Washington personal injury laws include contributory fault laws, which play a significant role in determining damages in a personal injury case. The legal system follows a pure comparative fault rule, meaning that the amount of damages you can recover will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. Washington negligence laws demand certain elements to make a successful personal injury claim, including duty, breach of duty, cause in fact, proximate cause, and damages. The statute of limitations demands that personal injury claims be filed within 3 years from the day you were injured.