Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter.
(1) "Automobile" means a passenger car as defined in RCW 46.04.382 registered or principally garaged in this state other
than:
(a) A farm-type tractor or other self-propelled equipment
designed for use principally off public roads;
(b) A vehicle operated on rails or crawler-treads;
(c) A vehicle located for use as a residence;
(d) A motor home as defined in RCW 46.04.305; or
(e) A moped as defined in RCW 46.04.304.
(2) "Bodily injury" means bodily injury, sickness, or
disease, including death at any time resulting from the injury,
sickness, or disease.
(3) "Income continuation benefits" means payments for the
insured's loss of income from work, because of bodily injury
sustained by the insured in an automobile accident, less income
earned during the benefit payment period. The combined weekly
payment an insured may receive under personal injury protection
coverage, worker's compensation, disability insurance, or other
income continuation benefits may not exceed eighty-five percent
of the insured's weekly income from work. The benefit payment
period begins fourteen days after the date of the automobile
accident and ends at the earliest of the following:
(a) The date on which the insured is reasonably able to
perform the duties of his or her usual occupation;
(b) Fifty-four weeks from the date of the automobile
accident; or
(c) The date of the insured's death.
(4) "Insured automobile" means an automobile described on
the declarations page of the policy.
(5) "Insured" means:
(a) The named insured or a person who is a resident of the
named insured's household and is either related to the named
insured by blood, marriage, or adoption, or is the named
insured's ward, foster child, or stepchild; or
(b) A person who sustains bodily injury caused by accident
while: (i) Occupying or using the insured automobile with the
permission of the named insured; or (ii) a pedestrian
accidentally struck by the insured automobile.
(6) "Loss of services benefits" means reimbursement for
payment to others, not members of the insured's household, for
expenses reasonably incurred for services in lieu of those the
insured would usually have performed for his or her household
without compensation, provided the services are actually
rendered. The maximum benefit is forty dollars per day.
Reimbursement for loss of services ends the earliest of the
following:
(a) The date on which the insured person is reasonably able
to perform those services;
(b) Fifty-two weeks from the date of the automobile
accident; or
(c) The date of the insured's death.
(7) "Medical and hospital benefits" means payments for all
reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by or on behalf of the
insured for injuries sustained as a result of an automobile
accident for health care services provided by persons licensed
under Title 18 RCW, including pharmaceuticals, prosthetic devices
and eye glasses, and necessary ambulance, hospital, and
professional nursing service. Medical and hospital benefits are
payable for expenses incurred within three years from the date of
the automobile accident.
(8) "Automobile liability insurance policy" means a policy
insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for
bodily injury, death, or property damage suffered by any person
and arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of an
insured automobile. An automobile liability policy does not
include:
(a) Vendors single interest or collateral protection
coverage;
(b) General liability insurance; or
(c) Excess liability insurance, commonly known as an
umbrella policy, where coverage applies only as excess to an
underlying automobile policy.
(9) "Named insured" means the individual named in the
declarations of the policy and includes his or her spouse if a
resident of the same household.
(10) "Occupying" means in or upon or entering into or
alighting from.
(11) "Pedestrian" means a natural person not occupying a
motor vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.320.
(12) "Personal injury protection" means the benefits
described in this section and RCW 48.22.085 through 48.22.100.
Payments made under personal injury protection coverage are
limited to the actual amount of loss or expense incurred.
[2003 c 115 § 1; 1993 c 242 § 1.]
NOTES:
Severability -- 1993 c 242: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1993 c 242 § 7.]
Effective date -- 1993 c 242: "Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1994." [1993 c 242 § 8.]