What Is Utah Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a required component of Utah auto insurance. It is the foundation of Utah's modified no-fault insurance system and pays your medical bills and lost wages after a car accident, regardless of who caused the crash.

Utah PIP Requirements

• Utah law requires every auto insurance policy in the state to include a minimum of $3,000 in PIP coverage per person per accident (Utah Code Section 31A-22-307).
• You can purchase PIP limits above the $3,000 minimum, which is recommended for anyone who drives regularly in high-traffic areas like the I-15 corridor.
• PIP covers the policyholder, household family members, and passengers in the insured vehicle.

What PIP Covers

• Medical expenses including emergency room visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and prescription medications
• Lost wages (typically 85% of gross income, up to the policy limit)
• Replacement services (household tasks you cannot perform due to injury)
• Funeral expenses (in fatality cases)

How PIP Affects Your Injury Claim

Under Utah's modified no-fault system, PIP pays first. You generally cannot file a liability claim against the at-fault driver's insurance until your PIP coverage is exhausted. Once PIP is exhausted, you can pursue the at-fault driver's liability coverage for remaining medical expenses, lost wages above PIP limits, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

PIP Subrogation

If your PIP insurer pays your medical bills and you later recover from the at-fault driver's insurer, your PIP insurer has a right to be repaid from your settlement (subrogation). A personal injury attorney negotiates subrogation interests as part of the final settlement to maximize your net recovery.

PIP and Health Insurance

PIP and health insurance can interact in complex ways. In some cases, using health insurance first and reserving PIP for lost wages may result in a higher net recovery. An attorney can help you sequence coverage correctly at the start of your case.

BAM Injury Law handles car accident cases throughout Utah. Call (801) 839-5652.