No, Georgia insurers do not offer personal injury protection (PIP) as part of their auto insurance policies. Georgia follows an at-fault insurance system, so responsibility for medical expenses and other collision-related losses falls on the driver who causes the crash.
While PIP is not available in Georgia, drivers may rely on other coverages, such as MedPay, to pay medical bills after a car accident. An experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney can review the details of your accident and explain the insurance coverage available to cover medical bills and other losses if someone else’s negligence caused your serious injuries.
What Does PIP Insurance Cover?
Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of insurance coverage that pays for the policyholder’s medical expenses after a crash, no matter who caused it. PIP is used in states that have no-fault insurance systems. It covers the driver and their passengers. If someone with PIP coverage is injured in a collision, the insurance can cover accident-related medical bills, including emergency room treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation services, and follow-up care. PIP can also help with income replacement if crash injuries keep the injured person out of work.
Unlike liability insurance, PIP coverage applies regardless of who is at fault. A driver could cause a collision and still receive coverage for their medical treatment under a PIP policy. This is why many states with no-fault insurance systems require PIP as part of every auto policy. In those no-fault states, PIP coverage makes it easier for injury victims to get treatment because they do not need to wait for insurance companies to resolve disputes over fault before their medical bills are covered.
Does Georgia Require Drivers to Carry PIP Insurance Coverage?
No, Georgia drivers are not required to carry PIP coverage. Auto insurance providers in Georgia do not offer PIP. Georgia follows a fault-based system instead of a no-fault system. This means any at-fault party who causes an accident is financially responsible for all medical costs and other losses that other people suffer in the collision.
Since Georgia does not use a no-fault system, lawmakers never included PIP in the state’s insurance coverage requirements. Instead, insurers offer a separate type of optional coverage called Medical Payments coverage, often referred to as MedPay.
MedPay helps you and your passengers cover medical expenses after a crash, regardless of who is at fault. Many Georgia drivers choose to add MedPay coverage to their auto insurance policies to help manage immediate medical bills following an accident.
What Is the Difference Between Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and PIP?
In Georgia, every driver is required to carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage. Bodily injury liability insurance pays for other people’s crash injuries if the policyholder is at fault for an accident. If you cause an accident that leaves other people with injuries, your bodily injury liability insurance can pay for their medical care. If you are injured in an accident caused by another motorist, you may have a right to seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. An experienced personal injury lawyer can submit a claim on your behalf and help you demand fair compensation. If the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, your attorney can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.
PIP insurance, on the other hand, covers policyholders and their passengers regardless of who is at fault. In states where it is available, PIP provides medical coverage for the insured person and their passengers, no matter who is at fault. Because Georgia does not offer PIP, Georgia drivers may purchase optional MedPay insurance to cover their personal medical needs.
What Is the Difference Between Personal Injury Protection and Medical Payments Coverage?
PIP and MedPay insurance both cover the policyholder’s medical bills after an auto accident. The difference lies in the range of benefits each type of insurance provides.
PIP usually pays more than just medical care. In states where it is available, PIP can cover lost wages, funeral costs, and essential services such as housekeeping or childcare if injuries prevent the policyholder from managing these tasks.
MedPay is narrower in scope. It only covers care by medical professionals, hospital stays, and related treatment costs. It does not replace lost income or cover non-medical expenses.
Another key difference is availability. PIP is required in no-fault states and only offered as optional coverage in a handful of other states. Since Georgia insurers do not offer PIP, MedPay is the only option for Georgia drivers who want medical coverage through their own policies that is available regardless of who is at fault.
Is Georgia a No-Fault State?
No. Georgia follows an at-fault system for car accidents. Under this system, the driver who causes the crash may be held responsible for any resulting injuries and property damage. In practice, this responsibility usually falls on the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider.
Georgia drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, along with $25,000 per accident for property damage. As long as accident-related costs do not exceed the policyholder’s insurance limits, their provider should cover the expenses.
If crash-related losses exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance limits, injured parties may demand payment directly from the driver. This can occur in cases involving severe injuries, where medical bills, income losses, and anticipated future medical expenses can exceed the policy limits.
If this happens, injured parties have the right to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver to pursue the remaining balance. Courts may hold drivers personally responsible for paying the excess costs. This is why many drivers choose to purchase higher liability limits than the state minimums.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
If you have questions about how insurance coverage works after a Georgia car accident, contact a skilled personal injury attorney at Bayuk Pratt for legal guidance and trusted legal representation. With over 50 years of combined legal experience in Atlanta and more than $300 million recovered for our clients, our law firm understands what it takes to handle complex personal injury cases.
Our legal team includes former defense attorneys who understand the tactics insurers use in legal proceedings to deny claims. We use our experience in personal injury settlement negotiations to the advantage of our clients. Our firm is ready to go to court if needed to hold the responsible party accountable and help injured people seek just compensation for serious injuries.
Bayuk Pratt offers a free consultation to discuss your legal options. Our legal team answers calls 24/7, so you can get help when you need it most. Having the right attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your personal injury case.
