First, Washington State mandates that drivers carry at least a minimum of $25,000 in liability coverage; that is, coverage that will pay for damages that you cause another person.  However, it is a good idea to carry higher insurance limits, not only because you may cause a complete stranger, or strangers, damages beyond $25,000, but because it may also pay for damages you cause your own passengers, should you be at fault for causing a car wreck.  Many times your passengers will be your own friends and family.

Second, uninsured and under insured motorist coverage is important in the situations where other drivers cause a motor vehicle collision, but they do not have any insurance, or enough insurance, to cover the damages they caused you.  In that situation, your own insurance provides coverage where the other driver’s insurance is lacking, or where they do not have insurance, at all.  For example, in a situation where you are injured and have $50,000 in medical bills, but the other driver only carried $25,000 in insurance coverage, if you have another $50,000 in uninsured and under insured motorist coverage, your own insurance may cover a portion of the shortfall in payment for your damages.

Lastly, personal injury protection (PIP) (and Med Pay, which is a slightly different coverage) is a good coverage to have, which pays for your medical bills up to the limits you purchase, as you go get treatment.  Why is this important?  The biggest reason is that, almost always, the other driver’s insurance will not pay your medical bills or any of your bodily injury damages until you are ready to settle.  Sometimes, some people who are injured in car crashes cannot afford to go to treatment, and just live in pain, or do not heal well.  Many times, injured clients are in treatment for months, and maybe years, which means that their bills remain unpaid for a long time, and the bills may even be sent to collections.  PIP coverage could prevent some of that, by paying medical bills as they are incurred, typically up to a limit of $10,000, although you can purchase higher limits of $35,000, and even $100,000 with some carriers.  Usually, this coverage is pretty inexpensive, and it is definitely worth having, or at least looking into, even if you already have separate medical insurance coverage.

Needless to say, there are many other coverages not discussed, including coverage which covers just your car, such as comprehensive and collision coverage, and those may be a topic of another blog post better left for another day.  However, if you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, we would be happy to discuss insurance coverage and look into the coverage you have available to you, and advise you accordingly.  As always, consultations are free.