Q1. If I am injured in an automobile accident, who pays my medical bills?

A1. The New Jersey No Fault Act requires your insurance company to pay your medical bills up to $250,000 per person per accident, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4

Q2. What is PIP coverage?

A2. Every automobile insurance policy must provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage which includes the following benefits:

       1. Medical expense benefits up to $250,000 per person per accident

       2. Income continuation benefits up to $100 a week subject to a maximum of $5200

       3. Essential services benefits up to $12 a day subject to a maximum of $4380

       4. Death benefits up to $5200 for the loss of  income and $4380 for the loss of essential services

       5. Funeral expense benefits up to $1000.

Q3. Can I purchase additional PIP benefits?

A3. Yes. You can purchase additional PIP benefits, as follows:

       1. Income continuation benefits up to $700 a week subject to a maximum of $72,800

       2. Essential services benefits up to $20 a day subject to a maximum of $14,600

       3. Funeral expense benefits up to $2000.

Q4. Can I purchase less PIP benefits?

A4. Yes. You have the option of reducing your medical expense benefits to $150,000; $75,000; $50,000; or $15,000 per person per accident. In addition, you have the option to exclude any income continuation, essential services, death or funeral expense benefits.

Q5. Who is entitled to receive PIP benefits under my automobile insurance policy?

A5. Your automobile insurance policy must provide PIP benefits to you and any resident family member who is injured in an accident while occupying an automobile, whether the automobile is owned by you or by someone else, or while a pedesrian struck by an automobile. In additon, your policy must provide PIP benefits to any other person who is injured while occupying the automobile owned by you.

Q6. How much PIP coverage do you recommend?

A6. I recommend that you purchase PIP coverage with $250,000 of medical expense benefits. NEVER PURCHASE LESS MEDICAL EXPENSE BENEFITS. In addition, I recommend that you do not exclude any other PIP benefits. Instead, you should purchase income continuation benefits in the amount of your weekly income up to $700 a week.