What Should I Do After an Accident in Tacoma?
After an accident in Tacoma, taking the right steps can help protect your safety, insurance claim, and legal rights. What you do immediately after a crash and in the days that follow can affect how a claim is handled under Washington law.
1. Check for injuries and call for help
Your first priority after any accident is safety. Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt or if the accident is blocking traffic.
Tacoma Police or emergency responders may come to the scene, particularly when injuries or significant property damage are involved.
2. Report the accident and cooperate with law enforcement
If law enforcement responds, provide accurate information about what happened. A police report can play an important role in insurance claims and later legal questions.
Information about traffic collision reporting in Washington is available through the Washington State Patrol.
3. Document the scene and gather information
If it is safe to do so, document the accident scene. This may include taking photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and visible injuries.
Exchange contact and insurance information with the other party and collect contact details for any witnesses.
4. Seek medical attention
Some injuries may not be immediately apparent after an accident. Seeking medical evaluation can help identify injuries early and create documentation that may be important later.
Medical records often become a key part of insurance and injury claims.
5. Notify your insurance company
Most insurance policies require prompt notice of an accident. Provide basic facts, but be cautious about giving recorded statements before fully understanding the extent of injuries or damages.
6. Understand Washington deadlines and fault rules
Most personal injury claims in Tacoma are subject to Washington’s three-year statute of limitations under Revised Code of Washington § 4.16.080.
Washington follows a pure comparative fault system, meaning compensation may be reduced by a person’s percentage of fault but is not barred solely because they share responsibility.