Car Accident Lawyers in Washington

A car accident claim in Washington is decided by a short list of rules: who was at fault and by how much, which insurance policies apply, what the medical records show, and whether the claim was filed in time. Insurance adjusters know those rules well. Most injured drivers do not, and the gap between the two is where claims get undervalued.

The car accident attorneys at Ritchie-Reiersen Injury & Immigration Attorneys have represented more than a thousand injured drivers and passengers across Washington from eleven offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. We handle the insurance companies, the medical liens and the evidence so you can focus on getting better. No fees unless we win.

Washington Car Accident Law: What Decides Your Claim

• Fault and comparative negligence: Washington is a pure comparative fault state. If you were partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but not eliminated, even if you were more at fault than the other driver. Insurers use this rule aggressively, which is why evidence of the other driver’s fault matters from day one.
• Statute of limitations: you have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for personal injury or property damage. Claims against a city, county or state agency, for example a crash involving a government vehicle or a dangerous road design, require a formal tort claim to be filed with the agency first, followed by a 60-day waiting period.
• Minimum insurance: Washington drivers must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage and $10,000 in property damage. Many serious injuries exceed those limits quickly.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): insurers must offer PIP, which pays your medical bills and some lost wages regardless of fault, with a minimum of $10,000 in medical coverage unless you rejected it in writing. PIP is usually the first source of payment after a crash.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): insurers must offer this coverage, which steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. It is the most important coverage on your own policy and the one most often overlooked.
• Reporting: a collision involving injury, death or more than $1,000 in damage must be reported to the state within four days if police did not file a report.

Common Causes of Crashes We See

• Distracted driving, including phone use, which is a primary offense in Washington
• Speeding and following too closely, the leading causes of rear-end collisions on I-5, I-90 and I-82
• Impaired driving, where the drunk driver’s liability can be clear but the insurance limits are often low
• Failure to yield at intersections and left-turn collisions
• Winter and wet-road crashes on Snoqualmie Pass, Blewett Pass and rural highways in Eastern Washington
• Agricultural and commercial traffic in the Yakima Valley and Columbia Basin
• Rideshare, delivery and company vehicles, which bring additional insurance policies into play

What to Do After a Car Accident

• Call 911 and get medical care even if you feel fine. Many injuries, including concussions and soft tissue injuries, appear hours or days later, and a gap in treatment is the first thing an adjuster points to.
• Photograph the vehicles, the scene, skid marks, road conditions and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of witnesses.
• Exchange insurance information but do not discuss fault. Report the crash to your own insurer; you are required to cooperate with your own company.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer and do not sign a medical authorization or accept an early settlement offer before speaking with an attorney. Early offers are made before the full extent of the injury is known.
• Keep every bill, record and receipt, and keep a simple log of symptoms and missed work.

What Your Claim Can Include

• Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, physical therapy and chiropractic care
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, disability and loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damage, loss of use and diminished value of your vehicle
• Loss of consortium for a spouse or registered domestic partner
• In fatal crashes, a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family

Washington does not cap damages in car accident cases. The value of a claim depends on the injury, the treatment, the effect on your work and life, and the available insurance. We identify every policy that applies, including PIP, UM/UIM, umbrella policies and employer coverage, before we negotiate.

How We Handle Your Case

• Free consultation and a review of every policy that may apply
• Investigation: police report, witness statements, scene photos, vehicle data and, when needed, accident reconstruction
• Medical management: coordinating PIP, treatment and liens so bills are paid while the claim is pending
• Demand and negotiation with the at-fault carrier based on a complete record
• Lawsuit in superior court if the insurer will not pay fair value, with the case prepared for trial

Most car accident claims resolve without trial, but insurers pay more to firms that are ready to try the case. Our litigation attorneys prepare every claim that way.

Car Accident Lawyers Near You

We handle these cases from every office: Seattle, Kennewick, Tacoma, Auburn, Yakima, Moses Lake, Everett, Spokane, Wenatchee, Portland, OR, Twin Falls, ID, Mesa, AZ. Phone and video consultations are available anywhere in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona.

Our Personal Injury Attorneys

Attorney Steve Ritchie, admitted in Washington, also handles personal injury claims; before law school he spent seven years in rental car management working with customers and insurance companies during the claims process. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.

Related Reading

• What to Do After a Car Accident in Washington: An Attorney’s Checklist
• How PIP Works in Washington, Explained by an Injury Lawyer
• What Happens if the Other Driver Has No Insurance in Washington?
• How to Prove Fault in a Rear-End Collision: Legal Insights
• What Are Your Legal Options After a T-Bone Accident?
• Hurt in Oregon but Live in Washington? Which State’s Rules Apply

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Washington?

Three years from the date of the crash for a personal injury or property damage lawsuit. Claims against government entities require a tort claim form first and a 60-day waiting period. Do not wait: evidence disappears and insurers use delay against you.

What if I was partly at fault?

Washington uses pure comparative fault. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault but is not barred. If you were 30 percent at fault for a $100,000 claim, you recover $70,000.

Who pays my medical bills while the claim is pending?

Usually your own PIP coverage first, then your health insurance. The at-fault driver’s insurer pays at the end, as part of the settlement. We coordinate these sources so you are not left with unpaid bills.

What if the other driver has no insurance?

Your own uninsured motorist coverage pays, up to its limits. If the other driver has insurance but not enough, your underinsured motorist coverage makes up the difference. Check your declarations page or send it to us; many people have this coverage without knowing it.

How much does a car accident lawyer cost?

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?

Not before you know the full extent of your injuries and the policies that apply. First offers are made early for a reason. A free consultation will tell you whether the offer is fair.

Talk to a Washington Injury Lawyer

Call (888) 884-7337 or send us a message for a free consultation. No fees unless we win. Se habla español.