Understanding Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance in New Jersey Rideshare Accidents
Posted November 17th, 2025 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Attorney Anthony Carbone, Auto Accidents, Lyft Accident, Personal Injury.
If you’re injured in a rideshare accident in New Jersey, your own Personal Injury Protection insurance can be a lifeline. PIP coverage helps pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses right away, regardless of who caused the crash. At The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone P.C., we help clients understand how PIP works with rideshare accidents and ensure they get all the benefits they deserve.
What Is PIP Insurance?
New Jersey requires all drivers to carry PIP insurance as part of the state’s no-fault system. This means that after an accident, your own insurance covers your injuries regardless of who was at fault.
PIP coverage typically includes:
Medical expenses: Hospital stays, doctor visits, rehabilitation, and other necessary treatment.
Lost wages: A portion of your income if you can’t work because of your injuries, typically up to 80% of lost income subject to weekly and overall limits.
Essential services: Reimbursement for household services like cleaning, cooking, or childcare if your injuries prevent you from performing these tasks.
Funeral expenses: Death benefits if the accident results in a fatality.
PIP Coverage Limits in New Jersey
The minimum required PIP coverage in New Jersey is $15,000 per person, per accident. However, you can purchase higher limits of $50,000, $75,000, $150,000, or $250,000.
Many people choose the minimum coverage to save money. However, the cost difference is usually small, often just $50 to $75 per six months. If you’re seriously injured, $15,000 can be exhausted very quickly, leaving you without coverage for ongoing treatment.
In cases of catastrophic injuries such as brain or spinal cord damage, policies may automatically expand to provide up to $250,000 in coverage even if you originally selected lower limits.
How PIP Works in Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents can be more complicated than typical car crashes because multiple insurance policies might be involved:
- The rideshare driver’s personal insurance
- The rideshare company’s commercial insurance
- Other drivers’ liability insurance
- Your own PIP insurance
Because rideshare insurance can be complicated and coverage gaps can occur, your own PIP policy is often the fastest and most reliable source of immediate help. PIP provides payment for medical treatment while other insurance issues are being sorted out.
What Your PIP Covers in Rideshare Accidents
Your PIP insurance covers you in several rideshare accident scenarios:
- When you’re a passenger in a rideshare vehicle
- When you’re a pedestrian hit by a rideshare vehicle
- When you’re in your own vehicle and injured by a rideshare driver
- When you’re getting in or out of a rideshare vehicle
Even if the rideshare company’s insurance eventually pays, PIP ensures you’re not left waiting or unable to afford treatment.
How PIP Interacts with Other Insurance
After a rideshare accident, your PIP coverage works alongside other potential sources of compensation:
Subrogation: If your PIP insurance pays your medical bills, your insurer may later seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s or rideshare company’s insurance.
Primary versus secondary coverage: PIP is typically primary for your medical expenses. The rideshare company’s policy, if it applies, may be secondary.
Coordination with lawsuits: If you file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver or rideshare company, PIP payments may be considered in the total settlement.
Understanding these interactions can be confusing. An experienced attorney ensures your PIP benefits are applied correctly while protecting your right to pursue additional compensation.
Important Steps After a Rideshare Accident
Get medical attention immediately. See a doctor even if injuries seem minor. Prompt treatment creates important medical records.
Notify your PIP insurer. Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible to begin coverage for medical expenses and lost wages. You need to file an Application for Benefits.
Follow notification requirements. If you receive treatment from a specialist or somewhere other than a hospital, send notice to your insurer within 21 days to avoid reduced benefits.
Document everything. Collect driver information, ride details, photos of the scene, and witness statements.
Contact an experienced attorney. A lawyer can help coordinate PIP benefits with other insurance claims and fight for maximum compensation.
Why Legal Help Matters
Insurance companies may try to minimize or deny PIP claims. They might argue that certain treatments aren’t necessary, that you’re not following proper procedures, or that coverage doesn’t apply to your situation.
At The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, we have over 35 years of experience handling rideshare accidents and PIP claims in New Jersey. We help clients by explaining how PIP works with rideshare insurance, gathering medical evidence to support claims, communicating with insurers to protect rights, fighting benefit denials through arbitration or lawsuits, and ensuring proper compensation for all losses.
Protect Your Rights
PIP insurance is a crucial resource for anyone injured in a rideshare accident in New Jersey. It provides immediate coverage for medical care and lost income while other claims are being pursued. However, navigating PIP claims and coordinating them with rideshare insurance can be complex.
Don’t try to handle this alone. Contact The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone P.C. today for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your PIP benefits, deal with insurance companies, and pursue every dollar of compensation you deserve.
