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. 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. If you've been involved in a car accident and are insured, you're probably grateful that you had that policy. You can choose to include higher limits in your insurance policy, as well as coverage for underinsured or uninsured drivers.
In addition to car insurance, there are also other routes you can take to properly ensure that you are covered in the event of an accident. Some of that money will go to reimburse your insurance company for the medical bills and repairs you've already paid for. Insurance companies are primarily concerned with trying to make money, and they save more by paying you less. 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.
Even if you are at fault for the accident, your insurance company must still pay your medical bills and property damage up to the limits of your coverage. 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. For more information about this special type of insurance, contact your local Licensing Department office. However, insurance policies aren't simple, so it's important to understand your insurance policy and what will happen to your accident claim.
Like other states in the country, the state of Washington requires that all cars in circulation have liability coverage through auto insurance.