Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is Oregon’s version of no-fault insurance. It allows you and your passengers, regardless of who caused an accident, to have insurance coverage for “reasonable and necessary” medical, dental, hospital, surgical, ambulance, and prosthetic services incurred within one year after the date of an injury up to a maximum of $15,000.
All Oregon non-commercial auto insurance policies have no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) health care and wage loss coverage. What this means is that if you are injured in an auto, bicycle, or pedestrian accident, your auto insurance provides a minimum of one year and $15,000 in no-fault medical coverage. This coverage is mandatory for all auto insurance, but not motorcycle insurance.
Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays for medical, rehabilitation, funeral, and childcare expenses as well as for loss of earnings and in-home assistance if you and your passengers are injured in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
1. The Insurance Company of the Car You Were in Pays.
When you are injured in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in Oregon, the insurance company for the car you were driving, or in which you were a passenger, usually pays your medical bills under its “personal injury protection” or PIP coverage.
2. What is PIP Coverage?
Oregon’s PIP is like health insurance for the car. The medical bills of anybody injured in a MVA regardless who was at fault are paid by the insurance company for the owner of the car.
3. How Much of Your Medical Bills Will PIP Pay?
The amount PIP will pay varies depending on the insurance policy. Most PIP policies pay the minimum amount required by law. In Oregon, the minimum PIP is required to pay is $15,000. In Washington PIP coverage is optional, but if included in the policy, the minimum PIP is required to pay is $10,000. Many insurance policies provide more, so read the policy!
4. For How Long Will Pip Pay?
Again, that varies depending on the insurance policy. Most Oregon PIP polices pay for medical treatment incurred within the minimum amount of time required by law. In Oregon, PIP must pay for medical treatment incurred within one year of the MVA; in Washington it’s three years. However, the policy may require payment for a longer amount of time, so read the policy!
5. How Do You Get PIP to Pay Your Medical Bills?
Call your insurance agent and ask them to set up a PIP claim. You will then be given the name of a PIP claims representative from the insurance company and a PIP claim number. When you see your doctor, give them the name and phone number of the PIP claims representative and the PIP claim number and they will bill the PIP insurance company directly.
ABOUT GARY R. JOHNSON
Bend Oregon Personal Injury Lawyer, Gary R. Johnson has practiced law for more than 17 years. Gary has tried cases in both the State and Federal courts of Oregon and State courts of Washington. He has also argued cases before the Oregon State Court of Appeals. Born and raised in Kodiak, Alaska, Gary fished for salmon, halibut and herring commercially for ten years while growing up. (541) 317-5505
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