Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance helps individuals injured in a car accident get the coverage they need after a crash regardless of who was at fault for the accident. This type of no-fault insurance is optional, but it’s not mandatory in California. California is a fault-based state, so it makes sense that drivers would instead look to the at-fault driver’s insurance policy for protection rather than their own insurance. That said, drivers can still take out a Med Pay, or PIP, policy in California to help cover their losses while they wait for a settlement from the at-fault party.