How Do I Use PIP
You file a claim with your own insurer right after the accident, and PIP pays your medical bills and some lost income no matter who caused the crash.
Call your insurer before you pay any medical bill
PIP, or personal injury protection, pays out through your own auto policy, not the other driver's. As soon as you've been seen by a doctor or gone to the emergency room, call your insurer and open a claim. They'll tell you what forms they need and where to send bills going forward.
You don't wait to find out who was at fault. PIP pays regardless, which is the whole point of having it. The claim runs alongside any liability claim against the other driver, and the two don't cancel each other out.
What state you're in changes how PIP works
PIP is required in some states and optional in others, and the rules about what it covers and how claims are filed come from your state, not from your insurer. Some states also set a time limit for notifying your insurer or seeing a doctor after the accident, and missing that window can affect your claim.
Your declarations page will tell you whether you have PIP and what the coverage amount is. If you're not sure what your state requires or how soon you need to report an accident, your insurer or your state's insurance department can tell you.
In states where PIP is optional, some drivers carry it as an add-on even when it's not required, because it starts paying faster than a liability claim against another driver usually does.
If you're helping a parent sort this out, the declarations page is the place to start. It will say plainly what coverage they have.
How PIP and your health insurance interact
In most states, you don't get to choose freely between PIP and your health insurance. Some states require PIP to pay first, before your health insurance is billed for anything related to the accident. Others let PIP work as secondary coverage, paying what's left after health insurance pays its share.
This matters because sending a bill to the wrong insurer first can slow down payment or get the claim denied outright. Ask your auto insurer directly which order applies in your state before any bills go out.
If you're on Medicare, there are additional rules about how Medicare and PIP coordinate after a car accident, and those rules are set by Medicare, not your auto insurer. It's worth asking your insurer how they usually handle that coordination so you're not caught between two systems.
Keep a copy of every bill and every form you send, no matter which insurer is paying first. If the order needs to be corrected later, you'll want your own record of what was submitted and when.
Questions people ask about this
Do I need a police report to file a PIP claim?
Most insurers ask for one, because it documents that the accident happened and when. Call the non-emergency police line if officers didn't come to the scene, and ask how to get a copy of the report once it's filed.
Does PIP cover a passenger in my car?
Generally yes, PIP on your policy covers people riding in your car at the time of the accident, not just you as the driver. The passenger's own insurer may also be involved depending on their coverage, so ask your insurer how that's handled.
What happens if my PIP coverage runs out before I'm done with treatment?
Once PIP benefits are exhausted, remaining medical bills typically go to your health insurance or to a liability claim against the at-fault driver if there is one. Ask your insurer how much of your PIP coverage remains as you go, so you're not surprised partway through treatment.
Can I use PIP if the accident wasn't my fault?
Yes, that's exactly what PIP is for. It pays out regardless of fault, which is why it's sometimes called no-fault coverage, and you file the claim with your own insurer rather than waiting on the other driver's insurer to accept responsibility.
Will using PIP raise my insurance rate?
That depends on your insurer and your state, since some states limit or prohibit raising rates for no-fault claims where you weren't at fault. Ask your insurer directly how a PIP claim affects your policy before you assume either way.
If you're comparing coverage before a renewal, see what other insurers offer for PIP and how it's priced.
Find your declarations page and check whether you have PIP, and what the coverage amount is. If you've already been in an accident, call your insurer today to open the claim rather than waiting on the other driver's insurer. Ask two things directly: whether your state requires PIP to pay before or after your health insurance, and how much of your PIP coverage is left. Keep copies of every bill and form you submit. If you're helping a parent through this, make the call with them so you hear the answers firsthand.
