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PIP No-Fault Insurance — Get Your Medical Bills and Lost Wages Paid Regardless of Who Caused the Accident

Difficulty Easy Risk Low Applies To FL, MI, NJ, NY, PA, HI, KY, MA, MN, ND, UT, OR, DC (no-fault/PIP states) Potential Savings $8,000–$50,000+ in medical bills and lost wages after an auto accident Last Verified 2026-04-04

PIP No-Fault Insurance — Get Your Medical Bills and Lost Wages Paid Regardless of Who Caused the Accident

What Is It?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP), also called no-fault insurance, is mandatory coverage in 12 states plus Washington D.C. that pays your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages after an auto accident — regardless of who was at fault. You file with your own insurer, not the other driver’s, and you get paid promptly without having to prove fault first.

No-fault states made this change to reduce litigation and get injured people compensated faster. In exchange, you generally give up (or limit) your right to sue the other driver for pain and suffering unless your injuries are serious enough to cross a threshold.

Which States Have PIP?

Required no-fault states (must carry PIP): Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah

Washington D.C. also requires PIP.

Optional PIP states: Several states (Delaware, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, and others) allow or require insurers to offer PIP but don’t mandate it. If you live in one of these states, check your auto policy — you may have PIP coverage without realizing it.

What PIP Covers

Coverage varies by state and policy, but PIP typically pays:

  • Medical expenses: Hospital bills, doctor visits, surgery, rehabilitation, chiropractic care, and in some states dental and vision
  • Lost wages: A percentage of income lost because injuries prevent you from working (commonly 60–80% of wages, up to policy limits)
  • Replacement services: Household services you can no longer perform, like cleaning or childcare
  • Funeral expenses: In the event of a fatal accident
  • Death benefits: Payments to survivors in some states

PIP limits by state vary dramatically:

  • Florida: minimum $10,000 (80% of medical, 60% of lost wages)
  • Michigan: historically unlimited medical (though recent reforms capped it for some)
  • New York: minimum $50,000
  • Utah: minimum $3,000
  • Massachusetts: minimum $8,000

Always check your declarations page — you may have purchased higher limits.

Time Limits — File Quickly

PIP claims have strict deadlines that vary by state:

  • Florida: 14 days after the accident to seek initial treatment (treatment must be “emergency medical condition” for full $10,000; otherwise limited to $2,500)
  • New York: 30 days to file a PIP claim with your insurer
  • Michigan: 1 year from the accident (but treat injuries promptly)
  • New Jersey: 90 days for most claims

Missing these deadlines can result in denial of your claim. Contact your insurer as soon as possible after an accident and keep records of all treatment.

How To File a PIP Claim

  1. Notify your own insurer immediately after the accident, regardless of fault. In no-fault states, you always file with your own insurer first.
  2. Get medical treatment as soon as possible and keep all records, receipts, and treatment notes.
  3. Submit the PIP claim form your insurer provides, along with bills from your providers. Many insurers allow direct billing between your medical providers and the insurer.
  4. Document lost wages with a letter from your employer stating your normal wage rate and the days you missed.
  5. Track all expenses including transportation to medical appointments and any hired services.

Coordination of Benefits With Health Insurance

If you have both PIP and health insurance, you need to understand which pays first — this is “coordination of benefits”:

  • PIP is primary in most no-fault states. Your PIP pays first up to its limit; health insurance picks up any remainder.
  • Some states allow you to elect health insurance as primary to preserve PIP funds for lost wages or other costs. New Jersey and Pennsylvania allow this election.
  • Choosing health insurance as primary can save your PIP for lost wages and other non-medical expenses — potentially more valuable depending on your situation.
  • Always tell your medical providers about all coverage you have.

The Lawsuit Threshold

In most no-fault states, you can still sue the at-fault driver if your injuries exceed a threshold:

  • Verbal threshold (NY, NJ, FL): You must have a “serious injury” as defined by statute — death, dismemberment, permanent significant disfigurement, fracture, or significant limitation of a body organ or function.
  • Dollar threshold (KY, MN, ND, UT): Your medical expenses must exceed a dollar amount (e.g., $1,000 in Kentucky, $4,000 in Minnesota) before you can sue.

If your injuries exceed the threshold, you can pursue both your PIP benefits and a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

What Most People Don’t Know

  • Florida’s 14-day rule is a trap. Many people don’t know that failing to seek initial treatment within 14 days of a Florida accident limits PIP benefits to $2,500 (instead of $10,000) for non-emergency conditions. If you were in an accident in Florida, see a doctor immediately even if you feel okay.

  • PIP pays even if you were at fault. If you rear-ended someone, you still file PIP for your own injuries with your own insurer. PIP pays regardless of who caused the accident.

  • PIP covers passengers in your car. If a passenger is injured in your vehicle, your PIP coverage typically covers them too (if they don’t have their own PIP).

  • Pedestrians and cyclists may be covered. In some no-fault states, a pedestrian hit by a vehicle can claim against the vehicle’s PIP policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

I live in a no-fault state but the accident was clearly the other driver’s fault. Do I still have to use my own PIP?

Yes, in no-fault states you file your medical claims with your own PIP first regardless of fault. For property damage (your car), you can still claim against the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. And if your injuries exceed the injury threshold, you can still sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering.

My PIP ran out but I still have medical bills. What now?

Once PIP is exhausted, your health insurance takes over as primary. If the accident was the other driver’s fault and your injuries exceed the lawsuit threshold, you can pursue their liability insurance for your remaining damages including pain and suffering.

Can I choose not to use PIP and just file against the other driver’s insurance?

In no-fault states, you generally must use PIP first. However, you can also pursue the at-fault driver’s liability coverage if your injuries meet the threshold — these are separate claims. An attorney can advise on maximizing total recovery.

Does PIP cover mental health treatment after an accident?

Many PIP policies cover psychological treatment related to the accident, but coverage varies by state and policy. Check your policy language and state regulations — New York and Michigan, for example, include mental health treatment in PIP coverage.

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