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| Frequently asked questions
about Personal Injury Protection Coverage |
| Q. |
What is Personal Injury
Protection (PIP)? |
| A. |
Personal Injury Protection is
coverage that protects you, your family, and you passengers from loss
due to injured received in an automobile accident. The objective is to
provide immediate payment to any person (or heirs) injured or killed as
a result of an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault. |
| Q. |
What is included in PIP? |
| A. |
Briefly, Basic Washington
Personal Injury Protection provides for: Medical Expenses -
reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred within three years
from the date of the accident, to a maximum of $10,000 and funeral
expenses up to $2,000. |
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Lost Wages - subject to
a 14-day waiting period, an injured person will receive up to 85% of
their gross income (maximum of $200 per week) for up to 52 weeks after
the 14-day waiting period, to a maximum of $10,400. |
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Loss of Services - a
qualified person will receive up to $40 a day (not to exceed $200 per
week) for reasonable expenses incurred during recovery for essential
services the injured person would have performed. Payment is subject to
a maximum of 52 weeks and a total payment of $5,000. Such replacement
services cannot be performed by persons who are members of the injured
party's household. |
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Additional (or Expanded)
Personal Injury Protection provide for: |
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Medical Expenses -
reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred within three years
from the date of the accident, to a maximum of $35,000 and funeral
expenses up to $2,000. |
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Lost Wages - subject to
the 14-day waiting period, an injured person may receive up to 85% of
their gross income (maximum of $700 per week) for up to 52 weeks to a
maximum of $36,400. |
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Loss of Services - an
injured person will receive up to $40 per day for a maximum of 52 weeks
for reasonable expenses incurred during a period of recovery to pay for
services the injured person would have performed, provided the services
are not rendered by person who are part of the same household. |
| Q. |
Who is eligible for these
payments? |
| A. |
You or any family member
injured while occupying a motor vehicle, you or a family member as a
pedestrian or bicyclist who is struck by a motor vehicle, any passenger
in your insured vehicle(s) or any pedestrian or bicyclist struck by your
insured vehicle(s), regardless of who is at fault. |
| Q. |
What should I do if I want to
add PIP to my policy? |
| A. |
If you would like to purchase
the $10,000 limit of PIP, do nothing. In accordance with the new law
passed by the 1993 Washington legislature, your policy will
automatically be renewed with this limit. |
| Q. |
What should I do if I want to
reject PIP coverage? |
| A. |
Given the importance of this
coverage in the event of an accident, we ask you to discuss the coverage
with your agent prior to rejecting it altogether. Your agent will have
the necessary form for you to sign. |
| Q. |
What law has made this notice
and selection of coverage necessary? |
| A. |
House Bill 1508, which amended
RCW 48.22.085. |
| Q. |
What should I do if I have any
questions about this form, about PIP, or about any of the other
coverage's on my policy? |
| A. |
Your Independent Insurance Agent
will be glad to assist you with these matters. |
| For complete
details of coverage's, conditions, limits and losses not covered, be
sure to read the policy, including all endorsements. If you have
questions or need additional explanation, please contact your agent. |
