What Is Personal Injury Protection and Why Do You Need It?

When you get injured in an auto accident, you need compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. But getting compensation isn’t always easy.

The other driver’s insurance company will fight hard to pay you as little as possible for your accident-related expenses. And there’s a good chance the other driver may be underinsured or not carry any auto insurance at all, which means you’ll be on the hook for paying your own expenses out of pocket. In addition, some crashes are deemed “no fault,” which means you can’t pursue compensation from the other driver.

Additional Insurance Coverage Can Protect Your Family’s Finances

Thankfully, there’s a way to protect yourself after a crash regardless of the other driver’s insurance situation or who is found to be at fault. It’s called personal injury protection (PIP). PIP is an auto insurance add-on that you can purchase to supplement your existing coverage. It’s designed to provide compensation for accident-related expenses, including:

  • Reasonable medical costs, such as surgeries, X-rays, dental or eye treatments, medical procedures, prosthetic devices, and nursing services
  • Ambulance services
  • Rehabilitation therapies
  • Funeral services
  • Up to 80 percent of lost income

Texas law requires that all drivers have access to at least $2,500 in PIP coverage, but it can be expanded to $5,000 or even $10,000 for drivers who want additional financial protection.

PIP Coverage Gives You Peace of Mind

If you have PIP coverage, you should get paid by default for your auto accident expenses long before an investigation occurs that determines who was at fault for the crash. That means you may get money from your PIP coverage before the police report is even finalized, let alone having to wait for a drawn-out negotiation process with the other driver’s insurance company or settling your claim in court.

Because auto accident claims often result in immediate financial needs for things like upfront medical bills and lost wages—let alone day-to-day living expenses—it’s important to have compensation right away. PIP can help you stay on top of your bills while you await additional damages, especially if the other driver was at fault for the crash.

PIP Providers Don’t Always Agree to Pay Victims like You

Despite PIP coverage being more cut-and-dry than other types of insurance coverage after crashes, it’s not always a guaranteed source of income. PIP providers want to protect their own profits, and that means they may attempt to reduce or deny your claim after a crash. They may attempt this by claiming that you provided insufficient evidence or that your paperwork is inaccurate, missing, or incomplete—even if you’ve dutifully submitted and filled out all required forms. Another tactic involves stalling on your payment in the hopes that you’ll get frustrated and give up.

At the Law Office of Joel A. Levine, our Austin auto accident lawyers are dedicated to helping victims like you get the compensation they deserve after crashes, whether it comes from other driver’s insurance policies, underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage, or PIP coverage. We know how important it is for you to get fair compensation after you’ve been hurt in an accident, and that’s why we fight back against insurance companies that leave innocent victims twisting in the wind and waiting for their checks or even a reply after submitting their claims.

We Know Auto Accident Claims and We’re Ready to Help

Calling a lawyer after your auto accident can help you protect your rights to the money you deserve. Car crashes are legally complex, especially when fault isn’t well established. In addition, you can’t always count on the other driver having sufficient insurance coverage to pay for your medical bills and lost wages, which means you may need to pursue a claim against your own PIP coverage.

Compensation claims rarely go smoothly, and there’s almost always some form of resistance, whether it’s from the other driver, the other driver’s insurance company, the other driver’s legal counsel, or even your own insurance provider. Having an experienced attorney working on your behalf from the beginning means fewer headaches for you and your family, a greater chance of receiving maximum compensation, and the peace of mind you need to focus on getting better and going back to work.

Get a FREE CASE EVALUATION today to find out how we can help you and your loved ones. We’re ready to put our experience and track record of success to work for you.

Contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation.

ausin injury lawyer

Law Office of Joel A. Levine
3305 Northland Dr #210
Austin, Texas 78731

512-982-1510

Dallas Office:
12700 Park Central Dr, Suite 520, Dallas, TX 75251

Houston Office:
6575 West Loop South, Suite 500, Bellaire, TX 77401

San Antonio Office:
401 East Sonterra Blvd, Suite 375, San Antonio, TX 78258