Yeah, keeping track of details is definitely key—been there myself. As for PIP covering lost wages, I've heard it can be straightforward if you document everything step-by-step, but some insurers drag their feet... might depend on your provider?
Definitely agree on documentation being crucial—I've dealt with PIP claims a couple times, and here's what I've noticed:
- Providers vary widely in responsiveness. Some insurers processed my claim within weeks, while others took months and multiple follow-ups.
- Lost wages coverage usually requires clear proof from your employer (pay stubs, official letters confirming missed work days, etc.). The more organized you are upfront, the smoother it tends to go.
- Also, don't overlook mileage reimbursement for medical appointments. It's small but adds up quickly if you're driving back and forth frequently.
- One thing I found helpful was keeping a dedicated folder (digital or physical) for all accident-related paperwork. Saved me headaches later when the insurer inevitably asked for something I'd forgotten about.
Bottom line: staying organized and proactive makes a huge difference, but yeah... your experience will definitely depend on how cooperative your insurance company is.
Totally agree on the mileage thing—it's like finding spare change in your couch cushions, but way more satisfying. Another tip: take quick photos of everything right away (damage, license plates, even street signs). Sounds paranoid, but trust me, insurers love visuals. And yeah, responsiveness is a lottery... I've had claims handled lightning-fast, and others where I swear the adjuster was ghosting me harder than my last Tinder date.
"Sounds paranoid, but trust me, insurers love visuals."
Haha, I feel you on this one. Honestly, I'm new to this whole insurance thing, and the more I read, the more it feels like there's a hidden rulebook everyone else got but me. Quick question though—since we're talking about PIP specifically, does it matter at all who caused the accident? Like, if it's clearly the other person's fault, wouldn't their insurance cover everything anyway?
I ask because a friend of mine recently got rear-ended, nothing major thankfully, but she said her own insurance still had to step in initially. That seems kinda weird to me. I always assumed the at-fault driver's insurance would just handle it from start to finish, no questions asked. But apparently that's not always the case?
Also, on the photo thing... totally makes sense, but here's something else I wonder about: what if you forget to take those pictures immediately? Like, say you're shaken up or just plain forgetful (which honestly sounds like me). Can you still get your claim processed smoothly without them, or does it become a giant hassle?
Sorry if these are newbie questions—just trying to piece together how all this actually works before I end up learning the hard way.
I used to think the same thing—that if someone else caused the accident, their insurance would just swoop in and handle everything. But nope, turns out it's not always that straightforward. A couple years ago, I got sideswiped by someone who ran a red light (yeah, my luck...), and even though it was clearly their fault, my own insurance had to step in first with PIP coverage for medical bills and stuff. Apparently, PIP is designed to cover your immediate medical expenses regardless of who's at fault, so you're not stuck waiting around while insurers argue over liability.
As for photos, I totally get you. When I had my accident, I was so rattled I didn't even think about snapping pics until after the cars were moved. It wasn't ideal, but it didn't completely ruin my claim either. Still, having visuals definitely helps smooth things out—especially if there's any dispute about what happened. Lesson learned: snap those pics if you can, but don't panic too much if you forget... insurers deal with this stuff all the time.
