What Is Personal Injury Protection?
Personal injury protection (PIP), also known as
no-fault insurance, helps cover expenses like medical bills, lost wages or funeral costs after a car accident, no matter who is at fault. Requirements for this coverage vary from state to state.
Let’s take a closer look at the personal injury protection definition. You can also learn more by getting a quote from the
AARP® Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford
1 and reviewing our glossary or important
auto insurance terms and definitions.
What Does Personal Injury Protection Car Insurance Cover?
If you’re in an auto accident, your PIP insurance can help cover medical expenses for you and your injured passengers. And it doesn’t matter who is at a fault for the accident.
This car insurance coverage applies even if you’re not driving. For example, if you’re injured after getting hit by a car while walking, your PIP coverage may help pay for your injuries.
Medical Expenses
On top of covering medical bills for you and your passengers after a car accident, PIP coverage may even help cover your health insurance deductible.
Work Loss
If you’re injured in an accident and have lost wages because you’re out of work, your PIP coverage can help. This benefit can also apply if you’re self-employed and need to hire temporary workers to perform tasks.
Funeral Expenses
Your PIP coverage can help pay for funeral, burial or cremation expenses after a car accident.
Survivors’ Loss
If you pass away in an auto accident, your PIP insurance can help replace your lost income for your surviving dependents.
Essential Services
Your PIP insurance can also help pay for services that you’d normally perform if you weren’t injured, like childcare and housecleaning.
What Is Not Covered by PIP Insurance?
Your personal injury protection insurance won’t help cover:
- Property damage
- The other drivers’ injuries in a collision
- Any injuries from an accident while you were committing a crime, like fleeing the police
- Injuries in an accident while you received payment for driving
Because PIP doesn’t cover everything, you’ll also want to consider these policies to help make sure you’re fully covered on the road:
You can learn more about the PIP limits and liability coverages you need by getting a
car insurance quote from us today.
Personal Injury Protection Car Insurance Requirements by State
State car insurance requirements are not the same everywhere. In fact, they vary quite a bit across the United States.
In states with no-fault insurance laws, every driver must file a claim with their own insurance company after an accident, regardless of who caused it. This means that all drivers need to buy personal injury protection coverage as a part of their auto policies.
States with no-fault coverage laws are:
At-Fault States Where PIP Is Required
At-fault states require the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident to pay for injuries, up to policy limits.
States with at-fault laws that require PIP coverage are:
At-Fault States Where PIP is Optional
There are also states where PIP insurance is optional. These are:
Get a Quote for Auto Insurance Personal Injury Protection Coverage
Last Updated: September 25, 2023
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