If you have been involved in a wreck in Washington State, you may need to report your car accident in at least five important ways. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the reporting laws in any area where you drive regularly. Washington has specific state requirements for reporting most accidents. What you need to do depends on whether the police were involved, how much vehicle damage there was, and whether anyone was injured.
1. Report Your Car Accident to the Police or 911
At the scene of a car accident, you should call 911 if anyone needs urgent medical attention or if there is another emergency (such as a car fire). Calling 911 notifies dispatchers to send appropriate help to the scene, whether that is local police, state troopers, sheriffs, an ambulance, or a fire truck. If it’s not an emergency, you still may need to call the police.
If you have any reason to think that the other driver is uninsured, unlicensed, or impaired, you should report your car accident to the police. Also, it’s a good idea to file a police report if there were any injuries in the accident or if a car has significant damage. Even if there are no injuries or less serious damage, you might benefit from getting a police report because officers typically prepare a report that you could use for an insurance claim. At accident scenes, officers may interview witnesses, diagram the crash, or take photos that could come in handy later.
If police or other law enforcement investigate the scene of your accident, then you likely don’t need to file a collision report with Washington State as described below.
2. Contact a Tow Truck
In many accidents, drivers need to call a tow truck to transport their vehicles. Call a tow truck if your vehicle cannot be driven safely or if you’re unable to drive it due to injury. Most tow trucks can take your car to a nearby auto mechanic’s shop or a tow yard where you can pick it up later. Keep track of the tow truck driver’s information, if possible, and keep any tow yard or repair bills you pay. If someone else was at fault for the accident, you may have the opportunity to recover your costs for the tow and repair later.
3. Inform Relatives or Friends
Make sure you call your loved ones and tell them you’ve been in a car accident. If you need medical attention, you can ask the paramedics where they’re taking you or give them your loved ones’ contact information. If you need a ride home, police also may be able to help you reach relatives or friends. In addition, you may need to reach your loved ones so they can notify others that you will miss work or will not arrive where you were going on time due to the accident.
4. Report Your Accident to Your Insurance Company
Next, you need to report your car accident to your insurance company. Your insurance policy likely requires you to report an accident soon after it has happened. Typically, insurance companies have a phone number to call and make a claim. When you call that number, you will be asked for details about the accident, damage to the cars involved, and injuries to the people involved. If you have the other drivers’ insurance information, provide it to the insurance company when you make the claim. If you have a police report, provide it to the insurance company. At this point, some drivers have already hired lawyers to represent them in their injury claims. If you have a lawyer, report your car accident to them and ask for advice about communicating with the insurance company.
5. Washington State Reporting
Washington State requires accident reporting for collisions that result in either (1) damage of $1,000 or more or (2) injury to any person. If a law enforcement officer investigates a crash, then they will file a report, and the drivers involved do not need to file one. However, if no law enforcement is involved, the drivers need to report the crash. Within four days of the accident, all people involved must submit a report to the state online or using a form available at Washington law enforcement offices. Moreover, reporting is not limited to motor vehicle drivers. Other people who must report motor vehicle collisions include pedestrians, bicyclists, and property owners involved in collisions.
Washington State includes collision information on the driving records of those involved in collisions. This information consists of the accident date, the number of people involved, whether there were injuries, whether the vehicles were moving, and the accident report number. The information does not indicate who was at fault for the accident, merely the fact that the accident occurred. If you’re unsure of how to complete the Washington State accident reporting, contact a Washington car accident attorney for advice. Moreover, getting a free consultation from a Washington accident attorney is a good idea if you were injured in a multi-car accident. You may deserve compensation for your injuries and losses.
Injured in a Washington State Car Accident? Call the Kang Law Group Now
If you were injured in a car accident in southern Washington State, it’s time to seek out the injury accident lawyers who can help. The Kang Law Group’s knowledgeable team of auto accident injury lawyers can help you seek the compensation that you deserve for your medical bills and other losses. We’re here to give you insightful legal advice about your options. Our firm offers free and confidential consultations to motor vehicle accident victims and their families in Oregon and southern Washington. Contact us at (503) 646-3131 or message us online to learn more.
