After a car accident, you are likely to have many types of economic damages resulting from your injuries. These damages may include medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses relating to your medical treatments. Personal injury protection, or PIP, insurance can help pay for these expenses.
PIP requirements vary by state; this coverage is not required in every state. Dive into the details below to learn how PIP coverage works, what it will pay for, and whether or not you need it in Texas.
What Is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance?
PIP insurance is a type of insurance that vehicle owners purchase to cover their injuries after an accident. PIP coverage will pay for covered expenses after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. On the other hand, traditional liability insurance requires proving who was responsible for the accident before the claim is paid.
Since PIP insurance does not depend on who was at fault for the crash, claims are often paid much faster. This allows you to get compensation for your medical bills and other injury-related expenses quicker.
Suppose you were injured in a car accident and sustained injuries requiring medical treatment. You could file a claim with your own PIP coverage to get compensation for your medical expenses. Your PIP coverage should pay for those expenses, no matter who caused the accident.
Who & What Does PIP Cover?
PIP coverage varies slightly by state, but the basics of the coverage are generally the same. PIP policies may cover:
- The policyholder (you)
- Passengers in your vehicle
- Family members who live in your household
- Cyclists or pedestrians injured by your vehicle
After an accident, PIP will pay for the cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatments for your injuries. It will generally also pay for any lost wages you suffered because of your injuries. Most PIP policies do not have a deductible, so you often can receive 100% reimbursement for these expenses.
Keep in mind that there are some notable limitations to PIP coverage. This type of insurance does not cover your non-economic damages after an accident. Some common examples of non-economic damages you may suffer after a car accident include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Depression
- Diminished quality of life
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
If someone else was responsible for your accident, you may file a claim against them for your non-economic damages. These damages are often worth significantly more than the economic damages resulting from an accident. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help determine all the damages to which you are entitled after an accident.
PIP Requirements in Texas
PIP requirements vary by state. Whether or not PIP coverage is required typically depends on whether the state follows a no-fault insurance system or an at-fault system. Texas is an at-fault insurance state, so you may choose to decline PIP coverage.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, all auto policies in the state include PIP coverage. However, you may decline this coverage if you choose to do so. If you want to decline the coverage, you must notify your insurance company in writing of your decision.
The policy limits on most PIP policies in Texas are $2,500. However, you may choose to purchase additional coverage beyond these limits. Whether or not you should purchase additional coverage depends on your specific needs.
Texas law does require all drivers to carry liability insurance. The minimum required amounts of liability coverage in the state are:
- $30,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $60,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
- $25,000 property damage coverage per accident
Like PIP coverage, you may purchase additional liability insurance beyond these minimum requirements. Remember that you could be held personally responsible for any damages you cause beyond the policy limits of your coverage.
Since Texas is an at-fault state, you can sue the at-fault driver after an accident for your damages. Liability insurance helps ensure you will get the compensation you are owed after the accident. Some people also choose to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in case they are hit by someone who does not have liability insurance.
Contact Our Galveston Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Free Consultation
Even with insurance coverage in place, getting compensation after an accident can sometimes be difficult. The insurance company is not going to just hand over the money, and they might stall or even deny your claim altogether. This can put injury victims in a tough spot, especially when they have medical bills waiting to be paid.
If you have been hurt in a car accident in Galveston, Texas, contact The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers today. We can help you hold the responsible party accountable, and we will fight tirelessly to get you the compensation you are owed. Schedule your free consultation today at (409) 207-9299 so we can put our experience to work for you.
