Wheelchair as a Prosthetic Device
June 11, 2012
Our insured was injured and his wheelchair was damaged in a rollover loss; the wheelchair was strapped inside the insured's vehicle at the time of the accident.
The Washington PIP endorsement states the following: We will pay personal injury protection benefits to or for an insured who sustains bodily injury. The bodily injury must be caused by an accident arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle as a motor vehicle. Subject to the limits shown in the Schedule or Declarations for the personal injury protection coverage benefits that apply, personal injury protection benefits consist of the following: all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred within three years from the date of the accident for medical, surgical, x-ray and dental ser-vices; pharmaceuticals, prosthetic devices and eyeglasses; and necessary ambulance, hospital, professional nursing.
Our question concerns the wheelchair: is it a prosthetic device?
Washington Subscriber
If the insured suffered BI, then that is covered by the PIP endorsement, but we do not see that coverage extending to the repair or replacement of a wheelchair. It is doubtful that a wheelchair is a prosthetic device since such a device is usually something that is meant to replace a missing body part. However, you should ask a medical professional about this to be sure.
This premium content is locked for FC&S Coverage Interpretation Subscribers
Enjoy unlimited access to the trusted solution for successful interpretation and analyses of complex insurance policies.
- Quality content from industry experts with over 60 years insurance experience, combined
- Customizable alerts of changes in relevant policies and trends
- Search and navigate Q&As to find answers to your specific questions
- Filter by article, discussion, analysis and more to find the exact information you’re looking for
- Continually updated to bring you the latest reports, trending topics, and coverage analysis
Already have an account? Sign In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact our Sales Department at 1-800-543-0874 or email [email protected]