After an accident, medical bills and lost income can pile up quickly and become very overwhelming. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits are designed to help cover these immediate expenses following your accident, regardless of who was at fault. Understanding how PIP works, and what it covers, can make a significant difference in your financial recovery following your accident.  

What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection is a type of no-fault insurance coverage that helps pay for certain expenses after a car accident, regardless of who’s at fault for the accident. This essentially means that if you were injured in an accident, regardless of whether you were at fault for causing the accident or not, you will receive some form of compensation.

The primary purpose of PIP benefits is to provide quick financial support so accident victims have the funds to focus on things like medical treatment and recovery without waiting for a fault determination.

What Expenses PIP Benefits Cover

As mentioned above, PIP benefits are designed to help cover the most immediate and necessary expenses following the accident. The main expense that PIP pays for is medical treatment, which may include hospital visits, doctor appointments, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medication, and more.

In addition to medical bills, PIP benefits also cover wages lost as a result of the accident. If you are unable to work after your accident, your PIP benefits will often provide compensation for your lost wages in Michigan. This can help to replace a portion of your income while you recover from your injury.

PIP may also cover replacement services, such as household tasks you are unable to perform due to your injuries including cleaning, taking out the garbage, laundry, and more. If you need someone to help you with these services, they can earn up to $20 per day depending on the intensity of the help.

These are the three main expenses that PIP benefits are designed to cover. However, depending on your insurance policy and the extent of your injuries, PIP may also cover transportation or mileage to and from medical appointments, childcare, funeral and burial expenses, and more.

Who is Covered Under PIP

PIP benefits generally cover more than just the driver involved in the accident. In Michigan, PIP coverage may apply to the named insured on the policy and relatives living in the same household.

Coverage is typically determined by a priority order set by Michigan’s No-Fault law, meaning the injured person may be required to seek PIP benefits from a specific insurance policy first. For example, an injured driver or passenger will usually turn to their own auto insurance policy, while pedestrians or passengers may be covered under a different applicable policy.

Eligibility and priority rules can be complex, speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer can help to insure that the proper coverage is identified, maximizing compensation, and making your recovery process as smooth as possible.

Limits, Deadlines, and Common Restrictions

While PIP benefits can provide important financial support after an accident, they are subject to specific limits and deadlines. In Michigan, coverage amounts for medical expenses depend on the level of PIP medical coverage selected in the insurance policy, and benefits such as wage loss and replacement services are capped by law. Understanding these limits is critical, as PIP benefits may not fully cover all accident-related losses. If you are injured as a result of the actions of the other driver, you may have the ability to pursue his/her insurance company depending on whether they have insurance once you have exhausted your PIP benefits.

There are also strict deadlines that must be followed to preserve PIP benefits. According to Michigan law, PIP claims must be filed within one year of the date of the accident. Failure to provide timely notice or proper documentation before the deadline will result in denied benefits.

Insurance companies may also impose restrictions or challenge claims by questioning whether treatment was reasonably necessary, whether services are related to the accident, or whether policy requirements were met.

When to Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer About PIP

A personal injury attorney plays an extremely important role in protecting your rights and helping you navigate the PIP claims process. As mentioned above, insurance companies will do all that they can to delay, reduce, or deny benefits. An experienced attorney can help to ensure claims are properly filed, deadlines are met, and the full scope of benefits available under Michigan No-Fault law is pursued.

You should consider contacting a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible if your PIP benefits are denied, delayed, or suddenly stopped, or if the insurance company disputes the necessity of your medical treatment or other expenses. Legal assistance is also important when injuries are serious, expenses are significant or you are unsure which insurance policy is responsible for paying benefits. Speaking with an attorney early in the process can prevent costly mistakes and improve the chances of receiving the compensation you are entitled to under law.

Get David Get Paid

With over 100 years of combined experience in personal injury law, our experienced team of injury lawyers at Femminineo Law can guarantee that we will do everything possible to get you the most compensation in the shortest amount of time.

If you or anyone that you know has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, call

Femminineo Law today at 855-65-CRASH, or visit our website, getdavidgetpaid.com, today!