Car accidents involving uninsured and underinsured motorists are a serious problem in Spokane and throughout Washington State. Drivers are required to purchase automobile liability insurance by law, with only a handful of exceptions. Despite this requirement the Insurance Information Institute recently found the State of Washington had one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers with more than 1 in 5 drivers being uninsured. When these drivers cause a serious bodily injury accident, it might be difficult for the injured person to get fair compensation for their injuries.
In these situations, the injured person can look to their own automobile insurance for compensation. The injured person might have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Med Pay as part of their own automobile insurance and/or health insurance. These coverages help pay for accident related medical bills. Additionally, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) can provide compensation for injuries when someone is injured by a driver that has no liability insurance or insufficient coverage.
To protect yourself, your family and your passengers from those who choose to drive without liability insurance or not enough coverage, we recommend purchasing both PIP and UIM coverage as a part of your own automobile insurance policy. These coverages protect you if you’re injured in a collision caused by a driver with no liability insurance or not enough insurance coverage. It’s the best way to protect you and your household against uninsured drivers.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney may be able to find other sources of insurance coverage like the vehicle owner’s coverage, driver’s household situation or their employment status. Cooney Law Offices. We can help.