Does New Mexico Have Personal Injury Protection Insurance?

What is Personal Injury Protection Insurance?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a type of insurance that is required in no-fault states. No-fault states deem that accidents can happen without placing fault on any party involved in a car accident. PIP insurance is one way to protect yourself if you’ve been injured in a no-fault state like New York or Michigan. This type of insurance is required in most no-fault states and generally is a part of your auto insurance.

Personal Injury Protection coverage can help you pay for medical bills that were a result of your car accident, and in some states, PIP covers non-medical items such as lost wages and disability.

In This Article:

Does New Mexico Have PIP Coverage?

Personal Injury Protection coverage is not required in New Mexico. Because New Mexico is an at-fault state (or a state in which a driver is held liable for a car accident), PIP coverage is not offered to New Mexico drivers and cannot be added to insurance packages.

States that offer or require PIP Coverage Include:

• Arkansas
• Delaware (Required)
• Florida (Required)
• Hawaii (Required)
• Kansas (Required)
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts (Required)
• Michigan (Required with opt-outs available)
• Minnesota (Required)
• New Jersey (Required)
• New York (Required)
• North Dakota (Required)
• Oregon (Required)
• Pennsylvania (Medical Required)
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah (Required)
• Virginia
• Washington
• Washington D.C.

What Does Personal Injury Protection Cover?

Personal Injury Protection insurance covers various medical expenses, lost wages, and death expenses, depending on which state you live in. If you live in a state that has PIP coverage, you are covered no matter who is at fault for the accident. Personal Injury Protection covers both drivers and passengers, even if your passengers aren’t on your insurance plan.

Depending on which state you live in, PIP insurance can cover the following:

• Medical Bills: Getting into an accident can mean a lot of hefty medical bills, and if you live in a no-fault state, PIP can be very helpful. In most states that offer PIP, your medical bills are also covered if you get hit by a car as a pedestrian or bicyclist.
• Lost Wages: If your injury is severe enough that you are unable to work, PIP insurance can cover lost wages.
• Household Services: PIP insurance can cover household services for those who sustain injuries that keep them from performing day-to-day tasks, including childcare, housework, and outdoor work.
• Disability and Rehab Costs: If your injury requires physical therapy or results in a disability, your PIP insurance can help cover costs to get you back on track physically.
• Death Benefits: If you or a loved one were in a fatal car accident, PIP insurance in some states offer death benefits that will be paid out to your family in the case of death.

PIP insurance is focused on personal injury and death, it does not cover some areas that other types of insurance may be able to help with. These include:

• Personal Property Damage: Damage to your vehicle is not covered under PIP insurance. You’ll need collision insurance and comprehensive insurance to ensure that property damages like this are covered.
• Vehicular Theft: PIP insurance doesn’t cover vehicular theft. If your vehicle is stolen and found damaged, comprehensive insurance can help cover this.
• Other Property Damage: If you’ve been in an accident that involved another person’s property (their vehicle or home), you’ll need property damage liability coverage.

NOTE: All insurance companies and state laws differ in what is offered to insurance holders and what is required. Be sure to research your specific state to see if you’re required to have PIP insurance and what it covers based on laws and what works best for you.

Is Personal Injury Protection Worth It?

For those who live in states in which PIP insurance is offered but not required, the value is clear: Having PIP insurance can help you pay for unexpected expenses that arise when the unthinkable happens. The best way to figure out if Personal Injury Protection is right for you is to evaluate a worst-case-scenario, contact your insurance provider to see what PIP in your area covers, and determine the best possible way to keep yourself covered.

Although Personal Injury Protection Insurance isn’t offered or required in New Mexico, if you’re considering relocation, be sure to discuss no-fault insurance or PIP with the insurance provider in the state you’re going to move to.