Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Resources & Support Programs

Washington state residents living with a traumatic brain injury can turn to dedicated advocacy and support organizations that serve survivors and their families across the state. Disability Rights Washington provides legal advocacy and rights protection for individuals with disabilities, including a specific focus on TBI survivors, and maintains resources related to Washington’s Traumatic Brain Injury Act and its impact on services available to residents. Their work helps ensure that individuals affected by brain injury can access the programs and protections they are entitled to under state law.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Washington, based in Seattle and reachable by toll-free line, serves as the state’s primary community resource for TBI survivors and caregivers, offering education, advocacy, and connection to local support networks. While Washington’s resource listings are more focused than some other states, survivors and families can strengthen their support plan by exploring national and state-level options together. Those who are earlier in the recovery process may find it useful to review what TBI recovery really looks like over time to better understand what to expect and how to plan for the challenges and milestones ahead.

How to use this list of Washington Statutes of Limitations and Repose

• “General Tort” is the statute of limitations for most personal injury or negligence claims (e.g., car accidents, slip and fall, general liability).
• “Medical Malpractice is the statute of limitations for lawsuits against healthcare providers and hospitals for alleged negligence or errors in medical care.  The phrase “from act/omission” = Time starts from the date of the alleged malpractice. The phrase “from discovery” = Time starts from when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered. The medical malpractice statute of repose is an absolute deadline after the act of malpractice, regardless of when the injury is discovered. After this period, no claim can be brought, even if the injury was not discovered until later.
•  “Products Liability”is the statute of limitations for claims involving injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. The products liability statute of repose is the maximum time after the product was manufactured, sold, or delivered that a lawsuit may be filed, regardless of when the injury occurred or was discovered.
• “Workers’ Compensation” is statute of limitations for filing a workers’ compensation claim for work-related injuries or occupational diseases.  The following phrases apply: “from injury” = Time starts from the date of the injury; “from last payment” = Time starts from the date of the last payment; “from knowledge/discovery” = Time starts from when the injury or occupational disease was, or should have been, discovered; “from first symptom” = For occupational diseases, time starts from first manifestation of symptoms; and “from act/discovery” = Whichever is later, the date of the act or the date the injury was discovered.
• Each entry includes the relevant statute citation for your further research or verification. And “N/A” means that there is no statute of repose or not applicable for that claim type in that state.

Remember that statute of limitations and repose can change, so it is essential to:

• Confirm the current law as soon as possible.
• Remember that there is no substitute for consulting an experienced attorney on a potential legal matter as soon as possible.
• Remember that the facts of the case can alter or change the Statutes of Limitations.

General Tort: Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2) (3 years)

Medical Malpractice: Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.350 (3 years from act or 1 from discovery, 8 years repose)

Products Liability: Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.060(3) (3 years); Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.060(2) (12 years repose)

Workers’ Comp: Wash. Rev. Code § 51.28.050 (1 year from injury)