International Students and Car Accidents: Three Things You Need to Know
by Zaskia Putri
Coming to the United States as an international student was overwhelming for me. When I first landed in Seattle in 2017, I had a very short window of time to settle in before school started. There was a new lease to sign, a new place to move into, and paperwork to get in order. Among other things, I had to obtain a state ID and report my arrival to the University of Washington's international student services. I had very little time to become familiar with the area or begin to understand the American systems. However, I did know I wanted to get a driver's license and buy a car.
The first step in getting a driver’s license as an international student is to familiarize yourself with rules and regulations in the state. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has put together a comprehensive Fact Sheet. You can find more information specifically for the state of Washington on the UW International Student Services website.
The next step after getting your driver’s license is to familiarize yourself with auto insurance requirements in Washington. I knew having a car would make getting around much easier and it was more convenient than public transportation. I also knew that being new to the United States and unfamiliar with the system made me more likely to have an auto accident, the frequency of collisions in Washington State is startling. According to the 2015 Washington State Annual Collision Summary, a crash occurs every 4.5 minutes. Further, out of 117,053 total collisions in 2015, there were 49,505 total injuries.
To protect yourself, be informed. Here are three things you need to know before and after a motor vehicle accident:
Include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Your Auto Insurance Coverage
Washington State requires anyone who drives a motor vehicle or a motorcycle to carry liability insurance with liability limits of at least (i) $25,000 for injuries or death to another person, (ii) $50,000 for injuries or death to all other people, and (iii) $10,000 for damage to another person's property. If you are the at-fault party, your insurance will cover up to $25,000 for each person per accident, with a maximum of $50,000 per accident.
PIP is an additional coverage that can be included in your auto insurance coverage to cover your medical bills. This coverage protects you regardless of who is at fault. I highly recommend you include this in your auto insurance coverage so you can receive treatment without paying medical bills out of pocket.
Do Not Speak with Third-Party Insurance Adjuster
When you are the injured party, you may be contacted by the third-party adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company. The adjuster will ask questions about the accident. Answering them may affect your case negatively. You are likely better off not communicating directly with the third-party adjuster. Instead, you should hire and talk to your own attorney who will communicate with the adjuster.
Retain an Attorney As Soon As Possible
You may be uncomfortable with the idea of talking to an attorney, especially if you are coming from a country where individuals do not deal with attorneys regularly. Trust me, I used to feel the same way. However, this is one of the differences in how things work in the U.S. where it is important to retain an attorney right away. The sooner you talk to and hire an attorney, the better. This will put your mind at ease so you can focus on medical treatment while your attorney handles the third-party adjuster and other issues.
If you are involved in a car accident, you may contact me directly at 206-660-6939 or Zaskia@HLG.Lawyer. We will be happy to give you free initial consultation. Visit our website at HLG.Lawyer.