to the claim filing requirements of this section shall be commenced against any local governmental entity...for damages arising out of tortious conduct until sixty calendar days have elapsed after the claim has first been presented to the agent”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.