To report a car accident in Washington state, you’ll want to take the following steps:
- Call 911 to alert local authorities
- Exchange information with the other driver or party involved
- Take photos and videos of the car accident
- Notify your insurance company
Taking these steps will help ensure there’s an official record of the collision that can be used while seeking compensation. It’s also helpful to see a doctor even if you seem fine after the crash, and to speak with an attorney about potentially taking legal action.
The team at Walton Injury Law has created a guide on how to report an accident and some crucial do’s and don’ts that could affect your claim. If you’re ready to speak with our attorneys, we’re here to listen. For a free consultation, contact Walton Injury Law today
Call 911 Immediately After the Collision
After a car crash, call 911 to notify Washington State Patrol or local police. This is particularly important if someone was injured or killed in an accident, there are vehicles blocking the flow of traffic, there’s been significant damage to a vehicle or other property (e.g., a building or structure), or if someone involved in the accident appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Authorities will respond to the scene and create an official report of the accident. Be sure to cooperate with authorities at the accident site and provide any information they’re looking for.
Exchange Information with People at the Scene of the Accident
When you are able to do so safely, be sure to exchange information with other motorists or individuals at the scene of the collision. Make sure to take down the following info:
- The person’s full name and contact information (phone, email, and mailing address)
- The other person’s driver’s license number
- The makes and models of any vehicles involved in the crash
- The license plate numbers of any vehicles involved in the crash
- The insurance policy number of any motorist or individual involved
If there are any people who witnessed the accident or its aftermath, it’s a good idea to get their contact information as well.
Document the Accident with Photos and Videos
If you are able to do so, take photos and videos of the accident site and the vehicles involved. Get images of injuries and any debris in the road or details around the site of the crash that may have contributed to the accident. Make a backup of these videos and photos.
Documenting the scene of an accident can help verify the extent of the property damage and your injuries. This evidence can be a major help with the insurance claims and investigation process.
Notify Your Insurance Company About the Car Wreck
When you have an opportunity, be sure to report your car accident to your insurance provider. Ideally, you’ll want to notify your insurance company within 24-72 hours of the collision. You are not required to give a recorded statement.
Do not editorialize or offer subjective opinions about what happened or who was at fault. Just state the facts and provide the information that’s requested. This will usually include the date and time of the crash, the location of the crash, a description of the accident itself, and the police report number.
Some Other Important Do’s and Don’ts If You’re in a Car Accident
In addition to reporting a car accident, there are a few things you can do after a crash that can provide peace of mind and help maximize the value of your car accident claim.
Here are a few important do’s and don’ts after a car wreck.
Do Seek Medical Attention Even If You Seem Okay
See a doctor as soon as possible after your car accident. Not all injuries are apparent after a collision. Some people walk away just fine from a car wreck only to experience pain, dizziness, blurry vision, and other troubling symptoms hours or days later.
Your doctor can run tests and promptly implement treatment to address any signs of injury. This will also create a medical record of crash-related injuries that can help with your claim.
Don’t Admit Fault or Apologize After the Crash
Two things you should never say at the scene of an accident:
- “That was my fault.”
- “I’m sorry.”
Any admission of fault or responsibility in a collision can be used against you, significantly devaluing your accident claim. Respectfully exchange information with others without any admission of fault. Accident investigators and insurance companies can focus on who or what’s to blame.
Do Speak with a Car Accident Attorney About What Happened
It’s worth consulting with a car accident lawyer about your collision as soon as possible. Even if you do not have a lawsuit, just speaking with an attorney can help you understand how much your case could be worth and what you need to do next as part of the claims process.
If you do have a viable case, your lawyer can serve as your advocate following a major car wreck. They’ll help identify costs associated with the accident you may not have considered and negotiate with the insurance company to secure the best settlement possible.
Don’t Post About Your Collision on Social Media
Do not post about your collision on social media. In fact, you may want to avoid posting anything on social media or any public forum following a collision. Anything about your collision could be used to undermine the value of your car accident claim.
For example, if you post a photo of the crash on Instagram and mention that you’re okay, this could contradict your claim of serious injuries. Comments may also speculate about the cause of the crash, and seemingly innocuous statements from friends or family (e.g., “You always take that turn too fast”) can hurt your claim.
How Much Is My Accident Case Worth?
The value of your car accident case can vary depending on the severity of what happened. When you work with our car accident lawyers, we can help identify ways that the crash affected your life and led to financial losses and changes in your quality of life.
Many accident survivors will seek compensation for:
- Medical bills incurred from the car accident
- Ongoing healthcare needs, such as physical rehabilitation or occupational therapy
- Vehicle repairs or replacement of a totaled vehicle
- Car rentals or rideshare trips taken while someone lacked a vehicle
- Damage to personal belongings at the time of the crash
- Lost income due to hospitalization or medical leave
- Loss of future earning potential if the accident caused a disability or catastrophic injury
- Pain and suffering following a collision
- Emotional distress, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
If you’ve lost a family member in a fatal car accident, you can also seek compensation to cover funeral expenses, grief counseling, loss of your loved one’s income, and the loss of your loved one’s companionship.
Partial Liability in the State of Washington
Per the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) § 4.22, the state follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means that you can still receive compensation after a car accident even if you were partly or mostly at fault for what happened. Your percentage of blame will be deducted from the amount of compensation you receive.
For example, if you receive $100,000 after a car accident but were determined to be 25% at fault, you would still receive $75,000 in compensation.
This is why you should avoid apologizing at the scene of an accident or accepting fault on social media until a thorough investigation can be completed by experts. Any potential admission of liability could have a significant effect on the full value of your accident claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Per RCW § 4.16.080, you typically have three years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Once the three-year statute of limitations has passed, you will not be able to take legal action even if you have a legitimate claim.
There are exceptions to this three-year deadline to act. If a government agency or employee caused or contributed to the accident, you may have to file a claim and wait up to 60 days before you can pursue legal action. This must be accounted for when calculating any deadlines.
It’s best to contact a Washington car accident attorney as soon as possible. This will help ensure you meet important deadlines on time and do not jeopardize your ability to seek compensation.
Why Choose Walton Injury Law for Your Car Accident Case
People from Snohomish County to Whatcom County can count on Walton Injury Law for strong legal representation that focuses on their best interests. There are a few reasons why locals put their trust in our attorneys:
- Free and Confidential Legal Consultations: You shouldn’t have to pay a fee just to speak with a qualified attorney. That’s why we offer free case reviews. During a free consultation, you can share your story, and our lawyers can let you know what steps you need to take next.
- Clients Don’t Pay Unless We Win: Walton Injury Law operates on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay fees unless we can secure a settlement or win damages in court. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Our lawyers are in this together with you, and we’re prepared to fight.
- Available to You 24/7: Accidents can happen at all hours of the day in Washington. We also know that clients can have concerns that keep them up at night. Our law firm takes messages 24/7, and our lawyers will get back to you as soon as we can.
- We Won’t Settle Early: At Walton Injury Law, we won’t accept quick settlements that are less than the true value of your claim. If the insurance company won’t pay what your accident is actually worth, we are prepared to take your case to trial and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact Walton Injury Law for a Free Consultation
Don’t delay. The sooner you speak with a car accident attorney, the sooner you can get the compensation you need to recover and plan for the future. To request a free case evaluation with our team, contact our law firm today.