In Florida, all motorists must carry personal injury protection coverage, also known as PIP insurance. This coverage ensures that, should you sustain injuries in a motor vehicle collision, you have some assistance with medical bills, lost income, and other damages.
Unfortunately, this coverage won’t go too far, especially if you sustained serious injuries that require extensive treatment and prevent you from working. If this describes your situation, consider talking to an automobile accident lawyer to explore your options. If another party caused or contributed to your accident and resulting damages, you may be entitled to pursue legal action to recover compensation.
Personal injury protection coverage, sometimes called no-fault insurance, pays a portion of your medical bills and lost income after an injury accident. To register your vehicle in Florida, you must provide proof that you have $10,000 of current PIP coverage in place.
You can use PIP coverage no matter who was at fault for the accident. Some of the expenses that PIP typically covers include:
Unfortunately, even if your total medical bills are less than $10,000, you will still have out-of-pocket expenses. PIP pays only 80% of emergency medical treatment costs, after you’ve paid your deductible. This coverage will pay only 60% of your lost wages.
Should you lose your life due to car accident injuries, personal injury protection coverage will pay $5,000 in death benefits.
To receive Florida no-fault (PIP) insurance benefits, you must require emergency medical treatment after an accident. You must seek treatment within 14 days of a car crash; otherwise, the insurer will likely deny your claim.
Even if you comply with all Florida car accident and insurance laws, the insurer can take up to 60 days to investigate your claim for potential fraud.
If your insurance company denies your PIP claim, you could be stuck having to cover all your medical bills. You could struggle to get the treatment you need to recover. A personal injury attorney can help protect your legal rights and negotiate with the insurer to get your claim paid.
Even with PIP insurance, Florida law may allow you to pursue a claim against the at-fault party’s car insurance after an accident. In many cases, you might also have the right to file a lawsuit to recover your damages.
If your injuries occurred due to the negligence or wrongful actions of another party, you deserve to be fully compensated for your economic and non-economic damages. An experienced auto accident lawyer can evaluate the details of your case. Your attorney can explain your options and provide an estimate of your claim’s potential value. In most cases, an attorney can negotiate a fair settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, you can also explore the possibility of filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court.
The Florida statute of limitations, according to Florida Statutes Section 95.11(3)(a) for a car accident claim where you are injured, allows only four years from the date of the accident to take legal action. This four-year statute of limitations also applies to property damage claims.
However, if someone dies as a result of the accident, the family must file a wrongful death case within two years of the date of death of the victim, according to Florida Statutes Section 95.11(4)(d). Contacting a lawyer as soon as possible after an injury accident can help you get the resources you need to get your life back on track.
At Rue & Ziffra, our daytona beach personal injury attorneys know how difficult it can be to get straight answers from the insurance company—even your own insurer.
With more than 40 years of experience, we understand how to document your case and engage the insurance company in settlement negotiations. We handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on your recovery.To answer your questions about personal injury protection in Florida and how it can affect your ability to pursue legal action, we offer free consultations. Call us at 1-800-JUSTICE or contact us online now to discuss Florida no-fault insurance with one of our experienced car accident lawyers.