SEATTLE, WA, November 13, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With shorter days, wet roads and the first freezing nights of the season on the way, Colburn Law, a Seattle personal injury firm, is sharing practical advice for Washington drivers on what to do after a car accident.

Most people are shaken up after a crash and aren't sure what comes next. The firm says a few simple steps taken early can make a real difference, both for a person's recovery and for any insurance claim that follows.

"Most of the time, these things aren't random," said Greg Colburn, the firm's founding attorney. "They happen because someone cut corners, didn't care enough, or thought the rules didn't apply to them."

Washington recorded 659 traffic deaths in 2025, according to preliminary data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. That was 10.5% fewer than in 2024 and the second straight year of decline, but crashes remain a part of daily life on roads across the state.

Steps To Take After a Crash
Colburn Law suggests drivers keep these steps in mind:

Get checked by a doctor, even if you feel fine. Injuries like whiplash and concussions don't always show up right away. Symptoms can appear days later, and a medical record made soon after the crash helps show what caused the injury.

Take photos before the scene is cleared. Photograph the vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs and any visible injuries. Once the cars are towed, that evidence is gone.

Get names, numbers and insurance information. Collect details from every driver involved and contact information from anyone who saw the crash. Witnesses are hard to track down later.

File a collision report if police don't. Under Washington Department of Licensing rules, if no law enforcement officer investigates the collision, each driver involved must file a collision report within four days.

Be careful with the other driver's insurance company. Adjusters often ask for a recorded statement early, sometimes within a day or two. The firm advises injured people to talk with a lawyer before giving one, since early statements can be used to limit a claim.

"A lot of people call us weeks after a wreck, after they've already talked to the insurance company and the photos are gone," Colburn said. "If you know the basics ahead of time, you're not trying to figure it out on the side of the road."

Don't wait too long. Washington generally gives injured people three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims involving a city, county or state agency can come with shorter deadlines and stricter notice rules.

How Fault Works in Washington
Washington is not a no-fault state, so the at-fault driver's liability insurance is usually the main source of payment for an injured person's losses. The state also follows a pure comparative fault rule. A driver who is partly to blame can still recover damages, but the amount is reduced by their share of fault. A driver found 30% at fault, for example, could still recover 70% of their damages.

Personal injury protection coverage, for drivers who carry it, helps pay medical bills right away no matter who caused the crash. Underinsured motorist coverage can step in when the at-fault driver doesn't carry enough insurance. Washington's minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, which may not go far after a serious injury.

Winter brings its own problems. In a recent post on the firm's blog, Colburn wrote that sliding on black ice doesn't automatically clear a driver of fault, because Washington law expects every driver to slow down and adjust to the road in front of them.

A Lawyer Who Has Been Hurt Himself
Colburn's path to injury law started with his own injury. As a University of Washington student-athlete working as a carpenter to pay for school, he fell more than 20 feet from a roof after a roofing subcontractor negligently installed the material. He went through multiple surgeries and spent two years in a wheelchair. Nearly 80 attorneys turned down his case before one agreed to take it, and it settled for $1 million.

He says that experience shapes how he works with people after a crash.

"I will listen. I will believe you," Colburn said.

Colburn earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law and his bachelor's degree from the University of Washington. He has been licensed in Washington since 2009.

About Colburn Law
Colburn Law is a Seattle personal injury firm that represents people hurt in car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian crashes, along with wrongful death and dog bite cases. The firm has offices in Seattle and Issaquah and serves clients in Bellevue, Bellingham and Spokane. It works on contingency, so clients pay no fee unless the firm wins.

Learn more at colburnlaw.com.

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