In consultations with my clients, one of the most important factors that need to be identified is the kind of car insurance coverage they carry. To protect yourself in the best way from a loss in an accident it is important to know the value of the insurance coverage, to know what Personal Injury Protection or PIP coverage is.
What is PIP and what does it cover?
PIP is a no-fault based coverage type of protection that will cover you even if the accident is your own fault and there are medical bills and lost wages. Often times this is available sooner than the other person’s insurance because if you had to miss work due to the accident you likely will need your regular income reimbursed sooner than later. Also, this can be used in addition to the other person’s insurance in order to cover more of those medical bills and lost wages.
You may ask do I even have PIP?
Well, whenever you first purchased your car insurance you were required to be given the option to buy this coverage. A lot of the time I have found that clients may have just wanted to get the minimum coverage or cheapest rate or just get out the door so all the benefits may not have been explained or heard or understood. The best way to find out is to ask your agent for proof that you do or don’t have. It really can be beneficial as the minimum PIP coverage is $2,500 and most insurance companies offer up to $10,000 in PIP benefits.
How much will it cost and will it raise my rate?
To best answer that I would have an in-depth discussion about this with your agent to know the cost for this coverage but when you weigh it against what you get in return you will find it is more than worth it. Additionally, it is against the law for your insurance to raise your rates for using it.
Why should I buy more coverage and use my own insurance if someone else is at fault for most accidents?
My response to that is, do you really want to be on the short end of the stick if there is not enough insurance coverage by just a few thousand dollars. Bear in mind most people have minimum insurance coverage of only $30,000 and if some unfortunate incident occurs and that money isn’t enough to pay for all your medical bills and lost wages that little bit extra money you spent a month will have saved you those extra $5,000 that will have been attached to your credit or worse a lien on your home.
One more thing to note. This insurance will also cover passengers in the vehicle with you. So a close friend or family member who was injured in the vehicle with you will also be able to benefit. I strongly recommend to all my clients if they have PIP to use it and if they don’t, to look into buying it. If you haven’t by now please do. You’ll thank me you did.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
