Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal injury protection, commonly called PIP, is a coverage that pays your medical bills and sometimes a portion of lost wages after a car accident, regardless of who caused the crash. Unlike bodily injury liability -- which pays for other people's injuries when you are at fault -- PIP is a first-party benefit that covers you and your passengers, activated by the accident itself rather than by a fault determination. In states where PIP is mandatory, it is the first coverage to respond after any auto accident, paying your bills while fault is being determined.

PIP is required in no-fault states, where state law requires each driver to use their own coverage first for medical costs regardless of who caused the accident. States like Florida, Michigan, and New York require PIP. Georgia is not a no-fault state, and PIP is optional here. Even in at-fault states like Georgia, PIP provides a valuable first-dollar benefit: your medical bills are paid immediately after the accident without waiting months for the at-fault party's carrier to investigate and settle the liability claim.

PIP typically covers hospital and emergency room costs, physician visits, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation and physical therapy, and in many states a percentage of lost wages if injuries prevent you from working. Some policies also cover household services (cleaning, childcare) that you cannot perform due to your injuries. In Georgia, an optional PIP endorsement of $5,000 to $10,000 adds meaningful first-dollar medical protection for a modest additional premium, and it is particularly worth considering if your health insurance carries a high deductible or if you are self-employed and a missed week of work creates immediate financial pressure.