What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a type of auto insurance that covers primarily medical expenses, but also lost wages and other costs after a car accident, regardless of who’s at fault. Often called no-fault insurance, PIP is mandatory in certain states, including Utah, and helps ensure quick coverage for injuries without waiting for fault disputes.

How Does PIP Work in Utah?

Utah is considered a “no-fault” state, which means PIP coverage is mandatory. The state enforces a mandatory minimum coverage of $3000 per person for medical expenses.

Utah still allows accident victims to pursue claims through other forms of insurance, such as health or liability policies. However, these only become available once PIP is exhausted, or if injuries exceed the tort threshold, which is what it means when medical costs exceed $3000.

The PIP is designed to expedite the process for smaller claims, keeping disputes out of court.

A driver’s PIP is often the default policy after any auto accident in the state, covering you regardless of fault, even if you may have been a passenger in the car. This protection can also sometimes extend to pedestrians.

What Does PIP Cover?

PIP provides comprehensive support for accident-related costs. Most of the time, this means your medical bills, but it is not necessarily limited to that.

Medical Treatment & Rehabilitation

This includes payments for doctor visits, emergency room care, surgeries, and hospital stays directly resulting from the accident. PIP also covers rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, and occupational therapy.

A typical example would be: if you have a fender bender and your emergency room visit costs $2500, this would be fully covered under the PIP minimum in Utah.

Lost Income

If your injuries from a car accident prevent you from working, Utah’s PIP coverage will pay 80% of your lost wages, up to a maximum of $250 per week. This benefit helps to offset the financial impact of being unable to perform your job duties as a result of the accident.

If, for instance, you earn $1000 per week and miss two weeks, your policy could pay out $400.

Survivors’ Benefits & Funeral Expenses

PIP coverage can pay for funeral costs in the event of the death of an accident victim. They may also compensate family members for lost financial support due to the death.

That said, funeral expenses are often far above the coverage limits of PIP. A victim’s family will usually have to pursue additional compensation through other avenues, such as liability or wrongful death.

Miscellaneous Expenses

Smaller miscellaneous expenses, such as household assistance or out-of-pocket costs for services, can be covered by PIP. Such expenses include things like transportation to and from medical appointments, house care while you are disabled, or more.

What PIP Does Not Cover

While PIP is broad, it has limits. Here’s what it doesn’t cover:

• Vehicle Repairs: PIP doesn’t pay for car damage. That’s covered by collision or property damage liability insurance.
• Property Damage: Damage to other vehicles, fences, or structures falls under liability coverage, not PIP.
• Pain & Suffering: PIP doesn’t cover non-economic damages like pain and suffering unless injuries meet Utah’s tort threshold (e.g., over $3,000 in medical costs or permanent injury).

Do I Need Higher PIP Coverage?

While $3,000 meets state requirements, it’s often insufficient for serious injuries or complex situations. Opting for higher PIP limits, such as $10,000, $20,000, or more, can provide significantly better financial protection, as you will only have to prove damages rather than argue with other parties about who was responsible for what.

Note that higher limits don’t immediately mean you won’t have any trouble with insurers. However, your policy provider will still benefit from finding reasons to devalue your claim to minimize the payout. Additionally, working with a lawyer helps protect you against these efforts and get you the amount you need to cover your losses.

How to File a PIP Claim in Utah Step-by-Step

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, here’s the typical process for filing a PIP claim in Utah:

1. Get medical care first. Your health always comes first, so call 911 and seek treatment right away. Keep every bill, receipt, and record related to your care.
2. Report the crash and open a claim promptly. Notify your auto insurer as soon as possible. Make sure you specify that you need to open a PIP claim, not just a property damage claim. Get your claim number and adjuster’s contact information.
3. Complete the PIP application. Your insurer will send forms, often called an “Application for Benefits,” along with a medical release authorization. Limit the authorization to accident-related records only.
4. Give providers your PIP claim number. Provide your claim number to hospitals, clinics, or therapists so they can bill your PIP coverage directly. If they refuse, you can submit the bills to your insurer for reimbursement.
5. Submit supporting documentation. Along with medical bills, include receipts for prescriptions, mileage logs for travel to medical appointments, and any other accident-related costs.
6. Document wage loss if applicable. If you’re missing work, you’ll need to show recent pay stubs or an employer’s letter along with a doctor’s note saying you can’t work. PIP will usually pay a percentage of your lost wages, subject to weekly limits.
7. Claim household or replacement services if eligible. If your injuries prevent you from doing tasks such as childcare or housework, you may be reimbursed for hiring help. You’ll need receipts and a doctor’s note confirming your restrictions.
8. Track your benefits and limits. Keep a running tally of how much your insurer has paid. This will help you know when your PIP benefits are close to running out and whether your injuries may cross Utah’s $3,000 tort threshold.
9. Review denials carefully. If your insurer refuses to pay a bill, ask for the reason in writing. Sometimes a letter from your doctor can resolve disputes about whether treatment is “reasonable” or “necessary.”
10. After PIP is exhausted, pivot to other coverage. Once your PIP benefits are used up, bills may go to your health insurance. If your medical costs exceed $3,000 or you suffer a serious injury, you may also pursue compensation from the at-fault driver through a liability claim.

A professional personal injury lawyer can jump in at any point during the process.

PIP vs. Other Coverage Options

Once a PIP policy is exhausted, or if the injuries exceed the state’s tort threshold, accident victims can often seek compensation through other insurance options. These typically include MedPay (Medical Payments coverage), which can cover medical expenses beyond what PIP provides, or liability insurance from the at-fault driver.

While PIP aims to simplify initial injury claims, these additional coverages become crucial for addressing more extensive damages, including property damage, lost wages beyond PIP limits, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

MedPay

MedPay, or Medical Payments coverage, is another form of auto insurance that specifically covers medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Unlike PIP, MedPay does not cover lost wages, funeral expenses, or miscellaneous costs.

It is typically a secondary coverage, but it can be a primary coverage in states where PIP is not mandatory. MedPay is often chosen by individuals who want additional medical coverage beyond what their health insurance or PIP might offer.

Liability Insurance in Utah

Liability insurance covers damages and injuries you cause to others in an accident. Utah requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, typically expressed as a set of three numbers (e.g., 30/65/15 for Utah). These numbers represent the following:

• Bodily Injury Liability per Person: The maximum amount your insurance will pay for medical expenses and other damages for one person injured in an accident you cause.
• Bodily Injury Liability per Accident: The maximum your insurance will pay for all injuries in an accident you cause, regardless of how many people are injured.
• Property Damage Liability per Accident: The maximum your insurance will pay for damage to another person’s property (e.g., their vehicle, fence, or house) in an accident you cause.

If the damages you cause exceed your liability limits, you could be held personally responsible for the remaining costs. Therefore, many drivers choose to carry higher liability limits than the state minimums for greater financial protection.

When liability insurance comes into play, Utah follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means if you’re less than 50% at fault, you can recover damages from the other driver’s liability insurance, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.

If you have $10,000 in medical bills beyond PIP and are 20% at fault, you could recover $8,000 from the at-fault driver’s liability insurance.

Need to Make a PIP Claim? Call Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need assistance navigating your PIP claim, don’t hesitate to reach out to Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers. Our experienced team of personal injury lawyers in Salt Lake City understands the complexities of personal injury protection in Utah and can help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs.

Contact us today at (801) 810-9999 for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can advocate for your rights.