What Does PIP Insurance Cover in Massachusetts?
Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage on your auto insurance policy is a requirement in Massachusetts. Every driver must carry a minimum of $8,000 for each person and vehicle involved in an accident.
Although you are aware that you need to carry this coverage, you might not know why you need to add it to your policy or what it will cover in the event of an accident. Read on for more information.
What Is No-Fault Insurance?
No-fault insurance means that your own insurance company will pay you a portion of your damages (up to the limits of your policy), regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Even if you are found to be 100 percent responsible for the crash, your own insurance company will be required to pay.
Once you’ve reached the limits of your own insurance policy, you may then file a claim with the other involved party’s insurer, which will cover damages up to his or her policy limits—if we establish the other driver’s liability.
If both insurance companies have contributed their required amounts and your damages still aren’t covered, we may be able to move forward with a personal injury claim against the negligent party, as long as your crash meets the criteria to sue outside the no-fault system.
Covering Your Medical Expenses and Other Losses
While numerous damages will be considered when calculating the value of your claim, PIP insurance will only cover certain losses. These include your medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost wages, and loss of household services.
Your lost wages will be those you were unable to earn while you were out of work due to an injury you sustained in the accident. The loss of household services applies when you need to have someone else complete household tasks, such as completing household chores or taking care of your children, while you are recovering.
The area of medical bills is slightly different and determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on what type of health insurance you have and limits you purchased on your auto insurance policy. For instance, if you purchased the minimum $8,000 coverage and you have Medicaid or another government run health insurance plan, you can expect your insurer to cover up to $8,000 before your health insurance kicks in.
However, if you have health insurance with a private company, your auto insurance company may cover a smaller portion of your medical bills before your health insurance needs to take effect.
Meet with a Boston Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident and would like more information about how to get the insurance company to cover the costs outlined in your no-fault insurance policy, reach out to a qualified Boston car accident lawyer at Joel H. Schwartz, PC.
You can schedule a free consultation today by filling out the quick contact form at the bottom of this page or giving our office a call at 1-800-660-2270.