Image of a vehicle with text explaining how no-fault accident claims in Minnesota work.

How Do No-Fault Claims Work?

16 States require no-fault insurance for car owners, and nearly half of all states have no-fault insurance as an option. With so many no-fault policies on the road today, and living in a state that requires it for every driver, it’s important to educate yourself before you need to file a claim. Who is going to pay for your benefits? What should you do after an accident with no-fault insurance? Nelson Personal Injury answers these questions, and others, about no-fault insurance, below:

What Is No-Fault Insurance? 

Understanding no-fault insurance is the first step towards understanding the claims that arise from them. Often called “Personal Injury Protection” or PIP insurance, no-fault/PIP insurance was created to simplify claims and place blame after car accidents. PIP insurance covers costs of injury to you, your passengers, or a person using your car with permission, up to a certain dollar amount specified by your insurance coverage. In Minnesota, it is required that all drivers have no-fault insurance up to $40,000 total coverage, with $20,0000 of both medical and non-medical (wage loss, child care during injury, etc.) coverage. 

As an individual, you can purchase higher-value no fault to cover more costs. No-fault does not cover damages to your personal property, other’s property, theft, or medical expenses over your coverage limit. All of these areas are where Personal Injury Claims can help you reclaim some costs of a car accident. 

What To Do After A Car Accident With No-Fault/PIP

If you get into a car accident, it is important to know what to do immediately after the incident. First, make sure both drivers and passengers are safe, and that both vehicles are in no immediate danger from traffic or other circumstances. Then, contact the police and report the accident, and report the accident to your insurance company. It is important that no matter what happens, do not admit fault: it will be important later in legal proceedings if you are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. 

What Will No-Fault/PIP Cover After An Accident? 

After the accident, your insurance should cover injuries, lost wages, and expenses up to the coverage limits. If the worst were to happen, insurance companies also provide coverage for funeral costs. Anything beyond the coverage limit of the insurance is on you to cover, and therefore can be the subject of a personal injury lawsuit. For any medical, property or personal damages (in Minnesota, you can’t sue for Pain and Suffering) contact the personal injury attorneys at Nelson Personal Injury to help you get the compensation you deserve. 

What Can I Do To Help My Claim? 

Documentation will help your claim to move forward. Make sure from the time of the accident, you are recording expenses that you are incurring due to the injury. Making sure you are keeping proof of your bills, acquiring a doctor’s note and making sure that your work is authorized are all good places to start. A complete written application attached to the claim organizes all the paperwork and costs of the accident in one place, helping a personal injury claim move forward smoothly. 

At Nelson Personal Injury, we have two generations of law experience practicing in St. Cloud, Minnesota. We know No-Fault/PIP insurance front and back, and can help you recover costs that aren’t covered by your insurance by the driver that is at fault. Make sure when you start a personal injury claim, you have the best on your side. Find out more about what we can do for your case on our website https://nelsonpersonalinjury.com/