Were You Injured Because Of Someone Else's Negligence? Browse Our FAQs

Review your own automobile insurance policy. You will find a "Declarations page" which lists the various insurance coverages you have along with the premiums you are paying for each. If you cannot find your declarations page, call your agent and get a copy sent to you. 

Most important coverages:

The two most important items on that page are the limits of the liability coverage and the uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM / UIM) coverage. For both it will usually say something like:

                                                           $25,000/$50,000 or

                                                           $100,000/$300,000 or

                                                           $300,000/$500,000. 

These two numbers mean the amount available per person and per accident. If there is only one person injured in a car accident then the lower amount is the limit. If there are four people injured in an accident then they have to divide the larger amount between them, but no one person can get more than the smaller limit. 

Liability coverage is that amount of money your insurance company would pay in the event that you caused a car accident which resulted in an injury to another person. This coverage protects your personal assets. I strongly recommend that your liability coverage be at least $300,000.  In today's world of soaring medical costs, a serious collision can cause injuries with medical bills in excess of $100,000 which is the policy limit many people tend to carry.

In hard financial times, some people carry insurance in amounts less than $100,000. Call your insurance agent.  You may be surprised to learn that the cost of increasing your coverage to $300,000 or even $500,000 is not that much.

UM/UIM is the most important car insurance you can have!!

When it comes to uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM / UIM) insurance companies often require your liability limit to match your UM/UIM limit. So you can't buy 25K in liability coverage and then buy 500K in UM/UIM. Why? Good question for your insurance agent. Mostly because UM/UIM is not a good deal for insurance companies and they don't like to sell it unless you've purchased a better liability policy on top of that.

If you ride a motorcycle or bicycle having a high UM/UIM limit is critical.  Here's an example of why UM/UIM is critical:

A motorcycle accident client suffered multiple broken bones that required surgeries and a hospital stay exceeding ten days.  A truck turned left in front of him and he slammed in the side of the truck.  The hospital bills alone exceeded 100K.  With missed work for many months and rehab treatment the client's out of pocket expenses exceeded 150,000. You can see why if most WA driver's have 100K or less in car insurance there could be a big problem if he didn't have good UM/UIM.  

Financial stress or ruin is a real possibility in an accident with serious injuries like this when there isn't adequate car or motorcycle insurance available. 

If you're buying or renewing your auto insurance and not sure what to do, order my free book Car Insurance Buying Secrets Unlocked. The book is loaded with lots of good tips and explanations on what the various coverage you can buy do for you.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is an optional type of insurance you buy on your auto insurance policy to protect you and your family against vehicles that have inadequate insurance coverage.  Many cars on Washington state roadways do not buy enough auto insurance to cover all the damages caused by a car accident.

If you're seriously injured in a collision your doctor bills can quickly exceed the Washington state minimum insurance requirements of 25,000.  This is especially true for motorcycle and bicycle accidents.  A trip to the ER with broken bones or a serious head injury can easily cost over $10,000.  If you require surgery and several days in the hospital your doctor bills can push past the $25,000 quickly. 

When an at-fault driver does not have enough insurance your UIM coverage is design to step in and supplement the at-fault party’s insurance.  It’s designed to be another layer of protection for you.  Your UIM insurance will be asked to pay for all the damages you suffered in the accident caused by the negligence of the at-fault driver.

UIM insurance often pays:

• Doctor bills
• Lost wages
• Out-of-pocket expenses (like special braces, crutches, wheelchair rental, etc.)
• Mileage to and from doctor appointments
• Intangible harms like pain & discomfort

For example, assume you're seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and suffer a broken wrist and broken leg which both require surgery to repair at Harborview Medical Center.  You could easily have $40,000 in hospital bills and will miss three months of work resulting in $10,000 in lost wages.  

If you have UIM insurance with a limit of $300,000 and the at-fault driver only had $25,000 of liability insurance, then the at-fault driver's insurance will likely pay its policy limits of $25,000 to you. (Assuming you have no fault in the accident.)  At that point, your UIM insurance will step in and be responsible for paying the remaining medical bills, lost wages, other out-of-pocket expense, and fairly compensate you for all other harms and losses.  

Note that this differs from Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, which covers you if the at-fault driver has no insurance or leaves the scene of the accident.

If you’re in a serious injury accident in Washington and don’t know if there’s adequate insurance to pay your bills, you probably should call an experienced Washington accident attorney to learn more about your legal rights. If you have questions call us at 425-399-7000.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is an optional type of insurance you buy on your auto insurance policy to protect you and your family against vehicles that have no insurance.  Unfortunately, many cars on Washington state roadways do not have any insurance to cover damages caused in a car accident.

When you’re in a car accident that is not your fault the other car’s insurance is suppose to pay:

• To fix your car
• Pay your medical bills
• Pay your lost wages
• Compensate you for all your harms and losses

When an at-fault driver has no insurance your UM coverage is supposed to step in and take the place of the at-fault party’s insurance.  Your UM insurance will pay for all the damages you suffered in the accident caused by the negligence of someone else. (Note that this differs from Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage, which covers you if the at-fault driver does not have sufficient coverage to cover your damages.)

UM insurance also covers accidents caused by someone driving a stolen vehicle.  A vehicle may have insurance but if it’s been stolen and you’re hit by the car thief, there is an exception and no insurance will apply from the stolen vehicle.

The same is true of an intentional act by another driver, like in a road rage incident.  If another car intentionally hits you, the insurance on at-fault car will likely deny payment of any of your damages. Why? Because the collision was intentional which is almost always an exclusion on auto insurance coverage.

If you’re hit by a stolen car or road rage driver you should contact an experienced Washington car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Call us at 425-399-7000.

You can buy optional Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage in Washington State to help pay some of your losses from an auto accident, regardless of who caused the wreck. Although you do not have to buy PIP insurance in Washington, state law requires your auto insurer to offer it when you buy a new policy.

To opt out of PIP coverage, you have to reject it in writing. Without your written rejection, your insurance company has to provide the coverage, and you have to pay for it. Most motor vehicle policies in Washington include PIP coverage.

For help with a Washington PIP insurance claim, call Max Meyers Law at 425-399-7000.

Which Costs Will My PIP Policy Cover?

Regardless of who caused your wreck, your PIP can pay some of your:

• Medical bills;
• Lost wages;
• Lost services; and
• Funeral costs.

How Much PIP Coverage Can I Buy?

Your insurance company might offer coverage above the minimum coverage limits. Your PIP policy will pay up to a certain amount for a variety of accident-related losses. State law sets the maximum amount of coverage you can purchase.

Medical and Hospital Expenses

Each person injured in an accident can get up to a total of $10,000 for reasonable medical and hospital expenses they faced because of the crash. Your PIP policy will continue to pay for medical costs for up to three years after the wreck. The maximum amount of coverage you can buy is $35,000.

Funeral Expenses

Funeral expenses are reimbursed up to $2,000. This amount is the minimum and the maximum coverage you can buy.

Lost Wages

You can get income continuation, or lost wages, after a car crash. Your PIP policy will pay a maximum of $200 per week, up to a total of $10,000. These benefits do not begin until you miss 14 consecutive days of work after the wreck. The maximum coverage will pay up to $700 per week for a total of $35,000.

Loss of Services

If you have to pay someone to perform work that you cannot do because of your injuries, like cooking or cleaning, PIP will pay up to $200 a week, up to a total of $5,000. The most you can buy is $14,600 in coverage.

Do I Have to Pay for Any of My Medical Costs Myself?

Unlike some other types of insurance, like health insurance, your PIP coverage should pay all of your covered medical bills, up to the policy limits. You do not have a co-pay or deductible with PIP medical expense benefits.

Your insurer might demand that you get an Independent Medical Examination (IME) with a doctor the company selects. If you refuse to have the IME, the insurer might suspend or terminate payment of your PIP benefits. If your insurer takes any of these steps, you should talk with a lawyer right away.

How Much Does PIP Coverage Cost?

Multiple factors can affect how much you will have to pay for PIP coverage.

Because PIP coverage is something you buy from an insurance company, not from the government, the same amount of coverage can cost more at one company than it costs at another. You might save money if you shop around and compare prices.

It is also important to note that the insurance company will charge you for every vehicle you cover with PIP. Many insurance companies make you pay for PIP coverage on all of your cars and trucks, and will not let you buy the protection for only one of your vehicles.

Who Can Use PIP Benefits?

Imagine, for example, that you have PIP coverage on your car. Your PIP policy can pay benefits to you and:

• Anyone living in your household related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption;
• Stepchildren;
• Foster children;
• Passengers in your car; and
• Bicyclists or pedestrians who suffered injuries in the crash.

When Does PIP Not Apply?

Your insurance company can refuse to pay for medical or other services if it decides:

• The cost is unreasonable;
• The service is unnecessary;
• The service is not related to the accident; or
• You incurred the cost more than three years after the accident.

PIP coverage will not cover injuries from:

• Motorcycles, with some exceptions;
• Mopeds;
• Recreational vehicles;
• Off-road vehicles; and
• Farm equipment.

Even if the vehicle has PIP coverage, it will be null and void if a legal exception applies. This could impact the situation if the policyholder:

• Intentionally injured someone else or themselves;
• Was committing a felony at the time of the accident;
• Sustained the injuries while racing; or
• Was in a vehicle that did not have PIP coverage.

Different legal guidelines apply to commercial vehicles and prearranged rides. These rules change how insurance claims work after an Uber or Lyft accident.

Can I Purchase Other Optional Coverage?

Because some people drive without auto insurance, experts recommend that you carry PIP coverage on your auto policy. Getting hurt in a crash is bad enough, but having a stack of medical bills to pay will make the situation worse.

Since the amount of PIP coverage you can buy would not pay all of your losses in the event of a significant injury, you should also consider purchasing uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. UM coverage can overlap with other insurance policies to pay for your damages after a crash with an uninsured driver. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage can help you if the other driver only carried the minimum level of insurance and it is not enough to pay for all your losses.

How Can I Discuss My PIP Claim With a Car Accident Lawyer?

At Max Meyers Law, we apply our years of experience to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. We are comfortable with the language and provisions in motor vehicle insurance policies, and we know how to deal with insurance companies after a wreck. Give us a call at 425-399-7000, and we will set up a no-cost consultation and case evaluation.

As you probably know, there are many different circumstances that can contribute to a car accident. However, among the many causes, there are certainly a few that play more prominent roles than others. The Washington State Department of Transportation's most recent report summarizing collision data provides a helpful look at some of the more common causes of car accidents in Seattle and the rest of the state:

Most Common Causes of Washington Car Accidents—All Collisions

• Did not grant right of way to vehicle
• Exceeding reasonable safe speed
• Following too closely
• Inattention

Most Common Causes of Washington Car Accidents—Fatal Accidents

• Under the influence of alcohol
• Car went over the center line
• Exceeding reasonable safe speed
• Exceeding stated speed limit

These were all far and above the most common causes, but there were many others listed including:

• Disregarding stop light
• Improper turn
• Operating defective equipment
• Driver distractions outside of the vehicle
• Apparently asleep
• Driver interacting with passengers, animals or objects in the vehicle
• Improper passing
• Under the influence of drugs

It is alarming how many things can cause accidents, so it is your duty as a licensed driver to make sure you do everything you can to drive safely. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to control other drivers on the road, but by operating your vehicle safely, you will hopefully be able to prevent a Washington traffic accident before it occurs.

If you found our answer helpful, please share this article on Facebook to educate your friends and family about the dangers on the roads of Washington.