(Newswire.net — March 29, 2022) — The chance of getting into a car accident increases every time you pull out of your driveway. This is because the number of cars on the roads continues to increase. Factor in other issues such as distracted drivers, inexperienced drivers, and weather conditions, and it’s not hard to see why more than 30,000 people died in car accidents in 2021.
Even if death is not the outcome, if you find yourself in an auto accident, the chances that you or a passenger will be injured is high. In this day and age, even minor injuries can be expensive. Having personal injury protection can help defer some of the medical expenses.
What Is Personal Injury Protection?
In essence, personal injury protection is part of your insurance plan, and it covers medical costs no matter who was at fault for the car crash. Some of the other expenses covered by personal injury protection include:
- Lost wages due to the inability to work because of injuries
- Rehabilitation
- House cleaning, child care, and other duties that you are no longer able to perform because of your injuries and have to hire someone else to help
- Survivor benefits and funeral expenses
When it comes to personal injury payments, these are often made quickly and can be used to cover your expenses or pay for bills incurred by a passenger in your vehicle or those hurt in the other car. Many states require drivers to have personal injury protection as part of their auto insurance coverage.
The Limits of Personal Injury Protection
Having personal injury protection can be incredibly beneficial, and it can ensure that you get money to cover expenses after an accident.
However, there are some limits to this protection. One of these includes the amount of money for which you can sue the other party if you take your auto accident case to court. Personal injury protection does not prohibit you from filing a claim, but it may dictate how much compensation you can ask for from the other party.
Most personal injury protection plans have a maximum coverage limit. If you find that your expenses exceed these amounts, you will have to pay for these out of pocket. To determine what your rights and responsibilities are, it might be in your best interest to speak to an auto accident attorney in Boca Raton.
Who Needs Personal Injury Protection?
There are pros and cons to personal injury protection, which may have you wondering if you actually need it. If you happen to live in a state that requires this type of coverage, you have no choice; it has to be added to your car insurance.
When it comes to states where personal injury protection is optional, talking to a professional about adding this to your insurance policy is recommended. If you find yourself in a traffic accident and have to cover a variety of medical expenses — whether your own or someone else’s — having this coverage could end up saving you.
Keep in mind that personal injury protection is not liability insurance, and it does not replace it. It is in addition to this required coverage. Every state requires liability insurance to cover expenses for injuries related to an auto accident.
Protect Yourself
No one wakes up in the morning and expects or plans to get into a car accident — but life is unpredictable, and tragic things do happen. Since the injuries sustained in an auto accident can be debilitation and life-changing, having a plan in place to make sure expenses are covered is in your best interest. Furthermore, this can also protect your family’s finances.
Whether that includes having personal injury protection will depend on your state’s requirements. If it is optional, then it boils down to personal preference. Working with a professional and asking questions will ensure you get the best coverage to protect yourself should an auto accident occur.
Author Information
Early in his journalism career, Kerry L. Tucker had a revelation: there were not enough experts reporting on law issues. Legal matters are part of daily life. Yet, there seems to be a general aversion towards them. One of the main reasons for this is that the convoluted legal language is difficult for many people to follow. Therefore, he decided to change how the law is perceived by the public. Throughout his career, he met with many people who shared their personal stories with him. Some of these hit him harder. One of the cases that stayed with him and influenced his future career development was a car accident case involving a child. From then on, he decided to zero in on car accident lawsuits.