Broken bones can look “simple” at first—until you’re dealing with surgery, immobilization, physical therapy, and limitations that affect your job and daily life. In the first days after your injury, the steps you take can strongly influence how a claim is evaluated.
Prioritize this order:
- Get medical care immediately (urgent care or ER as needed) and ask for written instructions and a clear diagnosis.
- Document the scene if it’s safe: what happened, where you were, lighting/weather conditions, and any hazards.
- Preserve identification details: driver/vehicle info for crashes, business or property details for premises injuries, and supervisor/incident details for work injuries.
- Keep copies of everything: imaging reports, visit summaries, work restrictions, prescriptions, and receipts.
Washington insurers sometimes focus on timing—trying to argue the fracture was unrelated, delayed, or pre-existing. A well-supported medical timeline helps prevent that.


