Washington injury claims

This guide walks through how injury claims generally work in Washington: the fault rule, where the filing time frames are written in state law, what is different about claims against public agencies, and how insurance fits in. It also looks at the places people get hurt, from Seattle and Spokane to stretches of I-5 and I-90.

Where people get hurt in Washington: cities, roads and industries

Washington's biggest population centers, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Bellevue, account for much of the state's traffic and many of its injury claims, but rural roads and small towns see serious crashes too.

Drivers across Washington rely on I-5, I-90, I-405 and SR-520. Congestion, speed differences between trucks and cars, and weather all play a part in the crashes reported on these roads.

The state's major industries, aerospace, technology, agriculture and ports and shipping, shape the workplace injuries people report, from equipment and vehicle accidents to falls and repetitive strain.

Common injury claims in Washington

Washington's fault rule in plain words

Under Washington's pure comparative fault rule, fault is split among everyone involved, and each person's recovery shrinks by their own percentage. There is no cutoff point: being partly, or even mostly, responsible lowers what can be recovered rather than eliminating it.

So a driver who was a little over the limit on I-5 when another car ran a light near Seattle is not automatically out of luck, though the other side will usually argue for as large a share as possible.

Filing time frames in Washington (general information)

The general limitations statute for personal injury in Washington is RCW § 4.16.080. As listed in the sources we use, it sets a general period of three years for many personal injury claims.

General periods like these have many exceptions. Some claims must be started much sooner, especially against public agencies, and some rules pause or extend the clock. Because we cannot tell anyone their deadline, we encourage people not to wait to talk to a licensed attorney.

Claims against a government agency in Washington

When the party at fault is a public body, such as a Washington agency, a city bus system or a county road department, different rules apply.

For claims against the state, the sources we use summarize the Washington rule as: Claim form before SOL; 60-day wait (RCW § 4.92.100). Cities, counties and other local bodies may have their own notice requirements.

Anyone hurt on a public sidewalk in Spokane, by a transit vehicle or at a public facility should treat notice rules as urgent and raise them with a licensed attorney early.

Car insurance in Washington: minimums

Drivers in Washington must carry liability coverage of at least 25/50/10, meaning $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $10,000 for property.

Washington is generally an at-fault state for auto claims: the driver who caused the crash, and their insurer, are responsible for the other person's injuries. Minimum limits can run out quickly in a serious crash, which is why uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) and MedPay coverage on a person's own policy can matter.

Animal bite liability in Washington

Washington is a statutory state for animal bite claims (RCW § 16.08.040). Rather than the common-law one-bite approach, owner responsibility generally turns on the statute's terms, with exceptions for things like provocation or a person who was not lawfully on the property.

Report the bite to local animal control in Seattle or wherever it happened, get medical care, and see our animal bite claims page for next steps.

Workers' compensation in Washington

Workers' compensation is a no-fault system: injured employees receive benefits for medical care and lost wages without proving their employer was careless, and in exchange the employer is generally protected from being sued. That is often called the exclusive remedy rule.

Disputes often center on whether the person was really an employee, whether the injury happened on the job, and whether it was reported in time. Gig and contract workers in Seattle should keep records of who directed the work.

Separately, another company or person may be responsible, such as a driver who hits a work truck on I-5 or the maker of a defective machine. That kind of third-party claim can sit alongside comp.

What to do after an injury in Washington

1. Get medical care first, even if the injury seems minor. Hospitals in Seattle and Spokane document injuries in ways that matter later.
2. Report the incident: call police after a crash on I-5, file an incident report with a business, or notify your employer in writing.
3. Save photos, video, receipts, wage records and the other side's insurance details in one place.
4. Be careful about recorded statements to the other side's insurer before you understand your rights.
5. File a free claim or call (833) 822-7800 to have an independent attorney licensed in Washington review it.