In May 2025, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) released an updated fee schedule for personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This fee schedule applies to medical costs resulting from car accident injuries. 

The fee schedule immediately made headlines for its changes to medical costs and their effect on PIP benefits. Understanding how PIP benefits work can help you make smarter insurance choices – and navigate a car accident insurance claim. Speak to a knowledgeable New Jersey car accident lawyer to learn more about how PIP benefits might apply in your specific case. 

What Are PIP Benefits?

Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of no-fault insurance coverage. PIP pays for medical treatment following a car accident.

PIP benefits apply regardless of fault. This means that PIP benefits can begin to cover medical costs before an investigation or trial determines who caused the accident. 

Most no-fault insurance states require drivers to carry a certain minimum level of PIP insurance benefits. Some states, including New Jersey, allow drivers to use their health insurance to cover PIP needs instead. Using your health insurance can lower overall auto insurance costs, but it can also pose challenges. Not all health insurers are willing to cover car accident injuries. Also, if you lose your health insurance, you may be required to pay an additional deductible.

What Costs Do PIP Benefits Cover? 

Standard PIP benefits cover medical costs following an accident. The May 2025 fee schedule updates list several broad categories of fees addressed by PIP benefits for car accidents, including:

• Fees for seeing a physician, including specialists, 
• Fees for dental treatment if an accident causes damage to your teeth,
• Fees for home care following a serious accident,
• Ambulance service costs, 
• Costs for durable medical equipment, 
• Fees for using hospital outpatient surgical facilities. 

PIP benefits also cover many types of medical testing, such as imaging services. 

Drivers can elect to add further PIP benefits to their auto insurance policy. These additional benefits cover losses like: 

• Lost wages,
• Hiring house cleaners, babysitters, and others to help take care of your home and family if you cannot do so due to injuries,
• Death benefits if you are killed in a car accident, including funeral benefits.

Your specific PIP benefits and limits are spelled out in your auto insurance policy or the policy of another driver in the accident. An attorney can help you get this information and understand it. 

When Am I Eligible for PIP Benefits? 

Report the accident to insurance as soon as possible after it happens. When you contact an insurance company, stick to the facts. Don’t admit fault, even if you think you caused the accident. PIP benefits apply no matter who is at fault, so focus on information like:

• Your name, address, and other essential info
• When and where the accident occurred,
• How you were injured,
• The names and contact information for doctors and hospitals treating your injuries,
• Information about your health insurance, if you have coverage,
• Your average wages or salary, and
• How long you have been off work, or are expected to be off work due to your injuries. 

The insurer will also collect information from your medical providers.

Potential Challenges to PIP Benefits

In some cases, an insurer might deny payment of PIP benefits. If this happens, you could be stuck with substantial medical bills. 

Insurance companies use various reasons to deny PIP claims. They may say your injury is not related to the accident, or that the medical treatment you received isn’t necessary or reasonable for the injuries. The insurance company may argue that you missed the deadline to file or did not turn in the required paperwork. They may say your injuries are covered by your health insurance, workers’ compensation, or another policy. 

Whatever the reason for a denial, you can push back. An experienced attorney can help you investigate the situation, get to the bottom of a denial, and fight for the PIP benefits you need and deserve. 

Speak to an Experienced New Jersey Car Accident Lawyer Today

Navigating life after a car accident injury is tough. Dealing with insurance can be complex. It’s even more challenging when you’re struggling to recover from serious injuries or facing the death of a loved one. 

You don’t have to deal with insurance companies alone. The team at Petrillo & Goldberg can help. Contact us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our New Jersey car accident attorneys today.