Question 1

Does Texas PIP cover chiropractic care?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Texas PIP covers reasonable medical expenses related to a motor-vehicle accident, and chiropractic care is well-established as a reasonable medical expense for crash injuries like whiplash, neck pain, back pain, and headaches. Chiropractic adjustments, X-rays, therapeutic exercise, and soft-tissue therapy are all routinely covered.

Question 2

How do I know if I have PIP coverage?

Accepted Answer

Pull up your auto insurance declarations page. Look for "PIP" or "Personal Injury Protection." If there's a dollar amount next to it, you have it. If it says "rejected," you don't. If you can't find it, we'll verify it for you — bring your insurance card or call us with your policy number.

Question 3

What if I don't remember signing anything for PIP?

Accepted Answer

Then you almost certainly have it. Texas Insurance Code §1952.152 requires every auto insurer to include PIP unless you specifically signed a written rejection. A verbal "I don't want it" doesn't count. If you don't remember signing the rejection form, you didn't, and you have coverage.

Question 4

Will using my PIP raise my insurance rates?

Accepted Answer

No. PIP is a benefit you already paid for. Texas insurers cannot surcharge you for using it — that would defeat the purpose of the coverage. Filing a PIP claim is fundamentally different from filing an at-fault liability claim.

Question 5

Can I use PIP if the accident wasn't my fault?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PIP is no-fault, meaning fault is irrelevant. Whether the other driver caused the accident or you did, PIP pays.

Question 6

Can I use PIP if the accident was my fault?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Same answer — PIP is no-fault, so your eligibility doesn't change based on who caused the crash.

Question 7

Can I use PIP and my health insurance at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The two work in parallel. PIP usually pays first for accident-related care, often with no co-pays or deductibles. Your health insurance remains untouched and available for everything unrelated to the accident.

Question 8

What's the difference between PIP and MedPay?

Accepted Answer

PIP and MedPay both pay regardless of fault, but PIP covers more (lost wages, household services) and — critically — your insurer cannot recover PIP payments from your eventual settlement. MedPay carriers can. If you have a choice, PIP is the better coverage.

Question 9

What's the difference between PIP and bodily injury liability?

Accepted Answer

Bodily injury liability is on the at-fault driver's policy and pays you only after fault is established — usually weeks or months later. PIP is on your own policy and pays you immediately, regardless of fault. They aren't substitutes for each other; if you're injured by another driver's fault, you may be entitled to recover under both.

Question 10

How long do I have to use my PIP after an accident?

Accepted Answer

Texas PIP claims have time limits, but they're generally measured in years rather than weeks. Don't assume it's too late — but don't wait, either. The longer you delay treatment, the harder both your recovery and your claim become.

Question 11

What happens after my $2,500 PIP runs out?

Accepted Answer

You have options. The most common: a letter of protection from a personal-injury attorney lets us continue treatment and get paid from your eventual settlement, not out of your pocket. Health insurance is another option. We'll walk you through the choices when you get close to the limit.

Question 12

Do I need a lawyer to use PIP?

Accepted Answer

No. PIP is a benefit you have a right to use directly with your insurer. Most of our PIP-only patients never hire an attorney. If your case is severe, fault is contested, or you want to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver, an attorney becomes valuable — and we can refer you.

Question 13

Can my passenger use my PIP?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Texas PIP applies to passengers in your covered vehicle at the time of the accident. The coverage limit applies per person, so if you and your passenger are both injured, each of you gets the full benefit — it doesn't get split.

Question 14

Does PIP cover lost wages?

Accepted Answer

Yes — 80% of wages lost because of accident-related injury, up to your PIP policy limit. If you can't work because of injuries we're treating, we can document the medical necessity for the work absence as part of your claim.

Question 15

Can the at-fault driver's insurance company take my PIP money back when I settle?

Accepted Answer

No. Texas Insurance Code §1952.155(b) prohibits subrogation by PIP carriers in standard cases. Money paid to you under PIP is yours, regardless of what happens with the at-fault driver's insurance. This is one of the most important advantages PIP has over MedPay or health insurance.

Plain answers to the questions Hurst crash victims ask us most.

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