Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist -- BI/Liability and PD Questions (Seattle: health insurance, lawyer)

[usernametaken]

I recently got a new car (lease). Car worth around $20,000.

I got the main liability, comprehensive and collision coverages in my new car insurance.

However, I did not get underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage as yet.

I am assuming that my health insurance will cover any bodily injury that I would suffer at the hands of an underinsured or uninsured motorist?

For property damage to my car at the hands of an underinsured or uninsured motorist, would my insurance company still pay me even if it was the other party's fault? It seems like in some states this is law (they call is "no fault" or something to that effect), while in others you have to get UM/UIM coverage added.

I am not sure about WA.

[Hemlock140]

I get uninsured motorist, and comprehensive. It’s well worth the cost and needed. Every time I or anyone I know has been in an accident it’s been the fault of an uninsured motorist, and with that coverage there is no deductible. Comprehensive covers theft and vandalism, and car prowls are very common in Seattle. Unless you have some kind of medical that is very rare, you will have deductibles if injured. Uninsured people have no insurance because they can’t afford it, so even a good lawyer suing them for you won’t be likely to help recover the cost.
If insurers paid the property damage when hit by an uninsured motorist, there would be no need for such coverage.

[usernametaken]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

If insurers paid the property damage when hit by an uninsured motorist, there would be no need for such coverage.

That is what I thought, but per google, in many states they seem to pay irrespective of who is at fault. That is why I started this thread:-)

See here under the section titled "So what happens if i get into an accident with an underinsured/uninsured driver?":

https://www.esurance.com/info/car/ar...ages-necessary

Anyway, it seems like WA is a tort state.

[RustinginSeattle]

You would be a fool not to get UIM in Washington. And PIP is the "no fault" insurance. It is also elective and costs more than UIM. However, it only pays medical. Without UIM PD, you will have zero coverage for your car if hit by an uninsured motorist. Even if your car is only worth $2000, how will you feel just being out that $2K when it's someone elses fault. UIM is pretty affordable coverage.