What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance?

What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance?

Personal Injury Info

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may have questions about whether personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will provide you any benefits. In Virginia, PIP insurance is referred to as Medical Expense coverage because it covers medical expenses for the policyholder and passengers.

PIP or Medical Expense is mandatory in states that have adopted “no-fault insurance” laws. However, in Virginia, this coverage is an optional add-on. It can be especially helpful if someone doesn’t have coverage, but it is often inadequate to cover the losses completely. Talk to a personal injury lawyer about your insurance coverage and options to maximize your compensation.

What does PIP insurance or Medical Expense cover?

After an accident, Medical Expense may pay for certain medical expenses, regardless of who was at fault. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as “no-fault” coverage. Medical Expense coverage generally includes:

Medical bills – All reasonable and necessary expenses for medical, emergency medical, hospital, ambulance, chiropractic, dental, surgical, prosthetic and rehabilitation services, and funeral services resulting from the accident and incurred within three years after the accident. Co-pays are included.
Lost wages – Up to $100 per week up to the date you can return to your usual occupation– for up to one year.

Is PIP insurance covered in Virginia?

Medical Expense, or PIP insurance, is available as an optional addition to an auto liability insurance policy in Virginia.

Virginia is a fault-based state, which means a blameless person injured in a car accident has the right to sue the at-fault party. However, under state law, the insurance company must offer every policyholder the option of purchasing Medical Expense coverage, which the policyholder has the right to turn down.

Will Medical Expense cover my losses?

If you have Medical Expense coverage, the amount will depend on the terms of your auto insurance policy. In any case, though, it will not go far in the event of a moderate or severe injury. Policies typically provide Medical Expense coverage of between $1,000 and $5,000, though it is possible for it to be as high as $25,000 in rare cases.

Medical Expense may not satisfy your total medical bills; however, it can provide a cushion when you have not yet settled your claim, but providers need to be paid. Coverage is relatively inexpensive, so many motorists appreciate having the benefit when they need it. In all of the above scenarios, It’s best to have a personal injury lawyer advising you.

Contact us at Rutter Mills for a free consultation

Medical Expense is just one aspect of car accident compensation in Virginia. To avoid overlooking any avenues to full financial recovery, put your trust in a seasoned personal injury attorney.

The team at Rutter Mills understands the physical, financial, and emotional toll that an accident can take. We are happy to help individuals throughout Hampton Roads, and the surrounding Eastern Virginia communities fight for the compensation they deserve. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

Contact a Rutter Mills attorney to speak about your case today.

Experience

Years Helping Accident Victims

Locations

Convenient Offices

Our Team

Team members ready to help.

TESTIMONIALS

You don’t have to worry about the bills, just get healthy.

Dave Put His Trust in Us

Don’t Fall For The Insurance Company’s Games

Dave suffered serious injuries in a car accident. The defendant’s insurance company tried to offer him a low amount so Dave called Rutter Mills. We took over dealing with the insurance and got Dave the money he needed to get back on his feet.

They enabled me to be happy in life again.

Get Back On Track

Protecting Your Future

Glenn’s car accident changed his life, but not permanently thanks to the help of his Rutter Mills attorney. When the insurance companies wouldn’t help him, our team fought back and won.

I knew I needed Rutter Mills.

Fighting For What's Right

Getting Justice

On his way home from work at the shipyard, Dan was involved in an accident. He tried to file a claim on his own, but the insurance company wouldn’t give him the money he needed to put his life back on track. Dan knew he needed to call Rutter Mills.

They actually won my case 3 times!

Larena's Win

After her car accident, Larena asked her father, a local stevedore, for his advice on who to call. He recommended Rutter Mills. Her team of car accident experts at Rutter Mills fought back when the insurance companies tried to deny her the money she needed to recuperate from her injuries. We took her case to trial – and won. When the insurance company filed their appeals, we beat them again – two more times! Larena got the money she needed and the justice she deserved.

We’re going to immediately call Rutter Mills. That’s the people I trust with my baby girl.

Who Do You Trust With Your Family?

After a car accident, Jamaree’s first call was to her mom. She was shaken up and scared. Mom told her “We’re calling Rutter Mills. Her next was to Rutter Mills. Her Rutter Mills car accident team helped her get compensation “above & beyond” what she was expecting.

They lifted allot of stress off my shoulders. I recommend them to anybody because they WILL fight for you.

Who Can You Turn To?

Referrals From Friends and Family

After John was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, he turned to the person he trusts most for a recommendation. His wife, a paralegal of 30 years, told him to call Rutter Mills on the advice of the lawyer she worked for.

They really care for you as a person. Words cannot describe what Rutter Mills did for me and for my case.

When You Need Someone In Your Corner

Don’t Go It Alone

When the insurance company tried to get Carol to sign paperwork after her car accident, she knew she needed a lawyer. Carol knew she needed Rutter Mills.

When I called Rutter Mills, I knew it was the right fit. They’re so interested in helping you get justice.

Getting The Justice You Deserve

When Mom Needs Strength

Taryn was in a car accident while she was pregnant. She knew she needed someone in her corner to protect her rights and her family’s future.

There’s attorneys, then there’s Rutter Mills.

We're Here When The Unexpected Happens

Priorities

A devasting accident changed Levon’s life forever. The physical and emotional toll left him scared and in pain. When the insurance company for the defendant contacted the family, they made an offer that did not even cover the cost of the medication, much less doctors’ bills, and physical therapy. They knew they needed to talk to a serious lawyer. Rutter Mills took care of the negotiation so Levon could focus on healing.

When you’ve got a serious injury, you need a serious lawyer. That’s why we chose Rutter Mills.

Motorcycle Accidents Change Everything

When Ed was injured in a motorcycle crash, he knew he needed a serious lawyer to protect his rights. The insurance companies were fighting him every step of the way. Rutter Mills helped prove Ed’s case and get him the money he needed to get on the road to recovery.

With the seriousness of the accident, I knew that we needed a serious lawyer. I needed Rutter Mills.

Carol & Levon's Story

They knew they needed a serious lawyer when Carol and her son were seriously injured. After the other party’s insurance company tried to get her to settle for less than she needed, Carol called Rutter Mills for help. We took on the insurance company so she could focus on healing.