Short answer: Washington and Idaho handle auto coverage a little differently. In Washington, insurers are generally required to offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which drivers can decline in writing. Idaho does not require PIP; medical payments coverage (MedPay) is usually optional. Both states are generally considered at-fault states. Which coverage applies to you depends on your own policy, so check with your insurer. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
Spokane sits close to the Idaho line, and many people drive between Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene every day. A crash might happen in one state while the driver lives, is insured, or gets care in the other. That can raise questions about which rules apply and how chiropractic or massage care may be paid for.
In general, your own policy matters most for your own coverage. The coverages on your policy, the state where it was written, and the facts of the crash all play a role. Only your insurer or a licensed attorney can tell you how they apply to you.
In Washington, auto insurers are generally required to offer PIP. PIP is coverage on your own policy that may help pay reasonable medical expenses after a crash, often without waiting to decide who was at fault. Drivers can decline PIP, but generally only in writing, so it is worth checking whether your policy includes it.
Washington is also generally considered an at-fault state, meaning the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, may ultimately be responsible for damages. Because at-fault claims often take time, people commonly use PIP, MedPay or health insurance to pay for care in the meantime. Our guide to paying for chiropractic care after a car accident in Washington covers these sources in more detail.
Idaho is also generally considered an at-fault state, but it does not require insurers to include PIP the way Washington requires them to offer it. Idaho drivers are required to carry liability coverage, and many policies offer optional coverages such as medical payments (MedPay), uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. Whether you have any of these depends on what was selected when the policy was set up.
That means someone insured in Idaho may have less automatic coverage for their own medical care after a crash than someone with PIP on a Washington policy. In that case, health insurance, MedPay if selected, or a claim against the at-fault driver's insurer are the options people most often look at.
Cross-state situations are common near Spokane, and they can be confusing. For example:
In many situations, your own policy's coverages, such as PIP or MedPay, follow your policy rather than the location of the crash, but the details depend on the policy language. Fault, deadlines and claims against another driver can involve the law of the state where the crash happened. These are exactly the kinds of questions to bring to your insurer or a licensed attorney in the relevant state; see working with a personal injury attorney during recovery.
Clear questions early can prevent surprises later:
Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and your claim number.
Car Injury Centre, 3010 S Southeast Blvd, Unit F, Spokane, WA 99223, (509) 724-6919, supports people recovering from car accidents in Spokane and nearby Idaho communities, including Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, with care available in English, Russian and Ukrainian. Car Injury Centre is not a law firm, an insurance advisor, or a medical clinic or healthcare provider. Chiropractic and massage services are provided by independent licensed professionals under separate arrangements, and nothing on this page is legal, insurance or medical advice. For billing questions specific to your visit, contact us.
Washington generally requires auto insurers to offer PIP, but drivers can decline it in writing. Check your policy or ask your insurer to confirm whether you have it and what the limits are.
Idaho does not require PIP. Many Idaho policies offer optional coverages such as medical payments (MedPay), but whether you have them depends on what was selected on your policy.
Both are generally considered at-fault states, meaning the driver who caused a crash, through their insurer, may be responsible for damages. Claims against another driver often take time to resolve.
Coverage on your own policy often follows the policy rather than the crash location, but it depends on your policy language. Ask your insurer directly, and speak with a licensed attorney about claims against the other driver.
Yes, many people who crash in Coeur d'Alene or Post Falls receive care in Spokane. How that care is paid for depends on your coverage, so confirm details with your insurer before or early in care.
No. Car Injury Centre is not a law firm, an insurance advisor or a medical clinic. Services are provided by independent licensed professionals, and nothing on this page is legal, insurance or medical advice.
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