As shorter days, wet roads and the first freezing nights descend on Washington, a Seattle personal injury firm is offering drivers a step-by-step guide to handling the aftermath of a car accident. Colburn Law says the advice is meant to help people protect their health and their legal rights when a crash occurs.
The guidance arrives against a backdrop of improving but still deadly road statistics. Washington recorded 659 traffic deaths in 2025, according to preliminary data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. That figure represents a 10.5% decline from 2024 and marks the second consecutive year of decline. Yet crashes remain a routine part of life on roads across the state, and the firm argues that knowing what to do beforehand can make a meaningful difference.
Among the firm's recommendations: get checked by a doctor even if you feel fine, because injuries like whiplash and concussions may not appear immediately; take photos of vehicles, skid marks and road conditions before the scene is cleared; and collect names, numbers and insurance information from all drivers and witnesses. The firm also notes that under Washington Department of Licensing rules, drivers must file a collision report within four days if no law enforcement officer investigates the crash.
Colburn Law further advises caution when dealing with the other driver's insurance company. Adjusters often request recorded statements early, sometimes within a day or two, and the firm suggests consulting a lawyer before giving one because early statements can be used to limit a claim. The firm also warns against delay: Washington generally gives injured people three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit, while claims involving government agencies can carry shorter deadlines and stricter notice requirements.
Fault rules in Washington also matter. The state is not a no-fault jurisdiction, so the at-fault driver's liability insurance is typically the main source of payment. Washington follows pure comparative fault, meaning a driver who is partly to blame can still recover damages, reduced by their share of fault. Minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury may not go far after a serious injury, the firm notes, while personal injury protection and underinsured motorist coverage can offer additional support.
Greg Colburn, the firm's founding attorney, said most crashes are not random. "They happen because someone cut corners, didn't care enough, or thought the rules didn't apply to them," he said. Colburn's own experience shapes his approach: as a University of Washington student-athlete working as a carpenter, he fell more than 20 feet from a roof after a subcontractor negligently installed material, underwent multiple surgeries and spent two years in a wheelchair. Nearly 80 attorneys turned down his case before one settled it for $1 million. "I will listen. I will believe you," said Greg Colburn.
For drivers in the Seattle area and beyond, the firm's message is clear: preparation before a crash can prevent costly mistakes afterward. With winter conditions heightening risks, the guidance serves as a reminder that quick, informed action after a collision may protect both physical recovery and financial compensation.
