PIP (Personal Injury Protection) is only one of the varieties of car insurance you can buy.
“Most people know about liability coverage, which is mandatory, and comprehensive coverage that covers liability and loss or damage. Collision coverage, which covers vehicle damage due to collision, is also pretty well known, but PIP? Not as much,” says California personal injury lawyer Harry Nalbandyan of Levin & Nalbandyan, LLP.
PIP is a little different because PIP pays for injuries to your physical self and lost wages following an accident, regardless of who was at fault. If you are wondering why you need PIP or even what PIP is, this article can help.
How PIP Functions in California
California follows an at-fault system, in which the at-fault party of a crash pays damages with liability insurance. Therefore, when you get hit by another driver, their insurance pays for damages. In the no-fault states, PIP is literally built into every policy, covering medical expenses and lost income regardless of blame.
Here in California, PIP is not required, but it can be a lifesaver. You get paid up front on your bill instead of waiting around arguing over baffling assertions of what precisely occurred. It can be particularly convenient when the other person is not insured.
Who does PIP cover?
PIP is not only looking out for you on the roads, it is looking out for your passengers as well. Let us say you are driving around with some friends, and something happens, they are typically covered. PIP is even applicable if you are just walking or cycling and get hit by a car.
Your family is also taken care of, even if they were nowhere near your vehicle when the situation escalated. If your children get side-swiped on their bikes while they are cycling to the store, or get hit while walking on the sidewalk, your PIP policy can kick in and cover their medical expenses. That is some serious safety net. You can rest a little easier knowing someone has got your back.
Minimum Levels of Coverage in California
Before one can envision PIP, in California, they must first have California’s minimum liability insurance. A minimum of $15,000 for death or bodily injury to one individual, $30,000 for death or bodily injury to different individuals, and $5,000 in property damage.
Those minimum limits ensure that the policyholder can pay for what they might owe others should an accident occur. Unfortunately, none of that is being applied to your own medical bills or lost income. That is precisely why people start thinking about PIP as yet another safety net.
The PIP Claims Process
The PIP claim process is quite simple. When you are in an accident, the first person you should call is your insurance company. The quicker the better. They are going to need all the details: where, when, how, and who got hurt.
You should also be ready to gather some paperwork: your medical bills, your pay stubs in case you miss out on work, and receipts of expenses incurred due to the accident.
Once you provide the receipts, your insurance will reimburse you or pay your doctors and body shops directly. Since PIP does not worry about fault, there may not be a lot of waiting around, and that is a breath of fresh air.
Why You Should Speak with a Lawyer Following a Car Collision
It is a bad idea to try to decipher all of the legalese following a wreck alone. Having a lawyer ensures you have someone who is well versed in personal injury to guide you through the process.
Seek out a professional who knows personal injury law inside and out, has good client feedback, and is upfront about their fees.
A good attorney will save you a lot of hassle and give you a fair shot at the award you rightfully deserve.