PIP

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PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, insurance can cover your medical bills and lost wages after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. PIP insurance is required in some states, and it is available as optional coverage in others. Keep reading below to learn everything you need to know about PIP coverage in Washington.

What Is PIP?

Personal injury protection insurance is sometimes referred to as no-fault insurance. This type of insurance covers many injury-related expenses after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. Even if you were 100% responsible for the accident, your PIP insurance would still pay for these damages.

PIP coverage is a great option for several reasons. First, it allows you to get compensation after an accident more quickly. Since there is no need to prove fault after an accident, PIP claims are usually paid much faster than traditional liability insurance claims.

Additionally, PIP helps keep insurance costs lower for everyone. This is because it keeps many small injury claims out of court. Since there are typically no questions of fault or liability with PIP claims, there is no need to file a lawsuit to resolve these disputes.

What Does PIP Cover?

PIP coverage provides benefits for many types of losses after an accident. The most common losses that are covered by PIP insurance include:

Medical Expenses

Your PIP coverage will pay for your reasonable and necessary medical expenses resulting from your accident. This includes items such as:

• Emergency care
• Surgery
• Follow-up doctor visits
• Diagnostic tests and imaging
• Health insurance deductibles

Your coverage is limited to your policy limits. Standard PIP policies typically provide coverage of up to $10,000 for medical-related damages.

Lost Wages

If you miss time from work due to your injuries, PIP will cover your lost wages. PIP will typically cover up to $200 per week with a total cap of $10,000.

Funeral Expenses

Your PIP coverage will pay for funeral, burial, or cremation expenses if you lose your life in a car accident. These benefits would be provided to your surviving family members.

Death Benefits

Your family may be eligible for a one-time death benefit if you are killed in a car accident. This can help replace your lost income, lost benefits, and other financial losses.

Essential Services

There are many day-to-day tasks you may perform without even thinking about it. However, you might be unable to perform these services if you sustain an injury in an accident. 

This can include things like:

• House cleaning
• Lawn care
• Child care

PIP may help cover the cost of these services until you recover and can perform them on your own again.

What Is Not Covered By PIP?

While PIP provides many great benefits, it has some limitations. One of the key aspects that PIP does not cover is non-economic damages, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement

PIP also does not cover injuries resulting from the use of farm equipment, off-road vehicles, mopeds, or motorcycles. You can purchase PIP coverage for a motorcycle, but that type of coverage is usually quite expensive. If you are hurt in a motorcycle accident in Washington, you should likely pursue a liability claim against the at-fault driver.

Mandatory Liability Insurance Coverage in Washington

PIP coverage in Washington is optional. Since Washington is an at-fault state, drivers must carry liability insurance instead. 

Mandatory liability insurance requirements in Washington are as follows:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury
• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $10,000 for property damage

Even though PIP is not required in Washington, it is provided as optional coverage. Drivers may choose to purchase this coverage to pay for injury-related expenses after an accident.

Contact Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation With a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been hurt in an accident in Seattle, navigating the insurance claims process can be challenging. The team at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help with every detail of your claim. Contact us today at 206-727-4000 to schedule a free consultation with a Seattle personal injury attorney, and let us put our experience to work for you.