Personal Injury Protection/No-Fault Insurance
No matter how hard you try and how long you go without one – the fact is – driving accidents happen. It doesn’t mean you’re a terrible driver, but it could mean you were distracted, simply not paying attention, or you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got involved in a crash that was unavoidable. That’s one of the main reason to make sure you have the right coverage to help pay for the cost of your medical expenses in case you get injured in an accident.
What you get with Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP) is peace of mind – knowing PIP coverage can help you pay for your medical bills in the event you get into an accident.
You might be asking if you need Personal Injury Protection Insurance. Well, depending on where you live, PIP may be required by your state’s laws. By definition, states requiring one of these types of auto insurance are known as “no-fault” accident states. This means that damages for injuries are paid for by a person’s own insurance regardless of who’s at fault for the accident or whether or not the other person involved in the accident has commercial auto insurance coverage. As required by the law, your personal medical expenses or injuries sustained by your passengers are paid for by your PIP – no matter who’s to blame for the accident.
Meanwhile, in states where PIP insurance is optional, your medical insurance might cover medical expenses related to an accident. And, because PIP coverage limits vary by state, you may want to check with your medical insurance provider as well as you auto insurance carrier to see if you need extra coverage to protect you while you’re on the road.
Keeping in mind that much depends on where you live, PIP insurance may include coverage for the following:
- Medical Benefits – Coverage for the cost of treatment you receive from hospitals, doctors, and other medical providers.
- Disability Benefits – Reimbursement for expenses related to your injuries – like lost wages or other expenses incurred if you’re not able to return to work right away.
- Death Benefits – Benefits payable if you’re involved in a fatal accident and may also cover the cost of funeral expenses.
With PIP, filing an auto insurance claim is pretty straight forward. You submit the claim directly to your insurance company and they’ll begin the paperwork.
Although, you may believe you’re completely covered because you have full coverage insurance, you should be aware that “full coverage” doesn’t actually exist unless you have a combination of your state-required liability or no-fault car insurance along with collision and comprehensive coverage. PIP alone leaves you highly vulnerable to many additional out of pocket expenses, which is why you should check into as much optional coverages as you can afford.
Of course, there are certain exceptions and restrictions. Personal Injury Protection is not available to policyholders in all states or situations. In addition, coverage options and limits may vary by state.
When getting auto insurance quotes, it’s important to remember…the cheapest one isn’t always the right one for you.
Make sure you’re getting the best rate on your auto insurance. Why not get a free auto insurance quote today?