Not every driver on the road carries enough insurance to cover the real cost of a serious car accident. If you've been seriously injured in a crash caused by one of these drivers, you could find yourself facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and long-term recovery needs with no clear path to the compensation you deserve. That's exactly the situation that underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is designed to address. In Washington, this type of coverage comes with some meaningful advantages that can significantly expand your options after a serious crash.
What is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage – which is usually paired with uninsured motorist (UM) coverage – is a type of auto insurance protection that can activate when the driver who caused your accident doesn't have enough to fully compensate you for your losses.
In Washington, insurers are required by law to offer UM/UIM coverage to every policyholder. While drivers can decline this coverage in writing, those who keep it gain a safety net that can be utilized when the at-fault driver's policy falls short.
- Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all or in hit-and-run situations where the responsible driver cannot be identified.
- Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits aren't high enough to cover the full extent of your damages.
Washington's Approach to UIM: Advantages Worth Knowing
Washington state takes a notably favorable approach to UIM coverage compared to many other states. Several key features of Washington law make this coverage particularly valuable for seriously injured crash victims.
Broad Interpretation of Coverage
Washington courts have consistently interpreted UIM coverage broadly and in favor of the insured. If a damage isn’t covered by any other policy, but the injured driver has UIM coverage, the courts have often found that UIM coverage should apply to that uncovered damage, at least in part.
Stacking in Washington
One of the most significant benefits available to Washington policyholders is the ability to stack UIM coverage under certain circumstances. Stacking allows you to combine the UIM policy limits from multiple vehicles on your policy, or in some cases across multiple policies, to increase the total coverage available to you.
For example, if you have three vehicles on your policy, each with $100,000 in UIM coverage, stacking could potentially make up to $300,000 available to cover your damages. In cases involving catastrophic injuries, where the costs of long-term care, lost earning capacity, and ongoing treatment can run well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, that additional coverage can be the difference between an adequate recovery and a financially devastating shortfall.
Filling the Gap When At-Fault Policies Aren't Enough
Washington's minimum liability insurance requirements are relatively modest, and many drivers carry only the bare minimum. When a serious crash causes significant injuries, the at-fault driver's policy is often exhausted quickly, leaving a substantial gap between what their insurer pays and what you are actually owed.
UIM coverage exists specifically to fill that gap. Once the at-fault driver's liability policy has been tendered, meaning the insurer has paid out its full limit, your UIM coverage can be triggered to make up the difference, up to your own policy's limits.
What You Can Recover Through a UIM Claim
A successful UIM claim in Washington can cover a wide range of damages, including:
- Medical expenses, both current and future, including rehabilitation, surgeries, and ongoing treatment.
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work.
- Pain and suffering, including the physical and emotional toll of living with serious injuries.
- Loss of enjoyment of life, accounting for the ways your injuries have changed your daily experience.
- Other out-of-pocket losses directly connected to the crash and your recovery.
It's worth noting that UIM claims are not filed against the at-fault driver. Instead, they are filed against your own insurance company. While that may sound straightforward, insurers still have a financial interest in minimizing what they pay, and they will often challenge the extent of your injuries or the value of your claim, even though they are the company that you have been paying each month to provide coverage in such a situation.
Can UIM Cover Your Remaining Damages? Call Us to Find Out.
If you were seriously injured in a crash in Washington and you're not sure if UIM coverage applies to your situation, Alvandi Law Group, P.C. is here to help you find out. We offer free consultations over the phone in more than 145 languages, and we handle every case on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. With how simple and financially risk-free we make hiring an attorney after a car accident is, it’s always a good time to talk with our team.
Call (800) 980-6905 now if you have any questions about your underinsured insurance policy and what it can do after a car accident in Washington.