What Is Personal Injury Protection?
Personal injury protection (also known simply as PIP) is a component of automobile insurance. Car crashes can involve devastating physical injuries, which in turn incur high medical bills. PIP coverage allows victims of a car crash to recover funds from their auto insurer for the medical costs and lost wages associated with the injuries suffered due to a car accident.
One important thing to note about PIP is that coverage does not actually depend on who’s at fault for the accident and the injuries that occurred. Indeed, PIP is sometimes known as “no-fault insurance.” PIP covers the medical expenses of injured policyholders, as well as any injured passengers—even if they themselves don’t have health insurance. PIP policies have a per-person maximum.
What Does PIP Insurance Cover?
Generally, personal injury protection reimburses 80 percent of the medical expenses incurred by a car accident. Treatment must be sought for qualifying injuries within 14 days of the car accident, unless your specific policy states otherwise.
PIP statutes vary from state to state. In Florida, insurance companies are required to pay up to $10,000 in medical costs associated with an automobile accident, regardless of who was at fault for the accident or injuries.
PIP benefits will most fully cover an emergency medical condition, though some insurance companies may try to limit the amount they pay you by claiming you do not have an emergency medical condition. As with any insurance claim over injuries, it is important to keep any and all relevant documentation to strengthen your claim.
Under PIP, you should also be reimbursed for the transportation costs associated with “reasonably medically necessary” medical treatment, so it is important to fill out a mileage form for your insurer to be reimbursed for this.
On top of covering 80 percent of medical costs, PIP also covers 60 percent of lost wages, or 60 percent of lost earning capacity. PIP also included coverage for death benefits.
Unfortunately, some insurance companies may purposely underpay or even fully deny the claims submitted to them under personal injury protection.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you or someone you love has suffered from injuries in a car accident but your insurance company underpaid you or completely failed to pay your PIP claim, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by car accident injuries, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Pursuing litigation can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with injuries in the aftermath of a car accident, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced car accident attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.
