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Dubuar, Lirhus & Engel LLP
206-728-5858
Auto Insurance Questions and Answers
Our law office represents people injured in automobile accidents. Insurance is always a key factor in an automobile accident. Many of our clients realize too late that they are not adequately insured. Smart insurance planning now will help if you should find yourself or a loved one injured in an automobile accident. Here are some frequently asked questions about automobile insurance:
What kind of car insurance coverage is required in Washington?
Washington law requires only liability insurance, which pays for another person's injuries if you cause the accident. You must have liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. The "per accident" limit is the most coverage that is available when two or more persons are injured in the same accident. Insurance companies offer a variety of packages with much higher liability limits and additional coverages which you should seriously consider. Our survey indicates that the cost of doubling the amount of liability insurance can be as low as approximately $10 to $15 per month per vehicle, depending on your circumstances. Increased insurance is worth asking about and seriously considering.
If I am a good driver and never caused an accident, why should I buy more than the minimum?
One reason for buying the highest liability coverage you can afford is that the law allows you to have only as much uninsured or underinsured coverage as your liability coverage.
If you or a family member were injured by an uninsured driver (it happens more than you might imagine), you would look to your uninsured/underinsured motorist ("UIM") coverage to pay your losses. However, if you had minimum coverage you would have only $25,000 UIM coverage to pay your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. That amount does not go far nowadays. Most people who think about it want higher UIM coverage and to get it the law requires a like amount of liability coverage.
A second reason is to protect your personal assets if you are liable for a major accident.
How do I get my medical bills paid if I am injured in a car accident?
Generally the insurance company for the other driver who caused your injuries will not pay your medical bills, except in exchange for you signing a final release and settlement of all your claims. That can put you in a bind if you do not have ready cash for medical bills, especially if you cannot work because of your injuries.
Auto insurance companies offer "Personal Injury Protection" (PIP) coverage to meet this need. If you buy PIP coverage, your own car insurance company will promptly pay you and your passengers' medical bills and wage loss, regardless of whose fault the accident was. PIP benefits are payable up to a maximum dollar limit (usually from $10,000 to $35,000) or specific time period (usually 1 to 3 years), whichever comes first.
If I already have a good health insurance plan through my employment, why should I buy PIP coverage too?
Your health insurance may apply only to you and limited family members. Most health plans require deductibles and co-payments. Some plans limit your medical treatment to certain doctors or facilities, and some plans do not pay for some kinds of medical treatment, such as chiropractic care and treatment for emotional trauma. Your health insurance plan through your employer many times has limitations concerning prescriptions, physical therapy, and in-home care, all of which are likely to be needed in most auto accidents. Automobile PIP coverage is tailored for auto accidents and is intended to pay medical bills in full. It requires no deductibles or co-payments. PIP does not limit your medical treatment to certain doctors or hospitals. It is available to you and your passengers, whether or not you have any fault in the accident. It can also protect you as a passenger in another car or as a pedestrian or bicyclist.
PIP coverage also pays a portion of your lost earnings due to an automobile accident. The lost earnings compensation usually begins two weeks after the accident and continues for up to a year. Another PIP coverage is for loss of "essential services" while you were injured. This could include expenses for housekeeping, gardening, or child care that you cannot do because of your accident injuries.
Am I and my kids covered if we are walking or bicycling?
PIP and UIM insurance covers you and family members if you are struck by a car while walking or bicycling.
If I make a claim against my own insurance company for PIP or UIM benefits, won't my rates go up?
Many people have this concern. Our experience is that if the accident was not your fault, your rates should not increase as a result of your claim. You are paying premiums for the coverage and are entitled to use it. Increasing rates are a fact of life when costs of services and products are increasing, but if your rates increase for any reason, you are entitled by law to a written explanation from your insurance company.
Where can I get the details on my automobile insurance?
Talk to your automobile insurance agent and ask a lot of questions about liability, PIP and UIM coverage for your particular circumstances. Use this article as a checklist.
This article gives only general information. For advice on your particular circumstances you should see a professional of your choice. The author, Douglas Engel, is a partner in the law firm of Dubuar, Lirhus & Engel LLP, a general practice law firm in Seattle, Washington. He can be reached by phone at 206-728-5858. The firm's offices are at 720 Olive Way, Suite 625, Seattle WA 98101. More information and related articles are at the firm's web site at dle-law.com.
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The information in this web site is all general information. The information is applicable only to the state of Washington, unless otherwise stated. This general information is not legal advice for your particular circumstances. If you have legal questions you should consult your lawyer.