PIP insurance in SC, also called Medical Pay, or MedPay, provides additional coverage in the event of an accident, regardless of whether the accident was your fault. Although PIP insurance does not replace your recovery from the other driver’s insurance and it may not cover all your expenses, it can result in you getting some relief from your medical expenses more quickly.
How does PIP insurance work? Do you get a check immediately, or will it pay for your medical expenses without a delay? What are the benefits of PIP insurance in SC?
If you have been injured in a car accident in SC and have questions about PIP insurance in SC, medpay, or how to get full and fair compensation for your accident, contact the Myrtle Beach auto accident attorneys at Coastal Law immediately for a free consultation about your case.
What is PIP Insurance in SC?
If you are injured in an auto accident, PIP coverage will pay for your medical expenses up to the limits of the PIP coverage. PIP pays your medical bills if the accident was the other driver’s fault. It also pays your medical bills if the accident was your fault -it is “no-fault” coverage.
If you are at fault in an accident, you are not only liable for any injuries to the other driver, but your auto insurance will not cover your personal injury costs unless you purchased the extra PIP coverage.
If the other driver is at fault in your accident, they are responsible for your medical bills and the damage that they caused, but when will you get paid? In most cases, it takes time for the other driver’s insurance company to pay your damages – both sides need to investigate the accident, review your medical history, complete discovery, and you need to be finished treating (or know the future costs of treatment) before you settle your case with the other driver.
That means your medical bills may not be getting paid while your case is being litigated. If you miss time at work, your other bills may not be getting paid, either. PIP insurance in SC guarantees that you will get some relief, at least up to the limits of PIP coverage that you purchased.
What is MedPay Insurance Coverage in SC?
Medical Pay, or MedPay, insurance is another name for PIP insurance in SC. It provides the same coverage and benefits.
Is PIP Insurance Mandatory in SC?
PIP insurance is not mandatory in SC. You are required to purchase a mandatory amount of liability insurance, but you are not required to purchase comprehensive insurance or PIP coverage.
This means that you must tell your insurance company that you want PIP coverage – it is not automatically a part of your insurance policy.
How is PIP Coverage Different than Liability Insurance?
The main difference between PIP coverage and liability insurance is that PIP coverage pays for your medical expenses regardless of liability – it does not matter who was at fault in the accident.
Your liability insurance policy pays for damages that you cause to other drivers in an accident. Your PIP coverage pays you for your personal injury.
What are the Benefits of PIP Insurance or Medpay in SC?
The benefits of PIP insurance include:
- Your medical expenses get paid even if you were at fault in the accident;
- If you were not at fault in the accident, your medical expenses get paid quickly, without waiting for a settlement or verdict;
- Medical expenses for passengers in your car will also get paid quickly, regardless of who was at fault in the accident;
- If the other driver does not have insurance or if their policy limits are insufficient to cover your damages, you can still collect from your PIP coverage;
- If you are involved in a hit and run, you can still be compensated from your PIP coverage even though the other driver cannot be found.
Will PIP Coverage Reduce the Amount of My Recovery from the Other Driver?
If your PIP insurance pays some or all of your medical expenses, does that meant the other driver will have to pay less in my lawsuit? Is my recovery reduced by the amount of compensation I received from the PIP coverage?
No.
SC Code Section 38-77-144 states that PIP insurance in SC is not subject to a setoff and is not subject to subrogation (the insurance company can’t pay less because you received a payment from your PIP coverage):
There is no personal injury protection (PIP) coverage mandated under the automobile insurance laws of this State. Any reference to personal injury protection in Title 38 or 56 or elsewhere is deleted. If an insurer sells no-fault insurance coverage which provides personal injury protection, medical payment coverage, or economic loss coverage, the coverage shall not be assigned or subrogated and is not subject to a setoff.
It does not matter who pays your medical bills. Whether you pay them out of pocket, your PIP coverage pays them, a family member helps and pays them, or you don’t pay them at all, the other driver is responsible for full and fair compensation. They don’t get a pass because you had the resources to pay your medical bills before your settlement was reached.
This means that you can:
- Pay your medical bills with your PIP coverage;
- Still sue the other driver and recover the costs of the medical bills that you have already paid; and
- Put your settlement check in the bank –you’ve already paid your medical expenses and the insurance company is not allowed to recoup the cost of the medical expenses from your recovery.
SC Auto Accident Lawyers in Myrtle Beach
Your Myrtle Beach auto accident lawyer at Coastal Law will help you to determine all possible sources of recovery after your auto accident, investigate your case, negotiate maximum compensation for you, and try your case to a jury when the insurance company does not pay full and fair compensation.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case by calling (843) 488-5000 or filling out our online form.
