What Is the Car Accident Statute of Limitations in Washington?

Generally, the car accident statute of limitations in Washington is three years from the accident date. Connecting with a Seattle car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident allows time for investigating and filing within the deadline. 

Why Washington Imposes a Statute of Limitations

Statutes of limitations exist for several reasons, all intended to support fairness. While victims deserve to be compensated for the damages they sustain from someone else’s negligence, those at fault are entitled to see the case resolved as efficiently as possible so as not to live with the constant threat of litigation.

Evidence to prove negligence is also more available in the time immediately after an accident. Filing promptly supports the victims’ claims, as their attorneys can more easily access available evidence. The same principle applies to defendants who also need evidence to support their defense.

Further, these legal deadlines help prevent court backlogs. Court cases can pile up quickly, and without a statute of limitations, older cases could consistently add to that pile, making it difficult for the court to maintain an efficient schedule.

Why You Need to File Within Washington’s Three-Year Statute of Limitations

Filing within the three-year car accident statute of limitations in Washington preserves your right to fight for justice in court. Washington allows those injured in an accident to hold negligent parties accountable and to be compensated for their losses.

Often, a victim’s attorney can secure that compensation through out-of-court negotiations with the other side’s representatives, but not always.

Our team includes skilled negotiators, and we will work to resolve your case through a negotiated settlement agreement. However, if the at-fault party refuses to make you a fair offer or uses tactics to stall the negotiating process, you may need to take your case to court. By filing on time, you protect your right to a trial fight.

Your attorney can handle the claim-filing process for you. In forming a fast legal partnership, you give your attorney time to investigate, gather evidence, and file against the appropriate party before that deadline.

Their evidence-gathering efforts will be more productive in those early days, as memories fade and physical evidence or camera footage gets lost or erased over time. 

Timely Filing Helps Negotiations

Filing your claim on time not only protects your potential lawsuit, but it can strengthen your attorney’s negotiating power. When the other side knows you have filed a claim within the car accident statute of limitations in Washington, they know you mean business and are willing to fight in court if they do not cooperate. 

Timely Filing Protects Your Future

Car accidents cause serious damage to your body, your emotional health, and your financial stability. By filing your claim within Washington’s car accident statute of limitations, you have the best chance of getting compensation to recover your losses, meet your needs, and secure your future.

Our team will fight for damages to cover your medical costs, income loss, and accident-related expenses. We will also demand financial acknowledgement for your physical and emotional suffering. Filing on time is a critical early step for winning that fight. The sooner you get in touch with us, the better for your case.

When the Car Accident Statute of Limitations in Washington May Be Extended

Missing the deadline can put your case in jeopardy and may prevent you from filing a lawsuit, but you should never assume you do not have the chance to fight without first speaking to a knowledgeable attorney from our team.

Some case circumstances allow the statute of limitations to be extended, or “tolled.” Tolling may be warranted in these situations:

• Per RCW 4.16.180, if the at–fault party goes into hiding either within the State or by leaving the State
• Per RCW 4.16.190, if the victim cannot bring the lawsuit because of a personal disability, which includes being under age 18, incompetent, unable to understand proceedings, or incarcerated
• Per RCW 4.16.200, if the victim or defendant dies before the claim is filed
• Per RCW 4.16.220, if the at–fault party is in the military, they are protected from some civil actions
• Per RCW 4.16.230, if the court issues an injunction, preventing claims against the at-fault party for some time

Your Seattle car accident attorney will review your case for free to determine if there are grounds to pursue an extension of the statute of limitations in your case. You can see from our client testimonials that even in tough situations, our team comes through. 

When the Statute of Limitations Is Shorter

You may be injured by a government entity, whether local or State. For example, your accident may be with a public works truck. Perhaps poor conditions on a State road caused your crash. In these situations, your claim may be against the respective government entity.

You must follow different and specific procedures when filing against the government, as established in RCW 4.96.020. First, you file a “notice of claim.” The deadline for this filing is generally two to three years.

Since the procedures and timing are different and more complicated for this type of claim, partnering with a car accident attorney in Seattle right away is especially critical. Our team knows how to handle these cases, and with an early partnership, can wage an effective fight for justice. 

Puget Law Group Is Ready to Build Your Case

Puget Law Group is ready to put our more than 150 years of combined experience to work for you. If you have been in a car accident, do not let one more day go by without getting in touch for a free case consultation and exceptional representation. 

With a fast partnership, we can investigate, file within the statute of limitations in Washington, build your case, and fight for justice.