By Rayna Girtz | Associate Attorney | Spokane Office
It is every driver’s duty to follow traffic laws and drive safely; however, accidents still happen. In these moments, the type of auto insurance coverage you have can make a world of difference not just for your vehicle, but for your financial and personal well-being. For Washington drivers, understanding how umbrella insurance coverage like Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) works is essential.
Let’s break down the importance of these coverages and why you might want to consider umbrella policies to maximize your protection.
What is First-Party Coverage?
In Washington, first-party coverage refers to insurance that protects you, the policyholder, regardless of who caused the accident. The most common types of first-party coverage include:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other benefits for the policyholder and passengers after an accident.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage: Protects the insured if they are involved in an accident with a driver who has insufficient or no insurance. It covers damages that the at-fault party’s insurance does not fully compensate.
Why Umbrella Coverage is Crucial in Washington
Washington law requires drivers to carry liability insurance, but that only covers damage they cause to others. If you're hit by someone without insurance or with minimal coverage and you don’t have PIP or UM/UIM coverage, you could be left paying your own bills.
Here’s how PIP and UM/UIM coverage can help:
- Protection Against Uninsured Drivers: Covers your medical bills, vehicle damage, and other losses if the at-fault driver has no insurance.
- Protection Against Underinsured Drivers: Fills in the financial gap if the other driver's policy limit isn’t enough to cover your expenses.
- Protection in Hit-and-Run Accidents: Allows you to receive compensation even when the other driver flees the scene and can’t be identified.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today
GLP Attorneys is here to help you navigate your insurance coverage after a car accident. As you are healing from car accident injuries, we will ensure that you are also able to feel financially secure. Personal injury cases from an automobile accident injury can be complex, and you must understand the variety of different liability and insurance coverage issues that may apply to your case. If you think that someone was at fault in causing a collision that you, a family member, or a friend were involved in, you should have the facts of your claim reviewed by a lawyer as soon as possible.
If you have been involved in an automobile collision, please call 800.273.5005 or email our personal injury attorneys at for a free initial consultation. One of our skilled attorneys will be able to tell you whether you might be able to collect damages.
