What Is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Texas?

Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of mandatory insurance coverage that many Texans waive without fully understanding it. This type of insurance gives policyholders the option to file a claim with their own insurance company after an accident. Personal injury protection applies to all passengers in a vehicle, regardless of who is at fault for the crash.

In Texas, insurers are required to offer personal injury protection automatically, but a policyholder can opt-out of the coverage if they do not want to pay for it. However, the cost of personal injury protection may be well worth its benefits.

How Does PIP Work?

Personal injury protection provides compensation for medical bills and other costs associated with car accidents. The amount of coverage provided by PIP plans varies depending on how much a policyholder paid for. Texas law requires that insurers offer a minimum of $2,500 in coverage.

Some costs covered by personal injury protection include the following:

• Medical bills associated with injuries caused by an accident
• Transportation by ambulance
• Physical therapy and other rehabilitation
• Funeral costs
• Lost wages from injury
• The cost of hiring at-home care

Importantly, personal injury protection provides relief for families who are in financial need but cannot wait for the outcome of litigation or a third-party claim. Since PIP claims are unaffected by fault, policyholders can reasonably expect a prompt payout shortly after a car accident.

A personal injury protection policy gives someone a financial buffer while the opposite party’s insurer investigates a claim.

Is an Attorney Necessary If You Have PIP?

Personal injury protection only covers some of the costs of a car accident. If a person causes a car accident because of negligent behavior, they should compensate those they harmed. Policies will only pay out as much as a person is covered and do not always adequately meet the costs of a car accident. An attorney will help recover losses that an insurance policy will not cover.

In some cases, individuals may need an attorney to obtain compensation from their personal injury protection policy. Some insurance providers have a reputation for denying valid claims, which causes undue hardship for claimants. An experienced attorney will be prepared to fight for payment from your personal injury policy while they file a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance company.

If you have been injured and are collecting money from your PIP coverage, the personal injury attorneys from Arnold & Itkin are ready to fight for the financial help that you need and deserve. Call us today at (888) 493-1629 for a free consultation!