If you are hurt in a car accident, you might experience many losses and expenses, such as medical bills and lost wages. In many states, the at-fault driver would have financial liability for those losses. However, Utah is a no-fault insurance state. This means that your own no-fault insurance coverage would compensate you for these losses.
All drivers in Utah are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, also known as no-fault insurance coverage. Keep reading below to learn all the details about how no-fault insurance works, what it covers, and how much you are required to have.
What Is No-Fault Insurance?
In at-fault insurance states, you must file a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. This requires proving they were at fault and proving the amount of your damages. This process can take several weeks to many months, especially if the insurance company tries to deny liability.
However, no-fault insurance is different. Your no-fault coverage pays for your covered losses after an accident, no matter who was at fault. Whether you caused the accident or it was the result of someone else’s negligence, your own no-fault insurance coverage will pay for your medical expenses and lost wages.
One of the main benefits of no-fault insurance is that it can get you compensation faster. Since there is no need to prove fault, many claims are resolved within 30 days or less. This can be extremely valuable to an accident victim who is waiting for money to pay medical bills or other outstanding expenses.
What Does No-Fault Insurance Cover in Utah?
No-fault insurance will cover a wide range of expenses after an accident. In fact, Utah law specifies many of the items that this type of insurance covers.
Medical Expenses
Your no-fault insurance will pay for all of your reasonable and necessary medical expenses after an accident.
This includes:
- Ambulance services
- X-ray services
- Surgical services
- Rehabilitation services, including prosthetics
- Hospital services
- Nursing services
Your medical expenses will be covered up to your policy limits. In some cases, this could be as little as $3,000, the required minimum coverage in Utah.
Lost Wages
Your no-fault insurance will also cover any lost wages you experience because of your injuries. However, it might not cover the full value of your lost wages.
It will pay you the lesser of:
- $250 per week
- 85% of lost gross income
Again, these benefits will only cover your losses up to your policy limits. If you are severely injured and miss several weeks of work, your policy limits could be hit pretty quickly.
Death Benefits
In the event of your death due to a covered accident, your family could also receive death benefits. This includes funeral and burial expenses of up to $1,500 and a death benefit of $3,000.
Utah’s Mandatory PIP Coverage Rules
Utah requires drivers to carry PIP coverage because it is a no-fault state. All drivers must carry a minimum of $3,000 of coverage. Although this is the minimum requirement, you may choose to purchase additional coverage. In fact, that can be a great decision in many cases, especially in the event your losses exceed $3,000 in value.
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, you should try to remain calm and follow the steps below:
- Call the police so that they can respond to the scene and create an accident report.
- Get immediate medical treatment for any injuries. Failure to do so could limit your ability to get compensation later.
- Gather as much evidence from the scene as you can, such as photos of the vehicles and your injuries.
- Notify your insurance company. You may need to start the claims process through your no-fault coverage.
- Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can help you explore all potential sources of compensation to maximize your recovery.
Taking these steps can help protect your health, preserve important evidence, and strengthen any insurance claim you may need to file.
Contact the Salt Lake City Car Accident Lawyers at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Understanding Utah’s no-fault insurance system is critical after a crash. While PIP coverage can provide fast access to medical and wage benefits, it does not always cover the full extent of your losses. Knowing when you can step outside the no-fault system and pursue additional compensation can make a significant difference in your recovery.
If you were injured in a car accident and have questions about your rights under Utah’s no-fault laws, contact McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers today. Our Salt Lake City car accident attorneys can review your situation and help you understand your options during a free consultation.
We serve in Austin, TX, and Salt Lake City, UT.
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Salt Lake City, UT Office
650 S 500 W Suite 290, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
(385) 462-7630