Personal injury protection: Coverage against accidents

by renditioner » Thu Aug 14, 2008 06:30 am

Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is a measure you can take to cover for the medical bills you would have to pay in case you suffer any injury in an accident regardless of who is at fault. Accidents can be very taxing, painful in the body as well as to the pocket. If you have personal injury protection, you can stop worrying about any medical bills.

What does PIP cover?

Personal injury protection insurance covers the charge accrued in case of an emergency situation and simultaneous health care treatment when an accident occurs. This coverage protects the driver and the passengers of the driver's car. PIP insurance covers the policyholder, his family member and relations that he has named, the passengers in his car, permitted drivers and in some cases and specific states, any insured individual who gets injured while riding in the car. A pedestrian who gets hit by the vehicle is also covered under this policy.

PIP also provides coverage for lost wages and damages caused due to pain and suffering. You can receive payouts up to the maximum limits of the plan.

With PIP you can cover the cost of:
  • Medical costs
  • Transportation in case of medical emergency
  • Lost wage
  • Death by accident
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Benefits to survivor
  • Costs of childcare while you or a passenger in your is being treated in the hospital
  • Loss of companionship (conditions apply)

How much does personal injury protection pay?

PIP can give you a payout of up to its maximum limit. However, usually there is a cap to the amount paid out under PIP and this level varies from one state to another. While on some states the coverage is considerably lower than what it costs for repair and the medical bills, the policyholders or motorists are asked to purchase additional insurance. These additional insurance includes bodily injury protection, uninsured and underinsure motorist coverage. Many mistake PIP and bodily injury to be the same. However, there are differences between PIP and Bodily Injury coverage.

Why would you purchase personal injury protection?

Having personal injury protection means that you can do away with the need to file a lawsuit since it functions regardless of who is at fault. In no-fault states requiring PIP, the drivers are not allowed to sue anyone for damages. They have to make a claim with their own insurance company. They can only pursue damages from another driver at fault if the damages incurred reach a set limit. In case of a death or very serious injuries, the injured party can sue the other driver and can receive payouts beyond the PIP payout cap.

Which are the states where PIP is mandatory?

  1. Delaware
  2. Florida
  3. Hawaii
  4. Kansas
  5. Kentucky
  6. Massachusetts
  7. Michigan
  8. Minnesota
  9. New Jersey
  10. New York
  11. North Dakota
  12. Oregon
  13. Pennsylvania
  14. Utah
  15. Texas

PIP is mandatory in few states and in others it is offered as a choice. It depends on your state's auto insurance laws whether you are required to purchase PIP coverage.

Related Discussions:

Hello people ,I am in a predicament now.Imagine I have a Personal Injury protection and I had an accident while travelling in a car with 4 other people. That's why I need to ask- what does pip cover ?? Will it cover the medical expenses for all the people,who were in the vehicle at the time of the accident? or is it just me?Do the other people also need to have a policy similar to the one I have or any other policy to cover their medical bills ?

Total Comments: 59

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:12 am Post Subject: Re

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of a medical mistake where a physical deviated from the standard of care to which he or she was expected to adhere, contact a Florida medical malpractice attorney.

[Link removed as per TOU]

Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 02:12 pm Post Subject:

An insurance company if providing a PIP insurance does not takes the whole responsibility of the recovery of the person and his passengers if any mishap occurs to them, or if it covers the entire recovery then the premium rates are applicable according to the things covered.

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 04:27 pm Post Subject: PIP covage in michigan

My auto isurance is higher for PIP now that I am on medicare.
Is there any companies that doesn't up your rate because you are on medicare?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 06:50 pm Post Subject: can i be compensated

Was hit by a car, my pip is exhausted but I still have unpaid bills.what can I do?

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 09:54 pm Post Subject: injured..

I was in a wreck in June I am in Kansas which is a PIP state. I did not have PIP on my vehicle because it was registered in Oklahoma. My boyfriend therefore does have PIP and he was driving my vehicle and another car ran the light an hit us. With that being said would that cover my on his PIP since we have been together for 2 years and also living together for same amount of time? the other vehicle did not have any insurance what so ever!

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 02:17 am Post Subject:

See my sig.

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 03:18 am Post Subject:

KDR, I don’t know Kansas law but I suspect you might run into an issue for not registering your vehicle in Kansas (given that you had been residing there for two years). As to the question about whether you are covered under your boyfriend’s policy, you will need to look at the terms of that policy and the laws of Kansas and Oklahoma. Sometimes only the driver is afforded protection under PIP policies.

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:59 am Post Subject: Personal injury Protection

Informative thread.Personal Injury Protection is an extension of car insurance that cover medical expense. It provides replacement income based on 90%of your net income.

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 01:22 pm Post Subject:

It provides replacement income based on 90%of your net income.


Perhaps for the 1 state you are thinking of. It's different from state to state.

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 01:50 am Post Subject: Personal Protection Insurance (PIP) /Michigan

Hi ,
How are PIP rates / premiums determined in Michigan ? Is it based on wage earning potential , driving experience , age , # in household , credit ... ? Or is it a set amount per vehicle ( like the MCCA assessment is ) ?

What is the average premium for PIP in Michigan ?

Thank You for any information - I have scoured the internet and have not been able to find the answer.

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