Is Washington a no-fault state?

No. Washington is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the injury damages. You generally pursue the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your own.

What is Washington's fault rule for a car accident?

Washington follows pure comparative fault. You can recover even if you were mostly at fault — your award is reduced by your share of fault.

How long do I have to file an injury claim in Washington?

In Washington the statute of limitations for a personal-injury claim is generally 3 years from the date of the accident. Miss it and the claim is usually barred for good — separate from any deadlines your insurer sets.

Washington · Injury claims

Car accident injury claims in Washington

In Washington, an injury claim runs through the at-fault driver's insurer — and how much you can recover turns on the state's fault rule, coverage minimums, and a filing deadline that's easy to miss. Here's what shapes an injury claim in Washington.

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Washington at a glance

Fault rule: Pure comparative fault
No-fault state?: No
PIP / no-fault coverage: $10K medical/hospital per person if accepted (PIP optional but default-included unless rejected in writing)
Minimum liability coverage: 25/50/10 ($25K BI/person, $50K/accident, $10K PD) — RCW 46.30.020
Time limit for an injury claim: 3 years

How fault works in Washington

RCW 4.22.005: any contributory fault chargeable to the claimant diminishes the award proportionately but does not bar recovery — PURE comparative, no threshold (99%-at-fault still recovers 1%). Same as CA. Joint-and-several rules layered in RCW 4.22.070.

Paying for injuries in Washington

WA is a tort (not no-fault) state. PIP is optional but default-included unless rejected in writing (RCW 48.22.085); minimum $10K medical/hospital per person if accepted. Once rejected, the insurer need not re-offer at renewal unless the insured requests in writing. Many WA users do not realize they carry PIP.

How Moe handles injury claims in Washington

Knowing the rule is one thing — applying it against a carrier is another. Moe builds your case to Washington’s rules, drafts every letter for your approval, tracks the deadlines, and only pings you when there’s a decision to make.

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Washington injury claims — common questions

Is Washington a no-fault state?: No. Washington is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the injury damages. You generally pursue the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your own.
What is Washington's fault rule for a car accident?: Washington follows pure comparative fault. You can recover even if you were mostly at fault — your award is reduced by your share of fault.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Washington?: In Washington the statute of limitations for a personal-injury claim is generally 3 years from the date of the accident. Miss it and the claim is usually barred for good — separate from any deadlines your insurer sets.

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All Washington accident-claim rules · Other states

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This page summarizes Washington’s car-accident claim rules for general information — it is not legal advice, and the rules can change. What applies to your claim depends on your policy and the specific facts.