How to File a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Claim After an Accident

Getting into an accident is stressful, especially if you don't know what to do right after. But if you have the right auto insurance, your problems are half-solved. There are different types of compulsory coverage that you must have to operate a vehicle.

One of those coverages is personal injury protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers in the event of an accident. To get compensated, you must file a claim against your PIP insurance. The process involves gathering relevant documentation, such as medical records and police reports, which might take a toll on you if you've never done it before.

To help you sail through the claims process, learn about the basics of PIP coverage, including how to file for a claim. You’ll also get tips for handling the claims process.

What Is PIP Insurance?

PIP is a type of auto insurance that covers your medical expenses, lost income, and other economic losses resulting from a car accident. It's also referred to as no-fault auto insurance because it protects you, regardless of who is at fault.

Depending on your state of residence, PIP coverage may be optional or compulsory. If your state doesn't require you to have PIP insurance, you might want to add it to your auto insurance policy for your own good.

What Does PIP Insurance Cover?

While PIP coverage varies from one state to another and from policy to policy, this kind of auto insurance generally covers the following losses:

• Medical expenses for you and your passengers resulting from auto injuries
• Lost wages should you or your passengers get injured and cannot work
• Disability and rehab expenses
• Household expenses such as yard work, house cleaning, and child care
• Death benefits payable to your family if you're in a fatal accident

What Isn't Covered By PIP Insurance?

PIP insurance doesn't cover expenses that are not related to personal injuries such as:

• A car accident resulting from criminal conduct or if you intended to deliberately cause the accident
• Theft to your vehicle. If you have comprehensive coverage, it can help replace your car if it gets stolen.
• Damage to your vehicle. You will need collision coverage or comprehensive auto insurance to take care of your damaged vehicle.
• Damage to someone's property. If you're responsible for an accident that led to the damage of someone else's property, PIP coverage won't cover the losses. A property damage liability coverage will help you compensate them for the lost property.

How to File a PIP Claim

The claims process for obtaining PIP coverage is similar to any other accident claim. Here's a step-by-step process on how you can file a claim:

• Gather Your Documentation: The first step you'll need to make is to gather all the necessary documents. These include medical reports, your insurance policy, and proof of lost wages if you've not been able to go to work after the accident. Next, fill out your PIP claims form, making sure not to omit any important details.
• Contact Your Insurance Company: Once done with the paperwork, it's time to call your insurance provider to let them know about the accident. Most insurance companies allow you to file a claim online. But it's better to call them and talk to one of their agents to make sure you're doing everything the right way.
• Your insurer conducts claim investigation: After reporting the claim, your insurer will investigate the losses and injuries you sustained from the accident, then go through your policy to determine what is covered.
• Acceptance of your claim: If everything checks out well according to the policy's terms and conditions, your claim will be accepted and processed quickly. In some cases, the claim may be rejected if your insurer finds out that you've given incorrect information or hidden any important information. That is why it's important for you to provide accurate information in the insurance claim process form.

Common Challenges With PIP Claims

Here are some of the challenges you might face when filing for a personal injury protection claim:

Delays in Processing Claims 

Sometimes, the claims process can take longer than expected. These delays aren't just frustrating, they can also lead to financial strain since medical bills rack up, and time off work accumulates. 

Some of the reasons why PIP claims get delayed include:

• Delay in notifying and submitting the claims form to your insurer
• Losing the insurance policy document
• Failure to submit necessary documents
• Failure to disclose important facts about the accident

Disputes Over Coverage

It's important to review your policy to ensure that you know what's included and what's not covered. Before you make a claim, you need to make sure you know the coverage you have. This is important to avoid getting underpaid, or your claim getting denied.

Claim Denials

Sometimes, claims can be denied due to doubt about the accident, policy exclusions, missed filing deadlines, or policy limits. In such cases, you need to know how to resolve the issues. Here are some steps you can take to ensure you get compensated:

• Review the reason for the denial
• Documentation
• Appeal the denial
• Negotiate with your insurance company

Ready to File a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Claim?

Filing a PIP claim shouldn't be hard if you sustained minor injuries and your insurance is enough to cover the losses. However, you might need to hire an attorney if your injuries are serious and the other driver is at fault. An experienced attorney will take you through the process and make sure you get compensated accordingly.

If you don't have PIP insurance yet, consult an insurance agent to find out what your state requires. And if you've recently moved to another state, contact a local auto insurance agent to know if you can still use the auto policy you have in your old location.