Contrary to what many people believe, liability insurance generally follows the vehicle in Washington, not the person. In other words, if you lend your car to someone and that person causes an accident, your liability insurance must pay for damages to the other driver and his passengers. Car insurance generally follows car insurance in Washington. The types of car insurance that follow the car in Washington are liability for bodily injury, liability for personal injury, collision, and all risks.
You are required to assume responsibility for bodily injuries and property damage in Washington. The state of Washington allows certain people to self-insure. In general, you must own at least twenty-five vehicles and present evidence that you can pay any judgment against you. In an accident with someone who is self-insured, you can hire an attorney to sue you.
The law requires that you be paid directly for any judgment in your favor. Washington is not a no-fault state, which means that you won't be allowed to claim compensation from your insurer if you're involved in an accident where you were at fault. Yes, it's likely that you'll need to add your teen to your car insurance when they first get their permit and start driving. These types of optional coverage cover the repair of your car no matter who was driving, but it's a claim included in your policy.
If you only take out liability coverage in the state, you won't be covered for bodily injury or property damage from accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists. Washington is a reduced-value state, allowing drivers to file reduced value claims for their cars after an accident for up to three years. Also, make sure that your friends have a valid driver's license and car insurance if they're going to use your car. To help people looking to buy insurance in the state, MoneyGeek has answered some frequently asked questions.
Mark Fitzpatrick is senior content director at MoneyGeek with more than five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be customized for each buyer. However, if you had another accident shortly before someone else crashed your car, your company will likely increase your premium, withdraw your insurance driver discount, or even cancel your policy. In the event of an accident, drivers must present proof of insurance on paper or as a digital copy on an electronic device. If you drive uninsured in Washington, you could be fined, so it's important to have insurance and have proof of it in your vehicle at all times.
If you have an accident with one of them, you will have to sue the driver directly or file a claim against your uninsured motorist coverage in your personal insurance policy. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable. At the end of the day, one of the best things you can do is consider adding people to your insurance if they use your car regularly. You can choose to leave someone out of your insurance because they're a high-risk driver and it's expensive to insure them, such as a new driver with multiple speeding tickets or someone with a history of driving under the influence of alcohol on their driving record.
On the other hand, if your car is stolen without permission or the driver is not licensed, the driver is responsible.