Accidents typically stay on your driving record in Washington for five years from the date of the incident. Insurance companies will use your driving record and accident history as part of their premium calculations.
Understanding how long accidents remain on your record helps you anticipate insurance rate changes and plan for when rates might decrease. A Seattle car accident lawyer from Phillips Law Firm can help.
We’ll explain how accident records might affect ongoing legal cases and advise you on steps to protect your driving record and insurance rates following motor vehicle accidents.
Washington State Driving Records
The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) maintains official driving records that include accident reports, traffic violations, and license actions. Most accidents remain on your Washington driving record for five years from the date of the incident, regardless of fault determination or severity.
This five-year period applies to accidents reported to law enforcement where you were issued a citation or where the accident was documented in an official police report. Minor accidents that don’t involve police reports may not appear on your official driving record at all.
Serious accidents involving fatalities, major injuries, or criminal charges may remain on your driving record longer than five years. This can happen if accidents involve license suspensions, DUI convictions, or other serious violations that have extended reporting periods under Washington law.
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Insurance Company Records
Insurance companies maintain their own records separate from state driving records, and these may consider accidents for different time periods when calculating your premiums. Most insurance companies look back three to five years when determining rates, though some may consider longer periods for serious accidents.
At-fault accidents typically affect your insurance rates more significantly and for longer periods than accidents where you weren’t at fault. However, even not-at-fault accidents may impact your rates if your insurance company determines you have a pattern of accident involvement that increases risk.
Insurance companies may also share accident information through industry databases like the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE), which can affect your ability to obtain coverage with other insurers even after accidents no longer appear on your official driving record.
Impact on Insurance Premiums
Accidents affect insurance premiums differently depending on your insurance company’s policies, your driving history, and the specific circumstances of the accident. At-fault accidents typically cause significant rate increases until the insurance company drops accidents from your record, assuming no other accidents happen.
The rate increase from an accident usually applies at your next policy renewal and continues for the period your insurance company considers accident history. Most companies reassess rates annually, so you may see changes each year until the accident falls outside their consideration period.
Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness programs that may prevent rate increases for your first at-fault accident, particularly if you’ve been a long-term customer with a clean driving record. These programs can provide valuable protection against rate increases following accidents.
Differences Between At-Fault and Not-At-Fault Accidents
At-fault accidents generally have more significant and longer-lasting impacts on both your driving record and insurance rates. These accidents indicate a higher risk to insurance companies and typically result in premium increases that last the full consideration period.
Not-at-fault accidents may still appear on your driving record and could affect insurance rates if your company determines you have a pattern of accident involvement. However, many insurance companies don’t increase rates for accidents where their insured wasn’t at fault.
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Can You Remove an Accident From Your Record in Washington?
Unlike traffic violations, accidents typically cannot be removed from your Washington driving record before the standard five-year period expires. The Washington Department of Licensing maintains these records for safety and statistical purposes.
However, you can dispute inaccurate information on your driving record if accidents are incorrectly reported or if details are wrong. This process involves submitting documentation to the DOL showing the errors and requesting corrections to your official record.
Beyond this adjustment, there is little you can do to remove an accident from your driving record except wait until it expires. If you can demonstrate good driving habits and avoid further accidents, your auto premiums should go down over time.
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Fight Accusations of Fault in Your Car Accident
We know that fault determination in accident cases affects not only immediate compensation but also your future insurance costs and driving privileges. Our community-focused approach means we fight to ensure accurate fault determination and work to protect your driving record whenever possible.
Our Seattle personal injury lawyer team can help you understand how accident records might affect your case and take steps to minimize long-term impacts on your insurance rates and driving privileges. If we can show that the other driver was at fault, it could save you a lot of money on insurance premiums.
Contact Phillips Law Firm today for a free consultation about your accident case and its potential long-term effects. We’ll help you understand how the accident might affect your driving and insurance records and fight to ensure you receive fair treatment.
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