Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Law and Legal Definition
Personal injury protection (PIP) is a form of car insurance available in some states of the U.S. It covers medical expenses and other damages. PIP is also referred as “no-fault” coverage.
PIP is mandatory in some sates of the U.S. These states include Utah, New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Colorado, Oregon, North Dakota, New Jersey, Michigan, Maryland, Hawaii and Delaware.
PIP coverage is designed to cover medical (and funeral) expenses for the driver, and others in his/her vehicle, including any others driving his/her vehicle. The coverage also extends to any pedestrians struck by the driver's vehicle. However, PIP coverage varies from state to state.
Following is an example of a state law (Texas) on PIP:
Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.151, "Personal injury protection" consists of provisions of an automobile liability insurance policy that provide for payment to the named insured in the policy, members of the insured's household, and any authorized operator or passenger of the named insured's motor vehicle, including a guest occupant, of all reasonable expenses that:
1. arise from an accident;
2. are incurred not later than the third anniversary of the date of the accident; and
3. necessary medical, surgical, x-ray, or dental services, including prosthetic devices, and necessary ambulance, hospital, professional nursing, or funeral services;
4.. in the case of an income producer, replacement of income lost as the result of the accident; or
5. in the case of a person injured in the accident who was not an income or wage producer at the time of the accident, reimbursement of necessary and reasonable expenses incurred for essential services ordinarily performed by the injured person for care and maintenance of the family or family household.
