Personal Injury Protection for Seniors
Personal Injury Protection pays for medical care and related costs for you and your passengers after a car accident, no matter who caused it.
What Personal Injury Protection pays for
Covers
- Medical bills Emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy and follow-up care connected to the crash are covered.
- Lost income If the accident keeps you from working, this can replace part of what you would have earned.
- Household help It can pay someone to do tasks you normally handle yourself, like cooking or yard work, while you recover.
- Funeral costs If the accident is fatal, it can help cover funeral and burial expenses for the policyholder or a passenger.
- Passenger injuries Anyone riding in your car when the accident happens is covered under your policy, not just you.
- Coverage as a pedestrian If you're hit by a car while walking or on a bike, your own policy's protection can still apply.
Doesn't cover
- Damage to your car Repairs to your own vehicle come from collision coverage, not this one.
- The other driver's car Damage you cause to someone else's vehicle or property falls under your liability coverage.
- Injuries you cause others If you're at fault and hurt someone in another car, your liability coverage pays their claims, not this one.
- Long-term disability This coverage has limits and an end point, so it isn't built to replace income for years.
- Injuries from events unrelated to driving A fall at home or a medical issue that wasn't caused by a car accident isn't part of this coverage.
For most older drivers, this coverage is worth keeping
Medical costs after a crash can pile up fast, and they start before any other coverage sorts out who was at fault. This one pays regardless of fault, which matters when a claim could otherwise sit unresolved for weeks while bills come due.
Your health insurance or Medicare may cover a good share of the medical costs eventually, but this coverage often fills gaps like deductibles, copays, or the lost income and household help that health insurance doesn't touch at all.
How much you drive and where the car sits matters less here than with some other coverages, since this one is about what happens to your body, not your car. Even someone who drives rarely can end up in a serious accident on a short trip to the pharmacy.
The main case for dropping or trimming it is if you already have strong health coverage, savings that could absorb a gap in care, and no dependents relying on your income. Even then, many older drivers keep it for the household help and funeral benefits alone, since those aren't things health insurance pays for.
What happens when you use it
After an accident, you or your passengers can file a claim under this coverage right away, without waiting to find out who was at fault. Some policies apply a deductible before benefits start, so check your policy to see if one applies to you and how it works.
Once the claim is open, the insurer typically pays medical providers directly or reimburses you for bills you've already paid, up to the limit on your policy. Keep records of every appointment, prescription and receipt tied to the accident, since those are what the claim is built on.
If you miss work or need help at home because of your injuries, you'll usually need documentation from a doctor describing the limits on your activity. That paperwork is what supports the lost income or household help portion of the claim.
This coverage runs alongside any claim against the other driver, not instead of it. If their insurance eventually pays for your injuries too, your insurer may be entitled to recover what they already paid you.
Personal Injury Protection vs. Medical Payments coverage
Personal Injury Protection
This pays for medical bills, lost income, household help and more after an accident, regardless of fault. It's broader and often required or offered as an option depending on where you live.
Medical Payments coverage
This pays only medical and funeral expenses after an accident, with no coverage for lost income or household help. It's simpler and usually has a lower limit.
If you want protection for income and daily help on top of medical bills, Personal Injury Protection covers more ground than Medical Payments alone.
Real situations
You're rear-ended at a stoplight on the way to a doctor's appointment and need a few days in the hospital.
This coverage pays for your medical bills and any income you lose, regardless of who was at fault.
A hailstorm dents your car's hood and cracks the windshield while it's parked at church.
This coverage doesn't pay for this, since it only covers injuries, not damage to your car.
Your spouse is riding with you when another driver runs a stop sign and causes a crash that injures them.
This coverage pays for your spouse's injuries too, since passengers are covered under your policy.
Now that you know whether to keep, adjust or drop this coverage, compare quotes with that decision already in hand.
Questions people ask about this
Does Personal Injury Protection cover a passenger who has their own car insurance?
Yes, it generally covers any passenger injured in your car, even if they carry their own policy. Their own coverage may apply too, and the two can work together depending on the circumstances. Check your policy for how it handles situations where more than one policy could respond.
Can I use Personal Injury Protection if I'm hit while riding a bicycle?
Yes, in many cases this coverage applies if you're injured by a car while walking or biking, since it follows you rather than just the vehicle. Whether it applies depends on your policy and where you live, so check your declarations page. If it doesn't apply, your health insurance would likely be the next place to turn.
Will my rates go up if I file a Personal Injury Protection claim?
It depends on your insurer and the circumstances, since this coverage pays regardless of fault but insurers vary in how they treat no-fault claims. Some treat it like any other claim on your record, others don't. Ask your agent directly how your company handles it before you decide whether to file.
Is Personal Injury Protection required where I live?
It depends on the state, since some require it, some make it optional, and others don't offer it at all. Check your policy or declarations page to see if you already have it and whether it's mandatory where you live. If you're unsure, your agent can tell you what's required in your state.
Does Personal Injury Protection cover a family member who borrows my car?
Usually yes, since this coverage typically follows the vehicle and covers anyone driving it with your permission, along with their passengers. The details can vary by policy, so check whether there are any exclusions for regular drivers who aren't listed on your policy. If someone drives your car often, it may be worth adding them formally.
