What is Personal Injury Protection(PIP) in Texas?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a car insurance feature that covers medical and other costs incurred as a result of a car accident. All vehicle drivers, including policyholders, vehicle occupants, and uninsured persons, are eligible for accidental injuries. However, not all states mandate this form of insurance.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is the coverage of the first party and means the coverage applicable to the party holding it. If you have a PIP, you can claim a refund from your insurance company after a car accident, regardless of who was responsible. PIP covers medical expenses up to the insurance limit in case of injury in a car accident. It  also covers lost wages, funeral expenses, and other accident-related expenses.

PIP is different from personal liability insurance, but both cover accidental injuries. PIP protects the people in your car and personal injury insurance pays for the injuries of other car occupants in an accident. PIP is also different from health insurance, another version of self-insurance that covers only  medical expenses and not wages lost  after an accident.

Personal injury protection coverage is utilized in no-fault states for lower-cost damages after an automobile accident. Several officials created this method  to dissuade policyholders from filing lawsuits for minor sums of money, which would cost insurance companies money and possibly lead to rate increases across the board. PIP allows the insured to receive money from their own insurer sooner than they would through a liability investigation or litigation.

What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Texas?

Insurance companies in Texas offer personal injury protection, or PIP, to their drivers. This type of insurance will reimburse you for particular charges if you get injured in a car accident.

When a consumer obtains liability insurance in Texas, they must acquire Personal Injury Protection (PIP). The customer is not obligated to purchase PIP coverage. PIP must, however, be offered, and a signed written denial must be on file with the insurance carrier to prove that Texas Personal Injury Protection (PIP) offered and rejected by the consumer.The customer is not obligated to purchase PIP coverage. If no signed written denial of PIP coverage exists, coverage persists regardless of whether it is paid for or not. If not, the Texas Personal Injury Protection (PIP) maximum of $2500 will apply.

Personal injury protection coverage compensates for you and your passengers if you or your passengers are harmed in a car collision in Texas, regardless of who is at fault. PIP entails:

• Medical expenses 
• Emergency medical services
• Services of remembrance
• Rehabilitation
• Accident casualties
• Funeral services

Replacement of crucial services provided by the injured party, such as family care or household maintenance, if the injured party is not an income producer.

How Does Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Texas Work?

This is because comprehensive health insurance can cover much of what PIP is designed to cover. If you have health insurance that covers your medical costs in the event of a car accident, you may not need PIP insurance. PIP, on the other hand, covers lost income and funeral expenses that are not covered by health insurance. 

If health insurance is also available, it can be difficult to understand how PIP works and what your rights are when  you apply. Experienced lawyers should analyze your claims and policies to ensure the best possible results.

How Much Does PIP Insurance Cost in Texas?

PIP insurance usually costs a little extra if you have more coverage than the $2,500 minimum. As the examples below show, a driver who meets the state’s minimum liability insurance requirements can add $10,000 in PIP coverage for less than $39 per month.

In Texas, declining PIP coverage has no effect on your liability insurance premiums, as it would in a pure no-fault jurisdiction. There is no tort barrier in Texas that limits your ability to file a claim against another party involved in an accident. Tort thresholds are common in no-fault states that require PIP insurance because they limit lawsuits to only those with serious injuries.

Personal Injury Protection Benefits

The no-fault provision is one of the most important features of a Personal Injury Protection insurance. Regardless of who was at fault, your insurance provider pays medical bills and lost income benefits stemming from a vehicle accident.

Each injured motorist or passenger files a claim with their own auto insurance provider. Benefits that would have required the injured person to seek reimbursement from a negligent party in the past are now paid by the insurer. PIP will cover you even if you caused the accident.

In Conclusion

There are rules that require you to carry personal injury protection if you live in a no-fault state. This ensures that your medical expenditures are covered up to a set level without the need for a liability investigation or a court case. It’s up to you how much you carry, but make sure you calculate enough to cover any injuries as well as lost pay. If your insurance offers PIP coverage, you should consider it even if you don’t live in a no-fault state. 

If you are living in Texas and a victim of a vehicular accident, then Roxell Richards Law Firm is here to lend assistance on how you will be able to make use of your Personal Injury Protection (PIP).