Every month, the Phillips Law Firm will devote an entire post to the topic of PIP, or personal injury protection insurance. The reasoning behind this is twofold. First, our firm is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek justice. In a sense, personal injury protection is our middle name.
The second reason is that PIP is an insurance related topic. While many of us quiver at anything insurance related, our firm is brave enough to face the insurance world. We’re also committed and insightful enough to know that the insurance world can be a bit confusing at times. Confusion is of little help when trying to understand complex topics. Thus, we simply thought it would be helpful to clarify the convoluted world of insurance for you.
So, without further ado, let’s discuss PIP for a moment.
What Exactly is PIP?
PIP is an acronym for Personal Injury Protection. In terms of insurance, PIP is an insurance coverage that you can add to your auto insurance policy. If it’s added, and you’re in an auto accident, PIP will help pay for:
- Medical expenses
- Wage loss
- Loss of services
- Non-traditional medical expenses (e.g., chiropractic care)
- Funeral expenses
Who Does PIP Cover?
A good thing about PIP is that it usually covers more than a person named on a policy. For example, in the event of an auto accident, PIP insurance would cover:
- A policy holder
- A policy holder’s household residents related by blood, marriage or adoption
- Any non-family passengers and pedestrians involved in an accident
What do the PIP Laws Say?
In the State of Washington, all automobile liability insurance policies must carry at least $10,000 in PIP benefits (higher limits are definitely available). This means your insurance company must provide you with PIP coverage when it comes to insuring your vehicle. But please know that you do not have to have PIP coverage. In the end, PIP coverage is solely your choice.
This means that buying PIP is up to you. Yes, by law, your insurance company must offer it to you. But, it’s up to you if you want to purchase it. If a driver does not want PIP, he must reject it in writing. If not rejected, an insurance company simply adds it to your automobile policy and charges you for it.
Do You Need PIP?
This all depends on the type of driver in question. If a person drives by himself all the time and never gets into accidents, then PIP might not be a wise choice. However, if a driver is always on the road, transporting family and friends, and/or seeks greater protection in the realm of accident risk, then PIP might be a valued addition to an auto policy.
How Much Does PIP Cost?
The exact cost of PIP coverage will depend on your insurance company. However, PIP coverage is usually quite cheap. “Quite cheap” typically means a few dollars a month (depending on the amount of vehicles covered in a single policy). This is why the majority of drivers in the Seattle area, and the State of Washington, have PIP. The coverage is almost too good to pass on.
Do What’s Right for You
Insurance coverage decisions are normally difficult to make. This is because they depend on analyzing risks, budgets, statistics and behaviors. Most of these factors are unpredictable.
We are always here to help if necessary. Our firm possesses an ocean of knowledge when it comes to insurance matters and insurance policy coverage issues. Take advantage of this knowledge. If you have PIP questions, or any other insurance related questions for that matter, contact us and let us help answer them!
