Text by Theodore J. Smetak, Esq. with permission from the Insurance Federation of Minnesota

The No-Fault Act requires automobile owners to provide insurance coverage against certain economic losses resulting from automobile accidents.  These benefits are referred to by various terms, such as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, basic economic loss benefits or simply "No-fault benefits".  The purpose of PIP benefits is to reimburse certain economic losses resulting from automobile accidents without regard to questions of fault.

WHAT DOES PIP PAY?
Minnesota requires a minimum of $40,000 of "Personal Injury Protection" benefits for any one person injured in an automobile accident.  This consists of $20,000 of medical benefits and $20,000 of non-medical benefits.

WHAT DOES THE $20,000 MEDICAL EXPENSE
COVERAGE INCLUDE?
All reasonable expenses for necessary medical care, including transportation and extended care.
Semi-private hospital room rates.  Remedial treatment.   Religious treatment for healing.
Rehabilitation and occupational training.

WHAT DOES THE $20,000 NON-MEDICAL COVERAGE INCLUDE?
In the event of injury:
Disability income loss, replacement services loss

In the event of death (and occurring within one-year after the accident):
Funeral expenses up to $2,000.

Survivors economic loss and survivors replacement services losses.

ARE THERE WEEKLY LIMITS ON PIP BENEFITS?
Yes.  Disability income loss benefits are capped at $250 per week.   Replacement services, survivors economic losses and survivors replacement service benefits are each capped at $200 per week.

WHO HAS A RIGHT TO PIP BENEFITS?
Generally speaking, everyone injured in the state of Minnesota in an automobile accident (or as a pedestrian struck by a motorcycle) has a right to PIP benefits.   Anyone insured under a Minnesota automobile insurance policy also carries PIP coverage with them throughout the United States.

WHERE DO I GO TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR PIP BENEFITS?
The rules set out in the No-Fault Act determine which insurer must respond to each particular claim.
The rules select among the following insurance sources:

IS THERE A GENERAL RULE WHICH TELLS ME WHERE I SHOULD MAKE
MY PIP CLAIM?
The general rule is that everyone should first look to their own insurance company, where they are an "insured" for PIP.  If they do not have any PIP insurance, the general rule is that they should submit their claim to the insurer of the motor vehicle they were riding in.  If there is no such insurer, then they may attempt to qualify for PIP from the MAACB.

I DO NOT HAVE MY OWN POLICY AND I DO NOT LIVE WITH ANYONE WHO DOES.
I WAS INJURED BY A CAR WHICH WAS NOT INSURED.  WHERE DO I GO FOR PIP BENEFITS?
Under the general rule, you can submit your claim to the insurer of the car you were in.  If that car had no insurance, and if you did not own the car which was not insured, you can submit your claim to the Minnesota Automobile Assigned Claims Bureau (MAACB).

WHO IS COVERED UNDER THE MAACB?
Generally, the MAACB provides PIP benefits to those who otherwise qualify for PIP benefits but who have no insurer available to present a claim to.  The MAACB does not provide PIP benefits to those persons who owned a vehicle but failed to insure it.

The MAACB handles claims for PIP benefits when:

For more information:

"No-Fault Auto Insurance in Minnesota - It's the Law"
an in-depth question and answer guide to Minnesota's No-Fault Law

Prepared by:
Insurance Help Line
Insurance Federation of Minnesota
750 Norwest Center
55 Fifth Street East
St. Paul, MN  55101-1764

Metro: (651) 222-3800
Outstate: (800) 642-6121
Call Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Last updated: Wednesday, June26,2024
2001 Minnesota Automobile Assigned Claims Bureau
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It is not the purpose of any statement in this website to interpret the application of benefits under the law in any individual case, and should not be considered legal advise.