Texas PIP vs MedPay vs UM/UIM

PIP, MedPay, and UM/UIM are different first-party coverages on your auto policy (or a household policy). They are not the other driver’s liability coverage. Which one applies — and in what order — depends on your declarations page and the facts of the crash. I am a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer at the Law Office of Robert House in River Place, Austin, Texas 78730. When precision is policy-specific, check your declarations page or ask counsel to verify.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — High Level

PIP typically helps with medical bills and some wage loss after a Texas auto crash. It often pays regardless of who was at fault for the wreck, but confirm the details on your own policy. PIP is commonly offered on Texas auto policies; whether you carry it, and at what limit, is a declarations-page question. Your agent, or a lawyer reviewing your policy, can confirm what you actually bought.

MedPay — High Level

Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage can help with crash-related treatment bills. Fault rules and how MedPay coordinates with health insurance vary by policy. MedPay is not the same product as PIP: PIP often reaches medical bills and some lost wages; MedPay is usually narrower and focused on medical payments. How these coverages stack or coordinate is set by your policy language. Read the declarations and the endorsement.

UM and UIM — High Level

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is a claim against your carrier when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance — and, where the policy allows, in some hit-and-run situations.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage helps when the at-fault driver has liability insurance that is too low for your damages. Again, this is a claim on your own policy, not a free pass around proof of fault and damages.

If your carrier has already said no on a first-party claim, see can insurance deny my claim in Texas.

Simple Comparison

• Who it pays: PIP, MedPay, and UM/UIM generally pay you (or a covered household member) under your policy — not the other driver’s liability carrier.
• Fault sensitivity: PIP often responds without waiting on a fault fight; MedPay rules vary by policy; UM/UIM usually still requires proving the other driver was at fault (and underinsured or uninsured).
• Typical use: PIP and MedPay lean toward medical bills (and, for PIP, some wage loss). UM/UIM can reach broader injury damages when the at-fault driver’s liability coverage is missing or too thin.
• Liability claim: Opening PIP, MedPay, or UM/UIM does not erase a liability claim against the other driver when the facts support one.

Think of liability coverage as the claim against the other driver, and PIP / MedPay / UM/UIM as tools on your own policy that may fill gaps while that claim is pending — or after liability limits run out. The right sequence depends on the crash facts and the forms on your declarations page.

What These Coverages Are Not

First-party coverages are not a substitute for documenting how the crash happened. A PIP or MedPay check does not automatically end your injury claim. A UM/UIM claim has its own proof and timing issues. An insurer’s “investigation” also does not pause lawsuit deadlines — see Texas personal injury statute of limitations.

Partial Fault and First-Party Claims

Texas uses modified comparative negligence: your recovery on a liability claim can be reduced by your share of fault, and you are generally barred if you are more than 50% responsible. Carriers sometimes use fault arguments when negotiating UM/UIM as well. How fault affects a UM/UIM payment depends on the facts, so have them reviewed. More detail: partly at fault car accident in Texas.

What To Do Next

1. Pull your declarations page and any PIP / MedPay / UM/UIM endorsements.
2. Get denials or reservation-of-rights letters in writing.
3. Do not cash a check that includes a broad release of your injury claim without counsel review.
4. Keep medical records, wage proof, and the crash report organized.

If the crash involved an Uber or Lyft, first-party coverages on your own policy may still matter alongside TNC layers — see Austin Uber & Lyft accident lawyer.

Why Counsel Helps

I read the policy language, help sequence liability versus first-party claims, protect lawsuit deadlines, and push back when a carrier frames every bill as “your fault” or “not related.” People call me after a low first-party check, a confusing endorsement, or a letter that sounds final when it is not. Related practice context: car accident lawyer Austin.

Most cases settle, but settlements move when the carrier believes you will try the case if the number is unfair. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you. Call (512) 872-2264.

Texas PIP, MedPay, and UM/UIM FAQ

What is PIP insurance in Texas?

Personal Injury Protection is first-party coverage on your auto policy that typically helps with medical bills and some wage loss after a crash, often regardless of fault. Confirm what you carry on your declarations page.

Do I need PIP insurance in Texas?

You aren’t required to keep it, but Texas insurers must include Personal Injury Protection in every auto policy unless you reject it in writing. If you never signed a rejection, you likely have PIP even if you don’t remember buying it. It pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash.

Is MedPay the same as PIP?

No. MedPay usually focuses on medical payments. PIP often reaches medical bills and some lost wages. Coordination rules differ by policy — counsel verifies from the forms you actually bought.

When does UM or UIM pay after a crash?

UM typically applies when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance (and in some hit-and-run settings if the policy allows). UIM typically applies when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are too low for your damages. Both are claims against your carrier. On when a UIM carrier has to pay, see Brainard v. Trinity Universal and proving the other driver's fault.

Can my insurer deny a PIP, MedPay, or UM/UIM claim?

Yes. Carriers deny or limit first-party claims for coverage, causation, notice, or policy-condition reasons. Get the denial in writing and read can insurance deny my claim in Texas.

What is the Progressive PIP class action settlement in Travis County?

A Travis County court is considering a proposed class settlement in Koetter v. Progressive County Mutual Insurance Company (419th District Court). The case is about whether Progressive paid medical bills submitted under Texas PIP coverage on time. You may be a class member if Progressive paid a PIP medical bill line item more than 15 business days or more than 30 days after receiving it, with an Explanation of Benefits print date between August 30, 2016 and June 1, 2026. If you got an email or postcard notice, Progressive’s records show you as a class member. Progressive denies wrongdoing, and the court hasn’t ruled on the merits. Key dates on the official site: requests to be excluded and objections are due by November 12, 2026; the final approval hearing is December 17, 2026; and claim forms must be submitted online by January 19, 2027. To get a payment, you must file a claim. Details, the claim form, and the administrator’s contact information are on the official settlement website. My firm doesn’t run this settlement and doesn’t represent the class.

Does the PIP settlement affect my injury claim?

The settlement deals with claims against Progressive about how it handled PIP medical bills. Whether to stay in, file a claim, or exclude yourself is your decision, and the official site explains each option. If you were hurt in a crash and have an injury claim, talk to a lawyer.

Do I still need to pursue the other driver if I have UIM?

Often yes — or at least preserve the liability claim. UIM is not a reason to ignore the at-fault driver’s policy, the crash evidence, or lawsuit deadlines. Sequence matters; counsel helps sort it.