{"id":377059,"date":"2016-11-18T16:05:31","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T21:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/washington-law\/washington-car-accident-settlement-process-and-timeline.html"},"modified":"2024-08-26T14:01:23","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T19:01:23","slug":"washington-car-accident-settlement-process-and-timeline","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/washington-law\/washington-car-accident-settlement-process-and-timeline.html","title":{"rendered":"Washington Car Accident Settlement Process and Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Washington Car Accident Settlement Process and Timeline<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

From Puget Sound to Mount Rainier, Washington State has stunning countryside, sophisticated cities, and some of the best craft beer in the world. But, as pretty as the scenery may be, there’s always the risk of getting in a car accident to see these sights.<\/p>\r\n

Ask yourself: "Do I know what to do if I get into an auto accident?" Most people know they have to exchange insurance information with the other driver. They may even understand that they need to move their cars out of the lanes of traffic.<\/p>\r\n

The question is, what practical steps should you take immediately after a car crash<\/a>? Furthermore, what is the car accident settlement process<\/a> should you suffer serious injuries?<\/p>\r\n

We’ll discuss what to do after a Washington car accident and explain how the personal injury settlement process works. Contact a Washington car accident lawyer if you still have questions about this process or the settlement timeline. <\/p>\r\n

Do I Need to File a Car Accident Report in Washington?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

In most Washington car accident cases, law enforcement responds to the scene of a crash and files a police report. But if you don’t call 911, you’ll be responsible for filing the crash report. This is the case in almost all motor vehicle accidents.<\/p>\r\n

According to Washington law, motorists must file a car accident report to the local police, sheriff’s office, or highway patrol if specific conditions exist.<\/p>\r\n

These conditions include:<\/p>\r\n