Washington car insurance minimums, and what happens when they are not enough
Every driver in Washington must carry at least $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for injuries, and $10,000 for property damage.
The required minimums
The per-person figure ($25,000) is the most the at-fault driver’s insurer will pay for any one injured person under a minimum policy. The per-accident figure ($50,000) is the most it pays for everyone hurt in the crash combined.
Source: Rev. Code Wash. § 46.29.090
Why the policy limit often sets the ceiling
A hospital stay, surgery or months of therapy can exceed $25,000 quickly. Once a claim is worth more than the at-fault driver’s limit, the insurer will not pay beyond it, and collecting the rest from the driver personally is rarely practical.
That is why finding every policy that applies matters: the at-fault driver’s own policy, an employer’s policy if they were working, a vehicle owner’s policy if they were driving someone else’s car, and your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Your own coverage
Insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage; it can only be rejected in writing.
Insurers must offer personal injury protection with at least $10,000 in medical benefits; it can only be rejected in writing.
Source: Rev. Code Wash. § 48.22.030; Rev. Code Wash. §§ 48.22.085, 48.22.095
Real Washington results
Documented Washington verdicts and settlements from public court records.
| Case | Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
Liu v. State Farm Ins. Co 2021 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,500,000 verdict |
Gomez v. Clark 2022 · Car accident | Car accident | $400,000 verdict |
Laughner v. Spokane Authority Spokane County, 2015 · Rear-end collision | Rear-end collision | $1,500,000 settlement |
Mershon v. Hurley 2024 · Intersection crash | Intersection crash | $375,000 verdict |
Brown v. Aguilar King County, 2021 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,484,417 verdict |
Real cases, shown as recorded in public court records. Verdicts are jury awards; settlements are agreed payments. They are other people’s cases and not predictions of what your case is worth. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Washington?
$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for injuries, and $10,000 for property damage (Rev. Code Wash. § 46.29.090).
What if my injuries cost more than the other driver’s policy?
Look to your own underinsured motorist coverage, and to any other policy that covers the at-fault driver or vehicle. Insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage; it can only be rejected in writing.
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This page is general information about Washington law, reviewed September 2026. It is not legal advice, laws change, and the right answer for your claim depends on its facts. CaseChecker.ai is not a law firm; it connects people with independent attorneys licensed in their state.