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What to Do After a Truck Accident in Washington: A Step-by-Step Guide
Quick Answer
After a truck accident, call 911, get medical care, exchange information, document the scene, avoid admitting fault or giving statements to the trucking company’s insurer, and talk to a truck accident attorney before evidence disappears.
- Call 911 and get checked by a doctor, even if you feel fine.
- Exchange names and insurance information, photograph the scene, and collect witness contacts.
- Don't apologize, admit fault, sign a release, or give a statement to the other side's insurer.
- Report the crash to your own insurance company and request the collision report.
- Contact a truck accident attorney quickly, because trucking companies are only required to keep some key records for a limited time.
The minutes and days after a crash with a large truck or bus are overwhelming. You may be hurt, shaken, and trying to handle a dozen things at once. Mistakes made in this period can hurt your health and your claim. This step-by-step guide from Seattle Truck Law explains what to do, in what order, and which common mistakes to avoid. If someone you love was badly hurt and can’t act for themselves, you can use this list to help protect their rights.
Steps to take at the scene
Call 911 and get medical attention.
Call 911 right away, even if you think no one is hurt. Broken bones are easy to see, but internal injuries, brain injuries, and whiplash may not be obvious at first, and adrenaline can mask pain.
Stop, check on others, and exchange information.
Washington law requires drivers in an injury crash to stop and remain at the scene. Each driver must give their name, address, insurance company, policy number, and vehicle license number, and show their driver’s license. Get this information from the truck driver, plus the trucking company’s name, and the names and contact details of any witnesses.
Call the police so the crash is documented.
However minor the crash seems, contact the police. Officers make an official record of what happened, check that everyone is safe, and interview drivers and witnesses while memories are fresh.
Document the scene if you are able.
If your condition allows, take photos of the vehicles, the road, the surroundings, your injuries, and any property damage. Don’t move or disturb anything that could later serve as evidence, such as vehicle parts, tire tracks, or damaged property.
Keep your conversation short, and don't admit fault.
The only things you need to discuss with the other people involved are contact and insurance information. Memories are shaky after a crash, and even a polite “I’m sorry” can be used against you later.
Steps to take in the days after the crash
Report the crash to your own insurance company.
Call your insurance agent or use your insurer’s online reporting option. If you have already hired a lawyer, they can help with this step.
Don't give a statement or sign anything for the trucking company's insurer.
The adjuster for the truck driver or trucking company works for the other side. Anything you say, including statements made while in shock or on medication, may be used against you. We recommend that you decline to give a statement or sign a release until you have spoken with a lawyer.
Talk to a truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
Lawyers and insurance adjusters for the trucking company often move within hours. Truck crash claims are different from car accident claims, and much of the key evidence, such as driver logs and electronic data, is controlled by the trucking company. Federal rules only require trucking companies to keep some of these records for a limited time; for example, drivers’ records of duty status must be kept for at least six months. See our truck accident evidence checklist for what to preserve.
Request the collision report.
The police report can be a critical piece of evidence. In Washington, collision reports can be requested online through the Washington State Patrol’s WRECR system, and the State Patrol says it may take up to 2–4 weeks before a report is available. Your attorney can request it for you.
Follow every part of your treatment plan.
Some injuries, like herniated discs and milder brain injuries, may not cause symptoms right away. Watch for pain that worsens or symptoms that change, attend every appointment, and follow your doctors’ restrictions. Mention every symptom at every visit; if you leave out an injury for months, an insurance adjuster may question whether the crash caused it.
Keep records of your medical care and expenses.
Save paramedic and ambulance records, notes from doctor visits, prescriptions, surgeries, therapy, diagnoses, and care needs. Keep bills and receipts for treatment and vehicle repairs, along with proof of any work you missed.
Stay off social media.
Don’t discuss the crash in public or online. Insurance companies and defense attorneys may monitor what you post and what you do. It’s safest to pause your social media accounts until your case is resolved.
Plan your recovery at home.
If you were hospitalized, you may go to a rehabilitation facility before going home. Before discharge, take an honest look at your home and your needs: ramps, grab bars, a hospital bed, help with chores and personal care, rides to appointments, and medication reminders.
Mistakes to avoid
- Skipping medical care. Early medical records help link your injuries to the crash.
- Admitting fault or apologizing. Let the investigation show what happened.
- Talking to the other side's insurer or attorney without a lawyer. They may ask questions you are in no condition to answer.
- Not calling the police. Without an official report, it's harder to prove what happened.
- Disturbing evidence at the scene. Debris, tire tracks, and damaged property can help show who caused the crash.
- Posting about the crash online. Posts can be taken out of context and used against you.
- Accepting a quick settlement. An early check may require you to sign away your rights before you know the full cost of your injuries.
- Waiting too long. Evidence can disappear, and there is a limited time to bring a claim. Learn more about the statute of limitations.
What if the insurer says I was partly at fault?
Insurance companies often argue that the injured person shares the blame. Under Washington law, your own share of fault reduces the amount you can recover by that percentage, but it does not bar recovery. For example, if you are found 10% at fault, your damages are reduced by 10%. This is one reason it matters to have an attorney push back on inaccurate claims of fault.
How the claim process usually works
Hiring an attorney. Your attorney works for you, not for an insurance company.
Evidence and investigation. This includes the crash report, medical records, and information about the driver and the trucking company, such as distracted or impaired driving, fatigue, medical conditions that affect fitness to drive, prior crashes, and the company’s hiring practices and safety policies.
Filing the claim. The process depends on the insurance companies involved.
Negotiation. Your attorney and the other side exchange offers to try to reach a fair settlement.
Discovery and trial. If the case doesn’t settle, a lawsuit is filed. Both sides exchange information, and witnesses may give testimony under oath. A case can still settle during this stage. If not, it goes to trial.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Adrenaline can mask symptoms, and some injuries, such as internal bleeding, herniated discs, and milder brain injuries, may not show up right away. Getting checked protects your health first. It also creates early medical records that link your injuries to the crash, which insurance adjusters, judges, and juries pay close attention to. Tell your doctor about every symptom, even ones you think will go away.
Washington law requires drivers involved in an injury crash to give their name, address, insurance company, insurance policy number, and vehicle license number, and to show their driver’s license. Also note the name of the trucking company. Get the names and contact details of witnesses, too. Beyond that, keep your conversation short, and don’t discuss who was at fault or apologize.
We recommend that you don’t give a statement or sign anything until you have spoken with a lawyer. The adjuster works for the trucking company or its insurer, not for you. Statements made while you are in shock, in pain, or on medication can be used against you later. An early settlement offer may also ask you to give up your rights before you know the full cost of your injuries.
The Washington State Patrol says it may take up to 2–4 weeks before a collision report is available, though reports are often available sooner. You can request a report online through the State Patrol’s WRECR system. If you have hired an attorney, they can request the report and review it for errors.
Under Washington law, your own share of fault does not bar you from recovering. Instead, it reduces your compensation in proportion to your fault. For example, if you are found 10% at fault, your damages are reduced by 10%. Insurers often try to shift blame to the injured person, so it helps to have an attorney who can challenge inaccurate claims about fault.
Trucking companies and their insurers often start working on their side of the case within hours. Much of the key evidence, like driver logs and electronic data, is in the trucking company’s hands, and federal rules only require some records to be kept for a limited time. An attorney can move to preserve that evidence, investigate the crash, and deal with the insurance companies for you.
Related Resources
Contact the Seattle Truck Law Team Today
If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, contact Seattle Truck Law at (866) 580-4878 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. You pay no fees or expenses unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Don’t wait—the sooner you contact us, the sooner our attorneys can preserve evidence, investigate your claim, and start building your case.