Experiencing a car accident can be overwhelming and emotionally challenging. It’s normal to feel shaken or anxious in the aftermath. Use these steps to regain control and protect your well-being, both now and in the days ahead.

What should you do immediately after a car accident?

After a collision in Puyallup:

1. Check for injuries and call 911 when needed.
2. Remain at the scene and provide reasonable assistance.
3. Move vehicles out of traffic after a property-damage-only collision when it is safe to do so.
4. Exchange identifying and insurance information.
5. Photograph the vehicles, roadway, damage, and surrounding conditions.
6. Obtain contact information from witnesses.
7. Report the collision to the appropriate authority when required.
8. Seek medical care for possible injuries.
9. Notify your own insurance company.
10. Speak with an attorney before accepting a settlement or signing a release.
11. To maximize any potential recovery, seek representation. Call Campbell Barnett at 253-848-3513. For a faster response, email johnf@campbellbarnettlaw.com

Tip: Print or save this checklist for quick reference. Each action safeguards your health, insurance claim, and potential compensation.

1. Check for injuries and call 911

Check yourself, your passengers, and the occupants of the other vehicles. Call 911 immediately if someone is injured, trapped, unconscious, disoriented, bleeding, or appears to need emergency assistance.

Washington law requires you to stop, remain at the scene, provide identifying information, and give reasonable assistance to anyone who is injured. This can include arranging transportation for medical treatment if necessary or requested.

Do not attempt to move someone who may have a serious head, neck, or spinal injury unless remaining in place creates an immediate danger.

2. Remain at the scene

Do not leave until you have exchanged the information required by law and provided reasonable assistance. Remaining at the scene is essential to avoid criminal charges and protect your legal rights.

Leaving the scene of an injury collision without fulfilling these duties can result in criminal charges under Washington law. The potential classification depends on whether the collision caused injury, death, or property damage.

3. Move vehicles to a safe location when appropriate

If the accident caused only property damage, Washington law requires you to move your vehicle out of the traffic lane when it is safe to do so. Never attempt to move a disabled vehicle if it would endanger you or others.

Moving a vehicle for safety does not determine or change fault for the collision.

Turn on your hazard lights and, when it is safe to do so, move yourself and your passengers away from moving traffic.

4. Exchange the required information

Exchange the following information with every involved driver:

• Full name and address
• Driver’s license
• Vehicle license plate number
• Insurance company
• Insurance policy number
• Contact information

Under Washington law covering post-collision procedures, you are required to provide your identifying, vehicle, and insurance information to the other parties involved.

Obtain the other driver’s explicit verbal consent before photographing their driver’s license, insurance card, license plate, and vehicle identification information. This helps to ensure legal compliance and protect everyone’s privacy. Confirm with the driver that the policy information you receive is accurate and currently valid.

Stay calm and cooperative, but do not speculate about fault or your injuries.

5. Document the collision scene

When it is safe, take photographs and video showing:

• Damage to every vehicle
• The position and direction of the vehicles
• Skid marks, debris, and broken vehicle parts
• Traffic lights and stop signs
• Lane markings
• Road construction or obstructions
• Weather, visibility, and road conditions
• Nearby businesses or homes that may have cameras
• Any visible injuries

Photograph both close-up damage to document severity and wide shots to show vehicle positions and the overall circumstances of the collision.

Ask witnesses for their names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Do not rely on police or insurance companies to identify all witnesses for you later.

6. Report the collision

Call 911 for emergencies. For a collision that does not require an emergency response, contact the appropriate local law enforcement agency or follow the reporting instructions provided by dispatch.

When a Puyallup officer does not respond to the collision, the City of Puyallup directs drivers to the Washington State Patrol collision-reporting process.

The Washington State Patrol’s Online Motor Vehicle Collision Reporting system (OMVCR) enables individuals involved in a collision to submit a civilian report online. The Washington Request for Electronic Collision Report (WRECR) system is used to search for and request completed collision reports.

7. Know when a civilian collision report is required

Washington State Patrol instructs a driver, pedestrian, bicyclist, or property owner involved in a collision to complete a Motor Vehicle Collision Report when:

• Someone was injured; or
• The collision caused at least $1,000 in damage to any one vehicle or other unit.

A separate civilian report is generally not required when an officer responds and states they will complete a Police Traffic Collision Report.

RCW 46.52.030 (the law that sets Washington’s accident reporting deadlines) generally requires you to submit your report within four days if the qualifying conditions apply and law enforcement has not already completed the report.

Do not assume your minor-looking collision caused less than $1,000 in damage. Modern bumpers, sensors, cameras, and driver-assistance systems can make damage hard for you to estimate at the scene.

8. Seek medical care

Get emergency treatment for serious symptoms. For less urgent concerns, arrange an exam with a medical provider as soon as possible.

Some accident-related symptoms may not be immediately obvious to you. Tell your provider:

• When the collision happened
• How the impact occurred
• Which parts of your body hurt
• Whether your symptoms have changed
• Whether you struck your head or lost consciousness

Follow your provider’s treatment instructions and attend all recommended follow-ups. This supports your recovery and is important for your insurance claim.

Medical evaluation is essential for your health and for documenting your symptoms and treatment. This can be critical if you need to file an insurance claim or pursue compensation later.

9. Notify your insurance company

Report the collision to your insurer within the timeframe required by your policy. Provide accurate information but do not speculate about fault or minimize developing symptoms.

Your insurer may ask for:

• The date, time, and location of the collision
• The names of the drivers involved
• Insurance information
• A police or civilian collision-report number
• Photographs of the damage
• Medical or repair documentation

You must cooperate with your own insurance company, but you do not have the same duty to the other driver’s insurer. Requests for statements or records from the other insurer are not automatically binding. Ask your insurer or an attorney if unsure.

Before giving the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement, signing a broad medical authorization, or accepting a settlement, consider getting legal advice.

10. Preserve evidence and keep records

Create one physical or digital file for everything related to the collision. Save:

• Scene photographs and video
• Dashcam footage
• Police and civilian collision reports
• Vehicle repair estimates
• Towing and storage receipts
• Rental vehicle expenses
• Medical records and bills
• Prescription and medical-equipment receipts
• Mileage for medical appointments
• Wage-loss documentation
• Emails and letters from insurance companies
• Notes from telephone conversations

Download your dashcam or security camera footage as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours of the collision. Many camera systems automatically overwrite older files quickly. If you wait, you could lose important evidence that supports your case.

Keep a dated record of your symptoms, medical appointments, physical limitations, and work absences. Do not exaggerate. Keeping these records as you go is much more reliable than trying to remember details months later, and can make a big difference in your insurance claim.

11. Be cautious when speaking with insurance adjusters

An insurance adjuster may quickly contact you for a statement or records. You do not have to agree right away; ask for time to review or seek advice first.

Provide truthful information but do not guess about facts you do not know. Avoid saying you are “fine” before evaluation or while symptoms are still developing.

A settlement release normally ends the claim covered by that release. Do not sign one until you understand:

• Which claims are being released
• Whether future medical treatment may be needed
• Whether lost income has been included
• Whether liens or reimbursement claims must be paid
• Whether the settlement addresses both injury and property damage

12. Understand property-damage and insurance issues

Depending on coverage and fault, your claim may involve vehicle repairs, total loss, towing, storage, rental transportation, your deductible, or diminished value.

Diminished value is the difference between your vehicle’s market value before a collision and its value after repairs. According to the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, you generally need to gather repair documentation, get an estimate of your vehicle’s diminished value, submit a claim and supporting records to the at-fault driver’s insurer, and be prepared to negotiate or provide more information if asked. Payment is not automatic. For more details, review the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s guidance.

If you use your own collision coverage, your insurance company may seek reimbursement from the at-fault party or insurer through subrogation.

13. Know the Washington filing deadline

Washington generally provides three years to commence an action for personal injury or damage to personal property. See RCW 4.16.080. If you have questions about your claim, consider speaking with an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and determine your next steps.

Don’t wait just because you have three years to file. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can be hard to find, and insurance disputes may take a long time to resolve. Acting promptly protects your interests.

Different rules may apply based on the parties involved and the legal claims being asserted.

14. Act promptly when a government vehicle or employee was involved

A collision involving a city, county, state agency, public employee, transit vehicle, police vehicle, road-maintenance operation, or potentially dangerous public roadway may involve additional claim procedures.

Claims against Washington State generally must be presented to the state before a lawsuit is filed, and a claimant must then wait 60 calendar days before commencing the action. Claims against local government entities are subject to a similar presentment and waiting-period process.

These procedures can be complex. If your accident involved a government agency, a public vehicle, or a roadway condition, contact an attorney promptly to ensure you follow the proper steps and meet all deadlines.

When should you contact a Puyallup car accident attorney?

Consider speaking with an attorney when:

• You were injured
• Your injuries may require continuing treatment
• Fault is disputed
• Several vehicles were involved
• The other driver was uninsured or underinsured
• A commercial or government vehicle was involved
• The insurer has denied or undervalued the claim
• You are being asked to provide a recorded statement
• You have been offered an early settlement
• You are unable to work
• You are unsure which insurance coverage applies

For a deeper breakdown of when a lawyer can help with insurance disputes, disputed liability, or denied claims, see our Complete Guide to Car Accidents in Puyallup.

Attorney John Forsythe of Campbell Barnett PLLC represents people injured in car accidents in Puyallup and throughout Pierce County. He can review the available evidence, explain the insurance coverage that may apply, identify relevant deadlines, and communicate with insurers on your behalf. Initial consultations are free, and attorney fees are typically charged on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless a recovery is made. This allows you to get legal help without upfront cost.

Call Campbell Barnett PLLC at 253-848-3513 to request a consultation.

Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after the firm completes its conflict-review and intake process and both parties sign an engagement agreement.

Puyallup and Washington collision resources

Puyallup Police Department

Use 911 for emergencies. When police do not respond to a collision, the City of Puyallup directs drivers to the Washington State Patrol’s civilian reporting process.

Washington State Patrol collision reports

Use OMVCR to submit a civilian collision report and WRECR to search for or request an existing collision report.

Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner provides consumer information about auto insurance claims, vehicle repairs, total-loss claims, diminished value, and insurance complaints.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This section summarizes answers to common questions about car accidents in Puyallup and Washington. For urgent help or official forms, see the resource links at the end of this guide.

Do I have to call the police after a car accident in Puyallup?

Call 911 when someone may be injured, when traffic is blocked, when a driver appears impaired, when a driver leaves the scene, or when another emergency exists. For a non-emergency collision, contact the appropriate law-enforcement agency or follow dispatch instructions. When an officer does not investigate the collision, you may need to file a civilian report through Washington State Patrol.

When do I have to report a car accident in Washington?

Washington State Patrol instructs people involved in a collision to submit a Motor Vehicle Collision Report when someone was injured or when at least one vehicle or other unit sustained $1,000 or more in damage. Washington Law requires drivers to report within four days if an officer has not already completed the collision report.

Do I need to file a separate report if a police officer investigated the crash?

Generally, no. Washington State Patrol states that you do not need to complete a separate civilian Motor Vehicle Collision Report when an officer responds and indicates that the officer will complete a Police Traffic Collision Report.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Washington?

Washington generally applies a three-year limitation period to personal-injury and personal-property-damage actions under RCW 4.16.080. Other rules may apply depending on the defendant, the type of claim, and the circumstances.

Should I give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement?

You generally have no insurance contract with the other driver’s insurer. Before providing a recorded statement, consider speaking with an attorney, particularly when you were injured, fault is disputed, or the insurer is requesting extensive medical information.

Will moving my car affect who is found at fault?

No. RCW 46.52.020 expressly states that moving a vehicle as required after a property-damage-only collision does not affect fault.

What evidence should I preserve after a collision?

Preserve photographs, video, dashcam recordings, witness information, collision reports, repair records, medical documentation, wage-loss records, receipts, insurance correspondence, and notes about your symptoms and treatment.