In Washington, you generally have limited time to act, and insurance companies often move quickly—even when your injuries are still unfolding. The first few days matter.
Focus on these steps:
- Get medical attention immediately and follow the care plan. Document symptoms, restrictions, and follow-up appointments.
- Preserve site evidence before it disappears. If you can do so safely, photograph the hazard, surrounding conditions, barriers/signage, and any equipment involved.
- Write down a timeline while it’s fresh: what you were doing, where you were positioned, who was directing the work, and what changed right before the incident.
- Avoid recorded statements or “quick” interviews with insurers until you understand how your words may be used.
If the accident involved a shared area—like a sidewalk-adjacent work zone, a building entrance, a delivery route, or a staging area near active traffic—extra documentation can become critical because multiple parties may claim they didn’t control the specific conditions.


