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Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, is a type of auto insurance available in the state of Georgia. Personal Injury Protection covers the policyholder’s medical expenses and some other damages after a car accident, no matter who was at fault. Under Georgia’s fault-based insurance laws, Personal Injury Protection is not a required form of insurance. Purchasing it, however, could help you pay for your losses after an at-fault car accident.
What Does Personal Injury Protection Cover?
Personal Injury Protection is mandatory in the 12 no-fault insurance states. It is optional in Georgia. Personal Injury Protection can reimburse all or part of your medical expenses after a harmful car accident. PIP offers you maximum recovery for your medical bills whether or not you caused the crash. It can also cover lost wages from having to miss work during your treatment or recovery.
- Past and future medical expenses
- Surgeries or other treatments
- Prescriptions
- Medical devices
- Rehabilitation
- Live-in nursing care
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Disability expenses
- Doctor’s appointments
- Transportation costs
Personal Injury Protection insurance could also cover other expenses you have to pay because of your injuries. For example, if you need to hire someone to take care of your home or lawn while you are in recovery, PIP insurance may offer benefits to cover these expenses. Discussing your individual case with your insurance agent can help you understand exactly what expenses your Personal Injury Protection will cover.
How Does Personal Injury Protection Work?
If you have Personal Injury Protection insurance, you will file a claim to receive these benefits with your own insurance company after a car accident. Your insurance company will conduct an investigation of the crash and assign a fault. If you were at fault for the crash, your PIP coverage will kick in to provide coverage according to the limits of your insurance policy. If the other driver caused the accident, your insurance provider will first seek benefits from the at-fault party’s insurance company. If these benefits are not enough to cover your losses, your own PIP insurance will fill in the gaps.
You may need help from a personal injury attorney to negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance company in the pursuit of Personal Injury Protection benefits. The insurance company responsible for payout may try to escape liability by denying your claim unfairly. You may receive a denial if you have pre-existing conditions, for example. The insurance company could also deny your claim if you are seeking reimbursement for a medical expense the policy does not cover. Some companies, for instance, will not offer benefits for acupuncture. Working with an attorney may be the only way to fight for fair compensation.
Personal Injury Protection does not look at the question of fault when determining benefits. An injured driver can receive reimbursement for medical expenses and lost wages no matter who or what caused the crash. For this reason, it is a popular form of insurance for all drivers, whether the state makes it mandatory or not.
How to Purchase Personal Injury Protection?
Personal Injury Protection can provide important financial benefits after a car accident in Georgia. Although the law does not require you to purchase this type of insurance in Georgia, buying it could safeguard you from financial duress after a serious collision. Even if the other driver does not have insurance or flees the scene, your PIP coverage could pay you benefits to cover medical expenses and other losses.
Call your insurance company to find out if you have Personal Injury Protection coverage. If so, learn about your limits and how to file a claim. If not, ask how much this type of insurance will cost you to add. Most insurance companies let you add PIP to your policy online, complete with price quotes before you make the change. PIP insurance is more expensive than traditional insurance because it offers additional coverage. If you find a lower quote for PIP than what your insurer is offering, it may be time to switch insurance providers.
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