Personal Injury Protection Explained

Personal Injury

If you’re injured in a car accident or taking a stroll, you may be entitled to compensation determined by the nature of the injury. Depending on your state, personal injury protection (PIP) may be required or available but not required. Understanding your state’s PIP is crucial for recovering compensation after a crash.

Personal injury protection extends to a basic policy that covers hospital bills and the lost wages the victim may incur after an auto accident. This insurance protects you and your passengers. PIP is also known as “no-fault insurance” since it applies regardless of whether you’re at fault or no other drivers were involved in the accident.

What Does PIP Cover?

PIP covers specific things when you’re involved in a car accident, even if you’re not the one driving. The types of expenses vary from state to state and may include the following:

  • Disability and rehabilitation costs.
  • Lost wages if you or your passengers can’t walk after the injury.
  • PIP takes care of household services you performed before the injury, e.g., house cleaning, yard work, or child care.
  • Personal injury protection covers funeral expenses if it’s a fatal accident.
  • PIP covers wages you’ve lost because you’re out of work due to an injury from an accident. It also applies if you’re self-employed and need to hire temporary workers to perform tasks on your behalf.
  • The policy covers medical expenses for you and those covered in your policy. Examples of such bills include; surgical procedures, hospitalization, and ongoing professional care.
  • Death benefit to your family. PIP will replace your lost income for your surviving relatives depending on you.

What’s Not Covered by PIP?

PIP won’t cover expenses unrelated to personal injuries after an accident. They include:

  • Theft of your vehicle
  • Medical expenses that exceed your coverage limits
  • Damages to the other driver’s car or yours
  • Intentional injuries
  • Injuries caused while committing a crime, like running away from the police
  • Injuries caused to the insured person in organized racing activities
  • Bodily injuries that occur to the other driver and their passengers
  • Damages caused by farm equipment

Is PIP Necessary if You Have Health Insurance?

The establishment of PIP was in the 1970s in many states. You must purchase the policy if you reside in a state where PIP coverage is required. If it’s not needed, you can ignore it if you already have a good health insurance plan to use in case of a car accident injury.

One common miyth about PIP cover is that it’s similar to health insurance. However, only in the event of a car accident can the insured make use of PIP, and it is in addition to any medical coverage already in place.

PIP is not a requirement in states like Missouri, but this kind of insurance is highly recommendable. Insurance companies in St. Louis refer to this kind of coverage as medical payments insurance or MedPay coverage. MedPay is a type of auto insurance coverage that extends your health insurance benefits by giving you a wide range of protection for car accident injuries. It’s optional but great if you have minimum or no insurance coverage or a high deductible.

The policy can help cover expenses like funeral services, lost wages, health insurance deductibles, and replacement services for tasks you can’t perform due to your injuries – typically not covered by the health insurance plan.

How to Get PIP Coverage

You can’t buy personal injury protection as a separate insurance policy. However, when purchasing your auto plan, you can have your insurance agent include it or add it later. The amount of the program varies depending on the insurance company, deductibles, if any, and the level of coverage.

How an Attorney Can Help

After an accident, you could ask yourself whether you need an attorney. You don’t want to be retarded by complicated insurance and coverage details. However, it’s essential to be protected by the law when you’re physically or mentally injured due to another person’s negligence. A professional must handle your personal injury cases to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Talk to the legal team at BruningLegal.com or a law firm near you to learn more about how PIP applies to your claim.