If you’re a Maryland resident, make sure you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on your policy. PIP is a no-fault insurance that will cover your medical bills and a percentage of lost wages (due to injuries) in the event of an auto accident, even if you were at fault. The cost is minimal, ranging from $50 - $100 per year and the minimum coverage amount is $2,500 which is well worth the investment. In Maryland, insurers are legally obligated to offer you PIP, if you waive your right to PIP they do not have to offer it anew. This means that if you do not see PIP coverage on your auto insurance declaration page you need to contact them right away about this coverage. In Maryland if you are not the at-fault driver and are injured, you may use both your PIP benefits and file a personal injury claim against the adverse driver’s insurance company, this could add at minimum $2,500 to your recovery amount.
In D.C. insurers are also obligated to offer PIP on your auto insurance policy. While it is a recommended form of extra coverage for any driver it is useful in a scenario where you are the at-fault driver as your medical bills and a percentage of your lost wages (due to injuries) will be covered. However, unlike Maryland, D.C. has restrictions on its PIP coverage and ordinarily you may not use both PIP and file a personal injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. I highly recommend contacting a seasoned personal injury attorney to help you make the best and informed decision on how to proceed. Maldonado Law Firm, PLLC (the Firm) is equipped to provide the best legal advice, for personal injury cases, free of charge.
Please note: I am licensed to practice law in D.C. and Maryland. Further, this is not legal advice as each situation gives way to its own unique advice. Lastly, please note, that a post/blog/ad does not create an attorney-client relationship, a consultation and signed agreement must take place before the Firm provides official representation.
