Auto Accidents

Q: What happened to Colorado Personal Injury Protection coverage?

A: After 25 years, Colorado did away with the requirement that insurance companies provide Personal Injury Protection coverage for auto accidents. This change was effective for auto insurance policies issued or renewed after July 1, 2003. As a result, that coverage is now virtually unattainable. Instead, insurance companies now offer much less medical payments coverage for smaller premiums. The wage loss benefit and rehabilitation benefits are also generally not offered.

Q: What Should I Do if I am Injured in an Auto Accident?

A: 1. Obtain emergency medical treatment. 2. Notify your own insurance company. 3. Cooperate with your own insurance company by providing information about the accident, about your injuries, what treatment you are receiving. Your own company representative may want to take a recorded statement from you about you injuries, it is OK to cooperate. 4. Check your insurance policy and ask your own company's adjuster to learn if you can see any doctor you want or if you are under a PPO that restricts you to a certain list of doctors. 5. Request and fill out your insurance company's application for No-Fault insurance benefits; 6. Politely, but firmly, refuse to give a statement to the insurance company for the at fault driver. Also, do not allow them to have an authorization to get your medical records.

Q: What happens to my PIP benefits if I settle my claim against the negligent driver? NOTE: these PIP benefits used to be available for insurance policies offered in Colorado before July 1, 2003.

A: Nothing. PIP benefits will not be affected. They are separate and generally not included in a settlement of a bodily injury claim.