Seattle Attorney Shares Winter Driving Safety Tips After Crashes

With winter weather approaching, Colburn Law, a Seattle personal injury firm, is offering Washington drivers practical advice on what to do after a car accident. The guidance comes as shorter days, wet roads, and freezing nights increase crash risks. Founding attorney Greg Colburn emphasized that most crashes aren't random but result from negligence, stating, "They happen because someone cut corners, didn't care enough, or thought the rules didn't apply to them." Washington recorded 659 traffic deaths in 2025, a 10.5% decrease from 2024 and the second straight year of decline, but crashes remain a daily reality.

Colburn Law recommends key steps: get checked by a doctor even if you feel fine, as injuries like whiplash may appear days later; take photos of the scene before it's cleared; collect names, numbers, and insurance information from all drivers and witnesses; file a collision report within four days if police don't investigate; and be cautious with the other driver's insurance company, consulting a lawyer before giving a recorded statement. "A lot of people call us weeks after a wreck, after they've already talked to the insurance company and the photos are gone," Colburn said. "If you know the basics ahead of time, you're not trying to figure it out on the side of the road." Washington's three-year statute of limitations applies, with shorter deadlines for claims against government agencies. The firm also explains Washington's pure comparative fault rule, where a partially at-fault driver can still recover damages reduced by their share of fault, and notes the importance of personal injury protection and underinsured motorist coverage.

Colburn's own experience shapes his practice: as a University of Washington student-athlete, he fell 20 feet from a roof due to a subcontractor's negligence, underwent multiple surgeries, and spent two years in a wheelchair. Nearly 80 attorneys turned down his case before one settled for $1 million. "I will listen. I will believe you," he said. Colburn Law represents clients in car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian crashes, as well as wrongful death and dog bite cases, serving Seattle, Issaquah, Bellevue, Bellingham, and Spokane on a contingency basis. Learn more at colburnlaw.com.