In Washington state, PIP (Personal Injury Protection) is a type of insurance coverage that can help pay for medical expenses and other related costs if you're injured in a car accident. It's important to know that PIP coverage is optional in Washington, which means that you may not have it as part of your auto insurance policy unless you specifically chose to add it.
If you do have PIP coverage, you might wonder if you can use it even if the accident wasn't your fault. The short answer is yes, you can use your own PIP coverage regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
One of the benefits of PIP coverage is that it provides "no-fault" insurance, which means that you can receive benefits without having to prove who was responsible for the accident. This can be helpful because it can often take time to determine who was at fault, and you may need medical care and other services immediately after the accident.
It's also worth noting that there are limits to how much you can receive in PIP benefits in Washington. The state has set a minimum benefit amount of $10,000 per person, per accident, for medical expenses and lost wages. Additionally, PIP coverage does not cover property damage or pain and suffering, which means that you may need to pursue other types of compensation if you suffered these types of losses in the accident.
However, if the other driver was at fault and had liability insurance, you may be able to seek additional compensation for your damages through a liability claim with their insurance company. This would be in addition to any benefits you receive from your own PIP coverage.
In summary, if you have PIP coverage as part of your auto insurance policy in Washington state, you can use it to help pay for medical expenses and other costs related to a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. However, it's important to understand the limits of your coverage and to consider other types of insurance or compensation if you suffered property damage or pain and suffering as a result of the accident.