"Property damage (like fences) typically falls under liability or collision coverage, not PIP."
That's a good distinction. I always assumed PIP included property too, but after my own minor fender-bender last year, I learned otherwise. Definitely worth reviewing the fine print in your policy to avoid surprises later on...
PIP can definitely be confusing at first glance. Basically, it's designed to cover medical expenses and sometimes lost wages for you and your passengers, regardless of who's at fault. But yeah, property damage—whether it's your car or someone else's fence—isn't included. For that stuff, you'd typically rely on collision (for your own vehicle) or liability coverage (for damage you cause to others). Learned this the hard way myself after backing into a mailbox... insurance lessons aren't always cheap, lol.
"Learned this the hard way myself after backing into a mailbox... insurance lessons aren't always cheap, lol."
Haha, been there. I remember when I first got PIP, I thought it covered everything. Then one rainy night, I skidded into a curb and wrecked my wheel alignment—figured PIP would handle it. Nope. Turns out that's collision coverage territory. Felt pretty skeptical about insurance after that, but honestly, once you get the hang of what's covered where, it's not too bad... just gotta read the fine print carefully.
Yeah, I feel you on that one. PIP can be pretty confusing at first—lots of folks think it's like this magical "cover-everything" policy, but it's basically just there to handle medical bills and lost wages from injuries, regardless of who's at fault. It won't help with property damage or repairs to your car, mailbox, or whatever else you happen to hit (been there myself, unfortunately).
If you're worried about stuff like curbs, mailboxes, or other random objects jumping in your way, collision coverage is definitely the way to go. Sure, it bumps up your premium a bit, but it's worth it if you're accident-prone or drive a lot, especially in bad weather. Learned that lesson after sliding into a guardrail a couple winters ago—wasn't cheap, but collision saved me from paying the whole bill out-of-pocket.
Bottom line, insurance companies aren't exactly generous, so reading the fine print and knowing exactly what you're paying for is key.
Yeah, collision coverage is definitely helpful, especially if you're like me and have a talent for finding potholes and curbs... PIP's good for medical stuff, but it won't fix your bent rim or bumper, sadly learned that the hard way.
