When you become involved in a Washington car accident, it can sometimes take insurance companies a long time to determine who was at fault for the accident. This can result in a delay in receiving payment for damages.
However, if your policy includes certain types of no-fault coverage, you may be able to receive compensation more quickly because benefits are not contingent upon assigning fault for the accident. In addition, these types of coverage extend to passengers of the vehicle as well as the driver.
According to Nationwide, there are two basic types of no-fault coverage available: medical payments coverage and personal injury protection. Both are similar in that they will pay for treatment of injuries to passengers and/or drivers resulting from the crash regardless of who is responsible. The main difference is that medical payments coverage, as implied by the name, can only go toward paying health care bills.
Personal injury protection, on the other hand, is more inclusive. In addition to compensation for medical treatment, PIP can also reimburse you for additional expenses, such as rehabilitation costs, lost wages and funeral costs in the event of a traffic fatality. In addition, if you are no longer able to perform certain duties, such as housecleaning or childcare, due to your injuries and must hire services to manage these tasks, PIP may cover those expenses as well.
The state of Washington does not require you to carry PIP coverage on your auto insurance policy, but you have the option of adding it on if you choose to do so.
The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.