What is No-Fault insurance in New York?

No-Fault insurance, formally called Personal Injury Protection (PIP), is a required part of every New York auto insurance policy. Its purpose is to get accident victims medical care quickly without waiting to determine who was at fault. Because benefits are paid regardless of blame, you can generally begin treatment right away rather than waiting on an insurance investigation or a legal outcome.

No-Fault applies to injuries connected to the use or operation of a motor vehicle in New York. It is separate from any injury claim against another driver and separate from Workers’ Compensation, which covers on-the-job injuries. If your injury happened at work, see our Workers’ Comp injury care page instead.

What No-Fault Covers

New York No-Fault benefits are designed to cover many of the real costs that follow a motor vehicle accident. Under state law (basic economic loss), coverage generally includes:

• Medical expenses — doctor visits, diagnostic testing, physical therapy, chiropractic care, pain management, and other treatment that is reasonable, necessary, and related to the accident. Insurers review claims for medical necessity, so covered care depends on documentation and their approval.
• A portion of lost wages — generally up to 80% of lost earnings, capped at $2,000 per month and payable for up to three years from the date of the accident.
• Other necessary expenses — a daily allowance (generally up to $25 per day for up to one year) for accident-related costs such as transportation to medical appointments or household help you can no longer do yourself.

These benefits are intended to let injured people focus on healing. At Injury Recovery MD we can coordinate physical therapy, pain management, and other services in one plan so care stays organized under your No-Fault claim. Specific coverage amounts and rules are set by your policy and New York law.

The Standard $50,000 in Basic Coverage

Every New York auto policy includes a basic No-Fault benefit of $50,000 per person for each covered accident. That $50,000 is a single, aggregate pool shared across medical treatment, the wage-loss portion, and other allowed expenses — it is drawn down as those benefits are paid until it is used up.

Some drivers purchase Additional PIP (often called APIP) or Optional Basic Economic Loss (OBEL) to raise or extend these limits. The $50,000 basic amount is the minimum the state requires. How far it goes depends on the care you need and what the insurer approves as medically necessary. To learn what your specific policy includes, you can review your declarations page or ask your auto insurer.

Who Is Covered

New York No-Fault protects a broad group of people connected to an insured vehicle, typically including:

Note the direction of that exclusion: if you were hit by an impaired driver, it is the intoxicated driver whose own benefits may be affected, not yours as the injured party.

• The driver and passengers in the insured vehicle at the time of the accident.
• The policyholder and members of their household, in many situations, even as pedestrians.
• Pedestrians and cyclists struck by the insured vehicle.

Coverage details depend on the policy and the circumstances of the crash, and there are exceptions (for example, certain intoxicated drivers or people injured while committing a crime may be excluded). Because eligibility rules and household provisions can be complex, questions about who qualifies or which policy applies are best answered by your insurer or, for a dispute, an attorney. Injury Recovery MD is a medical provider and does not give legal advice, but we can help patients understand the medical side of a No-Fault injury care claim.

How Bills Get Paid — Directly to Your Providers

One helpful feature of New York No-Fault is that medical bills are usually paid directly to the treating providers, not to you. When you receive care, you typically sign an assignment of benefits that lets your medical office bill your No-Fault insurer on your behalf.

For eligible patients whose care is approved as covered and accident-related, this often means little or no out-of-pocket cost for the medical care itself — New York No-Fault generally does not involve co-pays, and most policies do not carry a deductible. Injury Recovery MD bills your New York No-Fault carrier directly and handles the required paperwork, including the initial claim forms and ongoing treatment documentation insurers request. Keep in mind that insurers can review, deny, or discontinue benefits (for example, after an independent medical exam), and services that are not covered or that exceed the $50,000 limit may not be paid.

To help keep a claim on track, it generally helps to begin treatment promptly — New York usually requires the No-Fault application (form NF-2) to be filed within 30 days of the accident — and to keep appointments consistent. We offer same-day and next-day appointments when available so care can start quickly.

Getting Started After an Accident

If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident on Long Island, a few early steps can make the process smoother:

If a specific part of the process is what you are stuck on — the NF-2 deadline, a denial, an IME notice, or going back to work — our guide library covers each one separately.

• Get a medical evaluation soon, even if symptoms feel minor — some injuries such as a herniated disc or sciatica can take days to become apparent.
• Report the accident to your auto insurer and note your claim number.
• Bring your insurance information to your first visit so our team can open the No-Fault billing.

Injury Recovery MD is a multi-specialty practice — orthopedics, chiropractic, physical therapy, and pain management coordinated in one plan — with offices across Long Island in Nassau and Suffolk County. When diagnostic clarity is needed, we also offer services such as EMG nerve testing. To schedule an evaluation and start your No-Fault paperwork, call (631) 560-8357.

Frequently asked questions

Does No-Fault insurance pay even if the accident was my fault?

Generally, yes. No-Fault benefits are paid regardless of who caused the accident. That is the point of the system — to get accident victims medical care quickly without first deciding fault. Your own auto policy provides the coverage, subject to its terms and New York law.

How much does treatment cost me with No-Fault?

For eligible patients whose care is approved as covered and accident-related, there is often little or no out-of-pocket cost for the medical care itself. Injury Recovery MD bills your New York No-Fault insurer directly under an assignment of benefits. New York No-Fault generally does not involve co-pays, and most policies carry no deductible, but insurers can deny or discontinue benefits, and non-covered services or amounts beyond the $50,000 limit may not be paid.

What is the $50,000 No-Fault limit?

New York requires every auto policy to include at least $50,000 per person in basic No-Fault benefits per accident. That single pool covers medical treatment, a portion of lost wages, and certain other expenses until it is exhausted. Some drivers carry additional coverage (APIP or OBEL) above this minimum.

How quickly do I need to start treatment or file?

It is best to be evaluated promptly after an accident. New York generally requires the No-Fault application (form NF-2) to be filed within 30 days of the accident, so starting care early helps keep your claim on track. We offer same-day and next-day appointments when available.

Is No-Fault the same as suing the other driver?

No. No-Fault pays your medical and related costs through your own policy, separate from any legal claim against an at-fault driver. Injury Recovery MD is a medical provider, not a law firm — for questions about a lawsuit or your legal rights, consult an attorney.

Is New York a no-fault state?

Yes. New York is a no-fault state for motor vehicle injuries, which means that after most crashes your own auto policy pays your medical treatment and certain related costs regardless of who caused the collision. Fault still matters for vehicle damage and for any claim against another driver, but it does not decide whether your treatment is covered.

How does no-fault insurance work in NY, step by step?

Coverage attaches to the vehicle rather than to a person, so the policy of the car you were in generally responds. You file the No-Fault application (form NF-2) with that insurer within 30 days of the accident. Once the claim is open, your treating provider bills the insurer directly rather than billing you, and the insurer pays medically necessary treatment up to the policy limit. You choose your own treating provider throughout — you are not required to use anyone the carrier suggests.

How do I file a no-fault insurance claim in New York?

Get the police report number and the insurance details for the vehicle you were in, then submit form NF-2 to that insurer inside the 30-day window. You do not need to wait until you know the full extent of your injuries, and you should not — the deadline runs from the date of the accident, not from the date symptoms appear. Most practices that handle crash injuries, including ours, will verify the coverage and help get the paperwork moving at your first visit.