General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

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Glossary

Personal injury protection (PIP)

Coverage under your own policy that pays medical bills and some lost income after a crash, whoever caused it.

Last reviewed By the Editorial team 2 min read

General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

Quick answer

Personal injury protection, or PIP, is coverage under your own auto policy that pays medical bills and some lost income after a crash, whoever caused it. It is the core of no-fault insurance.

In a car accident claim#

PIP is required in the 12 no-fault states, where it pays first and lawsuits for pain and suffering are limited unless an injury passes a Serious injury threshold. A rule in some no-fault states that lets you sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering only if your injury meets a legal definition of serious, or a dollar level of medical bills. Glossary. Some fault states include it too: Texas policies carry $2,500 of PIP unless the buyer rejects it in writing.

What PIP pays and the rules for claiming it differ by state:

StateMinimum PIPNotes
Florida$10,000Pays 80% of reasonable medical costs and 60% of lost income; initial care within 14 days
New York$50,000Written notice to the insurer within 30 days of the crash
Texas$2,500Can be rejected in writing

Because PIP is a First-party claim. A claim you make to your own insurance company under your own policy, such as a PIP or collision claim. Glossary on your own policy, you deal with your own insurer. It can cover you as a pedestrian or cyclist too. Under Florida law it covers people hit by a motor vehicle while not riding in a self-propelled vehicle, if the vehicle physically struck them. Our guides to who pays your medical bills and lost wages explain how PIP fits with other coverage.

Example#

Questions people ask

Is PIP the same as MedPay?

No. Both pay regardless of fault, but PIP usually also pays part of lost income and some other costs, and it is required in no-fault states. MedPay generally covers medical bills only.

Does PIP pay if I was not at fault?

Yes. PIP pays whoever caused the crash. If someone else was at fault, you may also have a claim against them for losses PIP does not cover, subject to your state's rules.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance — no-fault states and lawsuit thresholds
  2. Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 627.736 — Florida PIP benefits
  3. New York State Department of Financial Services, FAQ: Consumer Questions About No-Fault Insurance — as of October 2026
  4. Texas Legislature, Insurance Code chapter 1952 (1952.101, 1952.152, 1952.153) — as of October 2026
  5. New York State Department of Financial Services, Auto Insurance Information for Consumers — as of October 2026
  6. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Insurance Requirements — as of April 2021

Last reviewed October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team. Found an error? Tell us.

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