Yes, You Need PIP.
Yes, you need Personal Injury Protection (PIP). PIP is insurance coverage you add to your auto policy. Legally, PIP benefits must be offered to you by your insurance carrier. You can reject PIP, though we wouldn’t recommend it.
If you're in an auto accident PIP will help pay for (up to certain limits):
Medical and hospital expenses - Up to $10,000 for reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses for each person injured in an auto accident is covered with PIP. This is available for up to three years from the date of the accident. Additional coverage may be added to provide up to a $35,000 benefit for medical and hospital costs.
Wage loss - PIP provides up to $200 per week ($10,000 total) for income replacement coverage. This is limited to one year after someone's been disabled for 14 consecutive days after the accident. Consumers may add additional coverage to provide income benefits of up to $35,000, paid at a maximum of $700 per week.
Loss of services - PIP coverage pays up to $200 per week ($5,000 total) to pay non-family members for work you can’t do, such as household chores. Additional loss of services coverage can be added to increase the total benefit to $14,600.
Funeral expenses - PIP includes up to $2,000 for each person who died due to the accident
So why is PIP important, even if you have really good health insurance?
PIP is no-fault coverage. It will cover you if you are injured by someone else or if you caused the injury.
There are no out of pocket expenses with PIP. No co-pays. No deductibles. No network restrictions (no “in-network” and “out of network” providers). As long as treatment is reasonable, necessary, and accident related, it is 100% covered up to your limits.
No referral requirements. As long as treatment is reasonable, necessary, and accident related, it is 100% covered up to your limits.
PIP covers more than just medical expenses. It also covers funeral expenses, lost wages and loss of essential services (household support).
PIP covers more than the named insured on the policy. PIP benefits extend to household residents by blood, marriage, or adoption, step or foster children, and any non-family members or pedestrians involved in the accident.
PIP will cover you (and any family members that reside in your home) if you are injured as pedestrian, cyclist, or as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle.
You will maximize your recovery. Washington law requires that when the insurance company benefits from the attorneys work, that they should share in the cost of the attorney.
Have you been injured in an accident? Do you need help determining if your policy has PIP benefits? Don’t go it alone. We are here to help. Call Northwest Women’s Injury Law at (425) 818-5331 to schedule a free consultation. We can evaluate your case, so you can focus on recovering your health and happiness.