As a good citizen of your community, you purchased automobile insurance as required by state law. With that policy, you likely also purchased Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

Benefits of PIP coverage

Our earlier blog talked about the definition and scope of coverage of PIP insurance. But what benefits does that coverage actually provide when you’ve been injured in an automobile accident?

Medical expenses

You likely purchased Personal Injury Protection coverage with your auto insurance to help pay medical bills. That coverage is generally phrased as “ … reasonable and necessary costs associated with medical and hospital costs related to injuries suffered in an accident.”

That can include ambulance bills, hospital bills, bills from a surgeon or anesthesiologist, diagnostic studies (x-rays, MRI’s, CT scans, etc.), massage therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, prescription drugs, crutches, and so on.

PIP coverage varies from state to state for types of treatments that are considered reasonable and customary. For example, in Washington, acupuncture is a permissible medical treatment, while in California it is not.

Funeral expenses

What you may not realize is that PIP provides coverage to pay for expenses other than hospital costs and medical treatment.

Although no one likes to think about it, funeral expenses might result from a traffic accident. Some policies include a small death benefit.

Loss of Income

For example, if you are unable to work because of the accident, you may lose some or all of your income. Most PIP policies have a provision for loss of income (subject to the limits of the policy).

You may need to hire someone to do tasks that you are not able to do because you are injured, such as child care, house cleaning, or yard care.

Who does PIP cover?

PIP covers expenses of the insured, others in its vehicle at the time of the loss, and pedestrians struck by the vehicle, regardless of who was at fault. Remember, though, that expenses are covered only up to the dollar amount listed in the policy.

The at-fault driver does not pay

Even if it’s obvious that the other drive is at fault, your insurance company pays first.

However, even your insurance company will not pay for medical expenses or lost wages until the claim is settled – and that could take weeks or months. The at-fault party does not pay any expenses over and above your PIP coverage until you have first settled with your own insurance company.

As your medical treatments continue, the bills keep coming in. Your expenses add up, and the medical providers want to be paid.

We can help you understand the process, move the claim along, and assist with the paperwork. Call our office today to discuss of your situation and how we can help.