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A tort claim is a lawsuit filed to claim compensation for the injuries a victim has suffered in an accident.

The Washington Tort Claims Act dictates how a claim is filed against the state government for damages following an accident. Unlike personal injury cases between private individuals, when an accident involves the government the first step is to file a standard tort claim form with the state.

Tort Claims Instructions. Instructions on how to file a Tort Claim can be located at File a Tort Claim on the DES Web Site or by calling ORM Customer Service at (360) 407-9199. Submitting Claims. Standard Tort Claim Form Information can be found by visiting The Washington State Online Tort Claim Form on the DES web site.

For example, a janitor has a duty to put up a wet floor sign after mopping. If he or she fails to put up the sign and someone falls and injures themselves, a negligence tort case may be filed. Examples of negligence torts include car accidents, bicycle accidents and medical malpractice.

Negligence is by far the most common type of tort. Unlike intentional torts, negligence cases do not involve deliberate actions. Negligence occurs when a person fails to act carefully enough and another person gets hurt as a result. For this type of case, a person must owe a duty to another person.

Common torts include:assault, battery, damage to personal property, conversion of personal property, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Injury to people may include emotional harm as well as physical harm.

There are numerous specific torts including trespass, assault, battery, negligence, products liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. There are also separate areas of tort law including nuisance, defamation, invasion of privacy, and a category of economic torts.

Suing the State of Washington Certain requirements must be met to file a claim against Washington state. You need to serve a verified claim form. You must also serve the form on the authorized agent for the governmental entity. Serving a valid claim form is a requirement to bring a legal case against the government.