What does personal injury protection cover?

Here in Washington state, auto insurance policies commonly offer personal injury protection, widely known as PIP. You can opt to add it your auto coverage. If you're in an auto accident, it will help pay for certain costs, up to certain limits.

Like what? It helps pay for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost services
• and funeral expenses.

But there are some things that it won't cover. For example, PIP coverage doesn't cover injuries caused when using:

• Farm equipment
• Off-road vehicles
• Mopeds
• Injuries sustained while racing
• Or injuries sustained while committing a felony.

Also -- and this is important -- PIP coverage does not cover services that your insurer decides:

• Are not reasonable
• Are not necessary
• Are not related to the accident
• or are not incurred within three years of the accident.

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