Personal Injury Protection

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is an extension of car insurance available in some U.S. states that covers medical expenses and, in some cases, lost wages and other damages. PIP is sometimes referred to as "no-fault" coverage, because the statutes enacting it are generally known as no-fault laws, and PIP is designed to be paid without regard to "fault," or more properly, legal liability. PIP is also called "no-fault" because, by definition, a claimant's, or insured's, insurance premium should not increase due to a PIP claim.

PIP is a mandatory coverage in some states. PIP coverage may vary from state to state in terms of both what is covered and what types of treatments are considered customary and reasonable. For example, in Utah, acupuncture is a permissable medical treatment, while in California it is not. Some states also allow for PIP claims even if a Workers' Compensation claim exists, while others do not.

In some states, PIP is subrogable, meaning that your insurance carrier will pay for your loss, regardless of liability, and then recover (or subrogate) what it paid from the liable party's insurance carrier. This generally leaves the claimant/insured in a much better financial position, because his or her medical bills are paid, and the insurance carriers get to fight it out on their own, and after the fact.

PIP can cover, within the specified dollar and time limits, the medical and funeral expenses of the insured, others in its vehicle at the time of the loss, and pedestrians struck by its vehicle. The basic coverage is for the insured's own injuries, on a first-party basis, without regard to liability. Again, it is only available in certain states.

Many states that do not have PIP have Auto Medical Payments coverage, or AMP, and some states even have both. AMP is also a first party coverage, without regard to liability, but is only subrogable in a few states, and generally optional.

AMP & PIP limits range from $1500.00 to $250,000.00 depending on the injury and the state. Claimants involved in an auto accident are wise to submit their own insurance information to their medical providers, as third party carriers are under no legal obligation to pay a claimant's medical bills, while first party carriers are.

Third party carriers are subject to payment only after a judgement against them, and any payments prior to that are considered voluntary. Settling a claim with a third party carrier is considered a voluntary payment.

Personal Injury Protection 搭乗者傷害保険

車の運転中に、車に乗っていた人（運転者を含む）が死傷したときに支払われる。他人を乗せていてケガをさせた場合、賠償事故となれば、対人賠償保険からも保険金が支払われるが、それとは別に保険約款に定める定額の保険金が支払われる。

自動車は日常生活において便利な道具であるが、その反面で「走る凶器」とも言われるように、万一事故が起きた際の被害は甚大なものとなるケースが多々ある。多くの場合、事故は運転者のわずかな気のゆるみで起こりうる。また、仮に運転者側に大きな落ち度がなくても、事故に巻き込まれる例はある（いわゆる「玉突き事故」など）。自動車の運行中は、いずれの運転者とも周囲への充分な注意が要請されることから、たとえ相手方の落ち度が大きかったとしても（追突、赤信号無視、中央線の右側通行などを除けば）全くの無過失が認められることは少ない。特に相手方が歩行者の場合、「自分の無過失」「車の整備不良がないこと」「相手方に落ち度があること」の3つを客観的に証明できなければ賠償責任を免れる事は難しいとされ、「無制限責任」に近いものがある。さらに、貸与や盗難によって運行された自動車が他者に損害を与えた場合であっても、所有者は「管理者責任」「所有者責任」を問われる場合がある。このような賠償に応じるのは困難なことが多いため、ふだんから保険などによる備えが推奨される。

また、交通事故により相手側を負傷もしくは死に至らしめた場合には刑事罰の対象となるが、相手側に応分の損害賠償がなされない場合には『反省の態度が見られない』として、厳罰に処せられる可能性が強くなる。逆に、お詫びとともに相手方への補償を誠実に行なうことにより、相手側から減刑の嘆願書や上申書を差し入れて貰うこともありえるが、保険対応だけでそれを期待することには無理がある。保険会社は契約者の金銭的な負担を軽減する役割を担うのみであり、事故解決は保険会社が単独でなし得るものでは無い。当事者も一定の努力をするべきであろう。

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