All About Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Texas

Originally published by Chris Cagle.

Unless you maintain a liability-only policy, chances are you carry personal injury protection, or “PIP.” PIP coverage can help you pay  medical bills while you focus on recovering from accident injuries.

Many people do not know they have PIP until they consult with us and we review their insurance policies. Here is what you need to know about PIP coverage and how it will help you after an accident.

What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

PIP covers injuries you sustain while operating or riding in your vehicle. It also covers guest passengers and family members who were involved in the accident and also sustained injuries.

Besides paying medical bills, PIP will also cover lost income up to 80 percent. If you are not a wage earner at the time of the accident, PIP covers expenses for household labor that is normally performed by you. For example, if you are a stay at home parent, PIP may cover childcare, yard work, and house cleaning services while you recover.

Is It Required in Texas?

It is not required that you maintain PIP coverage. However it is mandatory that your insurance company offer it to you. This means that your insurance company must offer PIP coverage to you at the time you purchase your auto insurance policy.  To decline PIP coverage, you must sign a “rejection” form. Even if your insurance policy does not expressly provide PIP coverage, you may still take advantage of such coverage if your insurance agent cannot produce your signed rejection form.   PIP policies must also offer at least $2,500 in coverage. Most policies are in excess of $5,000 which can prove very helpful in any injury situation.

Is It Worth the Expense?

Yes. PIP is the most certain way to assure payment of at least some of your medical bills. While a settlement pays your medical expenses at the conclusion of your case, you have no guarantee of how quickly a favorable settlement will come.  . Therefore, it may be that PIP payments can stave off calls from medical collectors while you work through the medical treatment required to get you better.

Another good reason to purchase PIP is you never know if other drivers will carry adequate coverage. Unless you have PIP or uninsured motorist coverage , you have no other options for covering bills and lost income.

Many people find PIP coverage worth it for the income and expense reimbursement alone. If you cannot maintain your home or work full time, PIP will make a difference in assuring your other bills remain paid on time.

Will My Insurance Premium Increase if I Find a PIP Claim?

PIP is “no fault” insurance, which means that your rates will not go up by making a PIP claim.  We routinely make PIP claims for our Clients, and virtually every client has been pleased with the results of making such a claim.

Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to handle a PIP Claim?

While PIP claims may seem straightforward, when it is combined with a claim against the at fault driver’s insurance company, complexities can arise.  In some circumstances, it can hurt your case against the negligent driver’s insurance company if you make a PIP claim to soon or at another inopportune time.  The Cagle Law Firm includes Texas PIP claims among its services when it represents you in your personal injury accident claim. If you have a PIP claim that you think has been unfairly denied Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation and get started on resolving your accident expenses.

The post All About Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Texas appeared first on Cagle Law Firm.

Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.

from Texas Bar Today http://ift.tt/2Gikamc
via Abogado Aly Website