Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is a measure you can take to cover for the medical bills you would have to pay in case you suffer any injury in an accident regardless of who is at fault. Accidents can be very taxing, painful in the body as well as to the pocket. If you have personal injury protection, you can stop worrying about any medical bills.

Personal injury protection insurance covers the charge accrued in case of an emergency situation and simultaneous health care treatment when an accident occurs. This coverage protects the driver and the passengers of the driver's car. PIP insurance covers the policyholder, his family member and relations that he has named, the passengers in his car, permitted drivers and in some cases and specific states, any insured individual who gets injured while riding in the car. A pedestrian who gets hit by the vehicle is also covered under this policy.

PIP also provides coverage for lost wages and damages caused due to pain and suffering. You can receive payouts up to the maximum limits of the plan.

With PIP you can cover the cost of:

• Medical costs
• Transportation in case of medical emergency
• Lost wage
• Death by accident
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Benefits to survivor
• Costs of childcare while you or a passenger in your is being treated in the hospital
• Loss of companionship (conditions apply)

PIP can give you a payout of up to its maximum limit. However, usually there is a cap to the amount paid out under PIP and this level varies from one state to another. While on some states the coverage is considerably lower than what it costs for repair and the medical bills, the policyholders or motorists are asked to purchase additional insurance. These additional insurance includes bodily injury protection, uninsured and underinsure motorist coverage. Many mistake PIP and bodily injury to be the same. However, there are differences between PIP and Bodily Injury coverage.

Having personal injury protection means that you can do away with the need to file a lawsuit since it functions regardless of who is at fault. In no-fault states requiring PIP, the drivers are not allowed to sue anyone for damages. They have to make a claim with their own insurance company. They can only pursue damages from another driver at fault if the damages incurred reach a set limit. In case of a death or very serious injuries, the injured party can sue the other driver and can receive payouts beyond the PIP payout cap.

1. Delaware
2. Florida
3. Hawaii
4. Kansas
5. Kentucky
6. Massachusetts
7. Michigan
8. Minnesota
9. New Jersey
10. New York
11. North Dakota
12. Oregon
13. Pennsylvania
14. Utah
15. Texas

PIP is mandatory in few states and in others it is offered as a choice. It depends on your state's auto insurance laws whether you are required to purchase PIP coverage.