If you live in New Jersey or another state that requires mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as part of their no-fault insurance system, your PIP insurance applies. The first step you need to take to begin to recover some costs associated with your spinal cord injury is to file a claim under your PIP policy, even if you did not cause the accident. New Jersey requires a minimum of $15,000 in coverage and covers medical expenses up to the policy limit. Other states vary in coverage requirements and some states pay benefits for lost wages and other economic losses.
Spinal cord injuries are costly because patients typically spend months in the hospital. Long-term hospitalization quickly meets or exceeds the limits of a PIP policy, even when drivers opt for the maximum amount of coverage. Contact a skilled Atlantic City spinal cord injury attorney as soon as possible after filing your PIP claim to plan a strategy to receive compensation beyond your policy limits.