PIP stands for personal injury protection. Oregon law requires all automobile insurance policies issued in Oregon to have PIP benefits. Generally, PIP provides no fault insurance for automobiles. This means your PIP benefits are available even if the accident is your fault. PIP benefits cover things like medical expenses, lost wages, essential services, and funeral costs associated with an injury or death involving the use of an automobile. PIP benefits are available to the named insured (you) and family members residing in the same household.
- Medical Benefits: Every automobile insurance policy in Oregon has a minimum of $15,000 coverage for accident related medical expenses. The expenses can include a variety of treatment such as: (1) medical; (2) hospital; (3) dental; (4) surgical; (5) ambulance; and (6) prosthetic services. The expense must be incurred within 1 year of the automobile accident. It is possible to have more but you have to specifically request it (and pay for the additional coverage). If you don’t have health insurance, it would be a wise decision to increase your PIP medical benefits. I recommend carrying $100,000 in PIP benefits.
- Wage Loss: PIP covers 70% of your lost income up to a maximum of $3,000 per month. To qualify for these benefits, a doctor must take you off work (or restrict the work you can do) for at least 14 days. An injured person may receive PIP wage loss for as many as 52 weeks.
- Essential Services: For people not engaged in a remunerative occupation (one that pays money), PIP covers expenses reasonably incurred by the injured person for essential services that were performed by a person who is not related to or residing in the injured person’s household. The benefit is limited to $30 per day and may continue as long as 52 weeks.
- Funeral Expenses: PIP will cover all reasonable and necessary funeral expenses incurred within 1 year after the date of the person’s injury, but not to exceed $5,000.
The Oregon statutes that require PIP for automobiles exclude motorcycles. This means that insurance carriers are not required by law to provide PIP benefits for a motorcycle. It is certainly possible to have PIP benefits for a motorcycle but you would have to specifically ask for it and of course, pay for the coverage. If you ride a motorcycle and do not have health insurance, I highly recommend paying for the addition of PIP benefits.
Click here for a free brochure on PIP –Personal Injury Protection