What are Personal Injury Protection Claims?

Posted: October 8, 2025

Posted in: Car Accidents Personal Injury 

Personal injury protection — often known as PIP, or “no-fault coverage” — is a type of car insurance premium that can be claimed upon after a car accident. It is an American equivalent to a common insurance extra called “Personal Accident Cover” (PAC) in the UK. It can be included in “comprehensive cover” but this varies between insurers. Personal Injury Protection Claims, therefore, are claims made on this policy in the event of serious injury or death after a car crash.

Mandatory PIP coverage varies state-to-state in the USA, whereas in the UK, car insurance is legally required, but Personal Accident Cover is not. Both are similar in the sense that a payout is possible regardless of who caused the accident — with conditions. Personal injury protection claims serve as a safety net, allowing victims to cover essential costs — particularly medical costs in the USA — while litigating a personal injury claim.

Jump to a section:

1. What Does Personal Injury Protection Cover?
2. Who is Eligible for a Personal Injury Protection Claim?
3. Types of Injuries Covered Under Personal Injury Protection
4. Is it Important to Have Personal Injury Protection on Your Car Insurance?
5. Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Protection Claims
6. How to File a Personal Injury Protection Claim
7. The Importance of Legal Representation in PIP Claims
8. Contact Us if You’ve Been in a Car Accident

What Does Personal Injury Protection Cover?

Personal injury protection covers a variety of expenses that arise after an injury. Primarily, it assists with medical costs, which can include hospital bills, surgeries, and rehabilitation. In the United States, these expenses can accumulate quickly, making PIP a vital resource for those recovering from accidents.

PIP also covers lost wages due to the inability to work following an injury. This aspect is crucial for many victims who may struggle to meet their financial commitments.

In the UK, a Personal Accident Coverage claim can cover damages including:

• lost income from being unable to work in the future
• specialist medical treatment beyond the NHS
• physical rehabilitation
• expenses related to funerals
• accommodating to life-altering injuries, such as home modifications

The coverage varies by policy, with some paying as little as £5,000 and some as much as £150,000. It makes it a significant deciding factor when choosing a policy.

Who is Eligible for a Personal Injury Protection Claim?

Eligibility for a personal injury protection claim in the UK typically requires that the driver and/or passenger has suffered a serious injury due to an accident. Although, passenger cover varies and coverage is not guaranteed. The nature of the injury and how it impacts daily life play a significant role in establishing eligibility.

Pay-outs aren’t eligible for minor injuries like sprains and broken bones. Psychological injuries are also not covered, meaning therapy for declining mental health is not paid for by insurers.

There are also instances where a driver can disqualify themselves from coverage if they:

• drink-driving
• did not possess a valid licence to drive
• weren’t wearing a seatbelt
• were racing
• attempted suicide

Types of Injuries Covered Under Personal Injury Protection

The scope of injuries covered by Personal Accident Coverage is narrow, and designed to help those suffering from serious injury, regardless of being at fault. The serious personal injury types usually covered in a PAC policy are:

• vision loss
• amputated limbs
• limb paralysis
• disablement
• death

There are Personal Accident Coverage policies that can be ‘enhanced’ or ‘increased’ to cover the following:

• lost fingers or toes
• hearing loss
• lost speech
• traumatic burns

Is it Important to Have Personal Injury Protection on Your Car Insurance?

Like all forms of insurance, PIP coverage provides peace of mind, provided the eligibility is met. Knowing that lost wages are covered enables individuals to focus on healing, rather than their financial burdens. Accidents can happen when least expected, rendering the decision to invest in PIP or PAC a wise one.

We’re fortunate in the UK to have the NHS for free medical treatment, but being off work for a long time with a serious injury can place you in a financial predicament. Personal Accident Coverage doesn’t pay out for less serious injuries, as the effect on your finances isn’t as significant, many of which you’d still be able to work with.

As car crashes are the largest type of accident, both fatal and non-fatal, it may be fair to suggest that many of these accidents can result in serious injury.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Protection Claims

How to File a Personal Injury Protection Claim

First, ensure you document all aspects of your accident. Keep record of your medical treatments, bills, and any related expenses. Your insurers may ask for clarification of your injuries and expenses. Being responsive can expedite your claim.

Next, you’ll need to notify your insurer about the accident. Collect any supporting evidence, such as photographs from the scene and witness statements. This will strengthen your claim significantly. They will also ask about your condition during the drive to determine eligibility, like if you were drinking.

Once the insurer has completed their investigation, you will receive a written explanation outlining their findings and the amount, if any, they are willing to payout.

What if Your PIP Claim is Denied?

Unfortunately, there are instances where a PIP claim is not approved. When this happens, it does not mean that you have no recourse. You can either complain — if you think this was an unfair judgement — or look at making a personal injury claim through a solicitor, if you’re not totally at fault.

When to Consider a Personal Injury Claim

In some cases, Personal Accident Coverage isn’t enough to cover all of your expenses after a car accident, and it may be necessary to seek compensation. You just need to make sure that you weren’t at fault, unlike a PIP or PAC claim.

If another driver’s negligence caused or contributed to your injuries, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against them. Making a claim through your PAC policy doesn’t discount you from making a personal injury claim.

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