During the course of investigating a personal injury claim, your lawyer will assess all possible sources of recovery. This may even include your own insurance coverages. One such coverage available to those involved in a car accident through their own insurance is known as Personal Injury Protection or PIP.
Texas law generally requires those operating vehicles in Texas to maintain certain minimum insurance coverage. When thinking of car insurance, one often thinks of liability and collision coverage; however, when reviewing their policy, many drivers will see PIP coverage. Absent a written waiver of PIP coverage, all Texas insurance policies are written to include PIP. A benefit to insureds is that PIP protection applies to all passengers in a vehicle, irrespective of who is at fault for the crash. This type of coverage is known as first-party insurance coverage.
At a minimum, insurance companies who write Texas auto policies must offer at least $2,500.00 in personal injury protection coverage.
How does PIP work?
After a car accident, medical bills are often inevitable. These bills, for the most part, are eligible for payment under your PIP policy. For example, one can often use their PIP funds to cover:
- Medical bills incurred as a result of the car accident
- Ambulance and EMS bills
- Physical therapy, chiropractic, and other rehabilitation costs
- Funeral costs
- Lost wages as a result of your injuries
- At-home care
Once these medical bills are received, they will be submitted to your insurance company for payment.
Why should I use my PIP?
A personal injury claim can often take months to fully resolve. By utilizing your PIP coverage, you can get immediate relief from medical bills while waiting for resolution of the third-party insurance claim. This is especially important given that PIP payments are available irrespective as to fault in the accident.
If I have PIP, do I still need a lawyer?
PIP policies, while good to cover some medical bills and costs, often fall short of fully compensating you for your injuries. By hiring counsel, you will ensure that all avenues of recovery are pursued. In doing so, you will have peace of mind that all available sources of funds have been used to not only pay for your medical bills, but also compensate you for your pain and suffering.
Our experienced personal injury lawyers are familiar with the types of insurance policies written in Temple, Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove and the surrounding areas. As such, we are able to assess your case and provide a strategic approach to recovery. After an accident, contact us for a free case evaluation, and let’s have a conversation as to how we can put you on the road to recovery.
With strength and integrity, we stand ready to help you.
