Washington source notes · reviewed September 24, 2026

Washington personal injury laws

Washington’s statutes place the general personal-injury category and the effect of contributory fault in different chapters. Read them together, then check specialized rules for the defendant and claim type.

General timing starting pointThree years for the personal-injury category in RCW 4.16.080

Fault-rule starting pointContributory fault reduces damages but does not bar recovery

Locate the claim inside RCW 4.16

RCW 4.16.080 establishes a three-year period for several listed actions, including injury to the person or rights of another not otherwise enumerated. The phrase “not hereinafter enumerated” is a reason to inspect the full limitations chapter rather than stop at a search snippet.

Fault reduces rather than automatically eliminates recovery

RCW 4.22.005 says contributory fault chargeable to a claimant proportionately diminishes compensatory damages attributable to that fault but does not bar recovery. Other sections define fault and address allocation, contribution, and settlements.

Use the state insurance source after a collision

The Washington Department of Licensing lists the state’s mandatory liability limits and acceptable alternatives to insurance. Those minimums do not determine claim value or prove coverage for a particular event; obtain and read the relevant policy information.

Primary and official sources

Read the current text

These links are part of the page, not footnote decoration. Open the source and review surrounding sections before relying on a summary.

State-law questions

Questions this summary raises

Does RCW 4.16.080 cover every Washington injury dispute?

No. It is a general category within a larger chapter. The cause of action, defendant, accrual rules, and specialized statutes still need review.

Does claimant fault completely bar an ordinary Washington negligence claim?

RCW 4.22.005 says contributory fault proportionately reduces compensatory damages but does not bar recovery in an action governed by that section.

Are minimum auto limits the same as available coverage?

No. A policy can have higher limits or different applicable coverages, exclusions, and conditions. The DOL page states only the mandatory baseline.

Reviewed September 24, 2026. General legal information only. The correct filing period and fault rule depend on the claim, parties, dates, facts, and current law.

Locate the claim inside RCW 4.16

Fault reduces rather than automatically eliminates recovery

Use the state insurance source after a collision

Read the current text

Questions this summary raises

A clearer path to accurate injury-law information.