Generally yes — if you are struck by a motor vehicle and you carry PIP on your own auto policy. Personal Injury Protection is no-fault coverage: it applies regardless of who caused the crash, and under most Washington policies it follows you as the insured rather than following your car. That is why it can cover you on a bicycle.
Washington insurers must offer PIP under RCW 48.22.085, though a named insured can reject it in writing. If you have never thought about whether you carry it, that is worth checking before you need it.
When Washington PIP Covers an Injured Cyclist
PIP can apply when an insured cyclist is injured in a collision involving a motor vehicle, subject to the policy, statutory definitions, and any written rejection.
PIP Medical, Wage-Loss, and Service Benefits
PIP typically covers medical expenses up to the policy limit and a percentage of lost wages, both payable while the liability claim against the at-fault driver remains unresolved. That addresses the most urgent practical problem after a serious injury: treatment cannot always wait for a settlement, and neither can rent.
RCW 48.22.095 sets the minimum benefits that must be offered, which include medical and hospital benefits, funeral expenses, income continuation, and loss of services.
Policy Limits and Written PIP Rejections
PIP limits are set by the policy, and the amount available varies. Many Washington policies carry somewhere in the range of $10,000 to $35,000 in PIP medical coverage, with higher limits available to those who purchased them.
Exhausting PIP does not end medical coverage — health insurance takes over from there. But the handoff changes the payment structure, and both PIP carriers and health insurers may have reimbursement rights against your eventual recovery. Those reimbursement claims are frequently negotiable, and how they get handled affects what you ultimately keep.
At-Fault Driver PIP and Priority of Coverage
If the at-fault driver carries PIP, it may be available as a secondary source depending on how the policies interact. The sequencing of PIP claims — your policy versus theirs, and where health insurance fits — affects how much of your recovery ends up subject to liens. It is one of the quieter ways claim handling changes the final number.
No Car? Check the Household
If you do not own a car or do not carry PIP, look at whether a household member's auto policy extends coverage to you. Some policies cover resident relatives, and the definitions vary by carrier. A surprising number of carless Seattle cyclists have PIP available through a family member's policy without knowing it.
Legal sources
General legal information only. Specific facts, policy language, parties, and deadlines can change the analysis.