BACK IN ACTION INJURY CHIROPRACTIC AND MASSAGE
  • Home
  • Injury Chiropractic Care
  • Patients
    • How we can Help
    • Virtual Consultation
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

I Don't Have PIP or UM Coverage, or Do I?

2/18/2015

0 Comments

 
by Ryan Pauley of The Pauley Law Group

Many people don’t know what type of insurance benefits they have under their automobile policy until an accident occurs.  Two of the most important benefits under any automobile policy are Personal Injury Protection (commonly referred to as “PIP”) and Underinsured Motorist Insurance (commonly referred to as “UM”).

PIP coverage pays for any of the costs associated with medical treatment that is related to the auto accident that you were involved in.  PIP can also cover lost wages and any other expenses incurred because of the crash, but these amounts are usually limited to a weekly dollar amount.  The two most common PIP coverage amounts in Washington State are $10,000.00 and $35,000.00.

UM coverage provides benefits to the victim in the car crash, when the person responsible for the accident has little or no insurance to pay for the costs and damages that resulted from the crash.  The minimum UM benefit coverage that a person can purchase in Washington is $25,000.00. This amount can be as high as $100,000,000 (one hundred million?) and of course like all insurance the more benefits you get the higher is the cost.

When a person in Washington State purchases automobile insurance, the Company providing the policy has a duty under state law to offer both PIP and UM insurance to the purchaser.  If the purchaser declines PIP and/or UM coverage, the insurance company must obtain a written waiver form the purchaser in writing which declines the purchase of these benefits.  If the insurance company fails to obtain this written waiver, then it is required to provide the purchaser with the state minimum benefits at the insurance company’s cost.

For example, assume I purchase an automobile policy in Washington State and decline both PIP and UM benefits to keep the premium low.  The insurer then fails to obtain a written waiver from me stating that I am declining PIP and UM coverage.  I then purchase the policy.  The next day I am involved in an automobile crash and the person causing the crash has no insurance.  Under Washington law, the insurance company who sold me the policy must provide me with $10,000.00 in PIP benefits and $25,000.00 in UM benefits at its own cost.

If you can afford it always purchase PIP and UM benefits.  With the costs of medical treatment and the number of people who drive without insurance these days, it is too much of a risk to not have these benefits.  If for some reason you didn’t purchase these benefits, and you are involved in a crash, make sure your attorney checks to see if you signed a written waiver for your insurance company that waives PIP and/or UM coverage.  If your insurance company cannot produce this waiver, demand that they pay benefits.

To learn more about Ryan Pauley and The Pauley Law Group visit http://www.pauleylawgroup.com/blog/i-don%E2%80%99t-have-pip-or-um-coverage-or-do-i

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Dr. Michael Weir is the clinic director at Bellevue Whiplash Center at Back in Action Chiropractic. We will also be hosting a variety of relevant guest bloggers to help you understand your injuries better.

    Archives

    December 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All
    911
    Attorney
    Auto Injury
    Back In Action Chiropractic
    Back Pain After Car Accident
    Back Pain From Car Accident
    Bellevue Car Accident
    Bellevue Car Accident Tip Of The Day
    Bellevue Massage
    Bellevue Whiplash
    Bellevue Whiplash Center
    Bellevue Whiplash Injury
    Car Accident
    Car Accident Back Pain
    Car Accident Doctor
    Car Accident Fatalities
    Car Accident Headache
    Car Accident Massage
    Car Accident Pain
    Car Accident Seattle
    Car Accident Treatment
    Car Insurance
    Chiropractic
    Degeneration
    Dr. Michael Weir
    Exercises
    Injury Massage
    Lower Back Pain After Car Accident
    Pain
    Pain After Car Accident
    Pain And Suffering Car Accident
    Pedestrian
    PIP
    Rehabilitation
    Seattle Accident
    Seattle Car Accident
    Tips
    Whiplash Injury
    X Ray
    X-ray

    RSS Feed

    Washington State Search Engine and Directory

    AlternativeMedicinePractices.com
Wellness.comMy Profile
  • Home
  • Injury Chiropractic Care
  • Patients
    • How we can Help
    • Virtual Consultation
  • Contact Us
  • Blog