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The three-year rule
Washington’s general limit for personal injury lawsuits from crashes is three years. The deadline is for filing a lawsuit in court. Calls with an adjuster, sending bills or getting an offer do not pause it. If the case has not settled as the date gets close, a lawsuit is usually filed to protect the claim.
If you live in California but were hurt in Washington, or the other way around, the place of the crash affects which rules apply. Our page on how long you have to sue in California covers the California side. A lawyer can tell you which deadline governs your case and whether any other dates come first.
Coverage that can pay before the case ends
Washington auto insurers must offer personal injury protection (PIP), which pays medical expenses and some lost income regardless of fault; the policyholder can reject it only in writing (RCW 48.22.085). If you did not reject it, PIP can help with bills early. Check your declarations page or ask your insurer.
Washington policies must also include underinsured motorist coverage in the same amount as the policy’s liability coverage, unless the named insured or spouse rejected it or chose lower limits in writing (RCW 48.22.030). It protects against uninsured, underinsured and hit-and-run drivers, as well as phantom vehicles. Read about making an underinsured motorist claim.
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The other driver’s insurance limits
Washington’s minimum auto liability insurance is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injury, and $10,000 for property damage (RCW 46.29.090). Serious injuries can cost more than that, which is why your own underinsured coverage often matters. A lawyer can request information about the other driver’s policy and look for other coverage that might apply.
Rideshare crashes have their own minimums. Washington requires at least $1 million in liability coverage from when a driver accepts a ride until the passenger leaves the vehicle, and lower amounts while the driver is logged in without a ride (RCW 46.72B.180). Truck crashes are covered on our Washington truck accident lawyer page and in how Washington truck rules differ.
Duties at the scene
In Washington, a driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death must stop, give their information and render reasonable assistance, and failing to do so is a crime (RCW 46.52.020). If the other driver left, report it to police right away and tell your insurer, because your underinsured coverage may apply to a hit-and-run.
Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: the location, time, direction of travel, weather and what each driver said. Ask witnesses for their phone numbers. If there is video from a business or a doorbell camera nearby, ask for it quickly, since many systems record over footage within days.
What to do now
See a doctor and keep every record. Take photos of the vehicles, the road and your injuries. Save witness names and claim numbers. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you talk to a lawyer. Keep receipts for medical care, prescriptions, travel to appointments and missed work.
Deadline: a Washington injury lawsuit generally must be filed within three years. If a city, county, state agency or other public body may be responsible, talk to a lawyer right away, because claims against government bodies can involve extra steps. Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form, and we can go over your dates.
Common questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Washington?
The general deadline for a personal injury lawsuit from a car or truck crash in Washington is three years. Do not wait until the end. Evidence fades, witnesses move, and coverage questions come up early. A lawyer can confirm the exact date for your case and whether any extra steps apply.
Does PIP pay my medical bills in Washington even if I caused the crash?
PIP pays medical expenses and some lost income regardless of fault, so it can help even if you were partly or fully at fault. Insurers must offer it, and it applies unless the policyholder rejected it in writing. Check your declarations page to see your PIP limits.
What if the other driver has no insurance in Washington?
Your underinsured motorist coverage also protects against uninsured and hit-and-run drivers, unless it was rejected in writing. Report the crash to your insurer promptly. Read more about uninsured driver claims, keeping in mind that Washington and California rules differ.
Is the deadline different for a truck crash in Washington?
The general three-year limit for injury lawsuits applies to car and truck crashes. Truck cases often involve more parties and records that may not be kept long, such as driver logs, so it helps to act quickly. See log truck accidents in Washington for one example.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
How long after a car accident can you sue in California? · Claims against a city or county vehicle: the six-month claim · What happens if you lose a car accident lawsuit? · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.