In a personal injury case, the person held liable for the injury is responsible for paying damages to the victim. The damages awarded include medical expenses, as well as lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering. Most homeowners, business owners, and drivers of vehicles carry insurance to cover liability. In such cases, the responsible party's insurance company pays the victim's medical expenses, as well as other damages. In vehicle-related cases, the laws differ depending on whether you live in a no-fault state or not. States with no-fault auto insurance statutes require that drivers carry personal injury insurance to cover medical expenses for themselves and their passengers following an accident, regardless of whose fault the accident was. No-fault states include Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Utah. In these states, drivers have to carry either Personal Injury Protection, also called PIP (P-I-P) insurance, or MedPay insurance. In the event of an accident, this protection covers medical expenses up to a certain amount for the driver and all passengers in the vehicle. Neither PIP nor MedPay policies cover damages or expenses other than medical.
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