Personal injury protection
Your own costs, paid without waiting to establish fault.
Personal injury protection pays for your own medical treatment after a crash regardless of who caused it. In several states it also covers lost income and certain replacement services.
It's the coverage at the centre of no-fault systems, and whether you have it depends heavily on where you live.
What it typically covers
- Your medical treatment after a crash
- Lost income while you can't work, in many states
- Replacement services — help with tasks you can't do while injured
- Funeral costs in some states
- Passengers in your vehicle, generally
Why speed is the point
Establishing fault takes time. PIP pays without waiting for that, which means treatment is covered while liability is still being worked out.
In a serious injury that timing difference is not administrative — it determines whether care is delayed.
How it differs from medical payments
Both pay your own medical costs regardless of fault. PIP is generally broader — it commonly extends to lost income and replacement services, where medical payments coverage typically covers medical costs only.
Which is available to you depends on your state. Some require PIP, some offer med-pay, and some offer both.
The no-fault trade
In no-fault states, PIP comes with a restriction: your right to sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering is limited unless injuries meet a defined threshold.
That's the bargain — faster payment of your own costs, in exchange for a narrower right to sue. Whether it suits you isn't usually a choice, since it's set by state law.
Common questions
No. PIP is auto coverage that responds to crash injuries, often including lost income. Coordination between PIP and health insurance varies by state and policy.
Where it's required you'll carry it regardless. Where optional, the difference is that PIP often covers lost income and replacement services that health insurance doesn't, and applies no health deductible.
Generally yes, though the details vary by state and policy. Confirm on yours.
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This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer. Nothing here binds coverage.