Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on my car insurance plan?

Don’t leave yourself without protection to cover medical bills incurred if you are injured in a motor vehicle collision. In the State of Washington insurers are required to offer Personal Injury Protection, also known as PIP. Your insurance company must clearly explain PIP coverage to you and must provide it unless you decline in writing. Your PIP will pay your medical bills even if you are at fault for your injuries. It may also cover lost wages and help with household services.

If you are injured in a motor vehicle collision and your insurance company is claiming you do not have PIP coverage you should consult an attorney to make sure your insurance company is following the law and treating you fairly.

When should I sign the claim release form given to me by my insurance company?

Generally an insurance company will not pay you money without first obtaining your signature on a release. A signed release allows the insurance company to be free from the obligation to pay anything more on your claim. It also prevents you from suing the negligent driver in the future. Before you sign a release read it carefully as you may unwittingly be signing away rights that you do not intend to or for which you have not been compensated. A good lawyer should be able to review a release and advise you whether you risk losing any rights by signing it.

After an accident should I provide a statement to the other driver’s insurance company?

You’ve just been in an accident and the other driver’s insurance company wants to take your statement. You do have an obligation to cooperate in the investigation but you also have legitimate concerns about what you have to do. The other driver’s insurance company may want to record your statement over the telephone or meet with you in person to do a simple interview.

The recorded statement is crucial in your claim since the insurance company may use it to make its decision as to who is at fault for the collision. The insurance adjuster may also try to pin you down as to your injuries in a statement taken within days of the collision before you have returned to all of your daily activities or even had a chance to see your doctor.

If you have concerns about meeting with an insurance adjuster to give a statement you should call an attorney who can advise you on your rights and, if you retain that attorney who can be present during the statement to make sure your rights are protected.

Should I sign a medical release form and who should have access to my medical records?

When you are injured in a motor vehicle collision your insurance company and the insurance company for the other driver will probably want you to sign medical releases immediately. They may seek broad authority to view all of your medical records, including non-related prior records. Your rights and obligations vary as to what authorizations you have to sign for your company and for the other driver’s company. The timing may also be different for different types of Releases. If the broad language of a medical release is of concern or if there are sensitive matters in your records that you do not want to reveal you should consult an attorney who can advise as to your obligation to disclose information as balanced against your right to privacy.