What Is Personal Injury Protection In Florida?– Personal Injury State Laws

What is personal injury protection in Florida? Personal injury protection, also known as PIP insurance, is a type of insurance that helps pay for your medical bills and lost wages after an accident. It is mandatory for Florida drivers to have PIP insurance. But what exactly does PIP insurance cover and why is it required in the state?

This article will discuss personal injury protection insurance under Florida law and help you to understand its coverage. If you have been in a car accident in Florida where you sustained personal injuries, you may be entitled to file a claim with your own insurance company and recover compensation. Get in touch with the law firm of Jared Spingarn, P.A. to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer who can help you with your case.

What is personal injury protection (PIP) in Florida?

PIP insurance, sometimes called no-fault insurance, covers injuries that you sustain from a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. So when you get a new auto insurance policy in Florida, PIP coverage is usually included.

Florida Statute 627.7407 defines the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law. Under this law, personal injury protection coverage is required for vehicle owners in the State of Florida. This law states that vehicle owners must acquire PIP coverage from an authorized insurance company in the state before they are allowed to use their vehicle. This is also in line with Florida Statutes 627.733 which states that all vehicle owners must acquire the required security when registering their vehicle, in the form of PIP coverage.

Why did Florida create a personal injury protection requirement?

The state of Florida requires PIP insurance in order to help reduce the amount of car accident claims and lawsuits that are filed. Having this type of insurance will help pay for your expenses after an accident without having to sue the other driver and go through the lengthy and costly process of litigation.

Aside from PIP coverage, Florida drivers are also required to carry property damage liability insurance attached to their car insurance. This is also part of the provisions of the no-fault system.

What does PIP insurance cover?

In Florida, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance covers medical expenses and lost wages. The minimum PIP coverage is $10,000. If the car accident resulted in wrongful death, the relatives of the deceased can still file a PIP claim to receive a minimal amount of $5,000 under the deceased’s policy. As it is usually included with an auto insurance policy, it primarily covers the vehicle owner or the insured.

The good thing about Florida’s PIP coverage is that it can travel with you. This means that if you get into a motor vehicle accident that requires medical treatment while riding your bike or crossing the street, you can still file a claim with your insurance company to cover your medical costs. Additionally, it can also cover your relatives who live under the same roof if they do not have their own PIP coverage.

Medical Coverage

Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage will cover up to 80% of medical costs. This coverage only includes medical expenses that are deemed necessary by a medical professional, such as dental and surgical services, X-rays, and rehabilitative services as well as prosthetics.

The costs of emergency medical services are also covered in a Florida PIP claim. These include the use of an ambulance and other emergency medical services that are often required after a serious car accident.

It must be noted that personal injury protection/PIP only provides primary coverage. This means that your PIP coverage will only cover your expenses right after an accident. Personal injury protection insurance will not cover damages to another person’s property, such as their car.

When filing a claim for reimbursement of your medical bills, the type of injuries you sustained will determine the amount. For instance, if the medical professional who treated you deems that your medical treatment was due to an emergency medical condition, your hospital expenses may be reimbursed up to the full extent of your coverage.

But if the medical professional, upon proper assessment, deems that you only sustained injuries that did not need emergency care, you may only be entitled to receive up to $2,500. Additionally, your medical bills will not be reimbursed for treatments that include massage therapy or acupuncture. To recover your medical costs after the accident, you must be able to provide evidence, such as medical bills and records, to show that the treatment you received was necessary.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention right away – even if you feel fine. This is because some injuries, such as whiplash, may not show symptoms until days or weeks after the accident. By getting a medical assessment right away, you will not only be able to get the treatment you need but you will also have documentation to support your PIP claim.

Lost Wages or Disability Benefits

Under your no-fault insurance policy, you are entitled to receive compensation for up to 60% of your lost wages due to disability. This means that you are unable to work because of your injuries, which resulted in a loss of income. These benefits also include any additional expenses of a reasonable amount that you need to shell out to perform activities that could otherwise be done if you did not get into an auto accident.

It is important to note that these payments are not automatic. You will need to file a claim with your insurance company and provide documentation that proves your disability. To receive these benefits, you need to submit documentation that includes a note from your employer confirming the number of days or weeks you have missed from work and how much pay you would have received during that time. You will also need a certification or official diagnosis of your disability from the medical professional who treated you.

Once approved, you will start receiving lost wage benefits, which will be sent to you at a minimum of every 14 days or two weeks. Additionally, these benefits are not taxable, so the amount you receive will be the same as your regular paycheck. The only difference is that these payments will come from your insurance company and not your employer.

Wrongful Death Benefits

In cases where the accident resulted in the wrongful death of the victim, the relatives of the deceased can file a death benefits claim. To file a claim, the relatives of the deceased will need to submit a copy of the death certificate to their insurance company. The insurance company will then reimburse the funeral and burial expenses or death benefits up to $5,000.

Does PIP insurance cover pain and suffering?

No, personal injury protection insurance does not cover pain and suffering or any other non-economic damage such as loss of enjoyment of life. This type of compensation is only available if you file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. To learn more about how to file a lawsuit and what types of compensation you may be entitled to, schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer from Jared Spingarn’s law firm.

When should I file a personal injury claim?

After an accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical treatment, even if you feel fine. Most insurance companies will not grant your PIP benefits to cover medical costs if you fail to have your injuries checked within 14 days of the accident.

Once you have received medical treatment, you should file a personal injury claim as soon as possible after the accident. This is because there is a statute of limitations, or time limit, on how long you have to file a claim. In Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is four years from the date of the accident.

If you wait too long to file a claim, you may be barred from doing so and will not be able to receive any compensation for your injuries. This is why it is important to speak with Jared Spingarn’s team of personal injury lawyers as soon as possible after the accident.

Do I need personal injury protection?

In the state of Florida, all drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Although the no-fault law raises the car insurance premiums of Florida residents, it is important to have PIP insurance because it will cover your costs even if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run.

Where can I get PIP insurance in Hallandale Beach?

You can purchase PIP insurance from any car insurance company that offers it. It is important to remember that you are required by law to have this type of insurance, so do not go without it. If you have been in an accident in Hallandale Beach and need help filing a personal injury claim, contact Jared Spingarn’s office today. With over 16 years of experience, Jared is a personal injury lawyer who has helped countless accident victims receive the compensation they deserve. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how they can help you.

Conclusion

What is personal injury protection in Florida? In conclusion, PIP is a type of insurance that all drivers in Florida are required to have. PIP insurance will cover medical expenses and lost wages if you are in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

The advantage of having PIP coverage is that it will cover your costs even if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver, or if the other driver flees the scene of the accident. If you need help filing a personal injury claim in Hallandale Beach, contact Jared Spingarn’s office immediately.

>> If you sustained personal injuries in an accident in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney at 1-954-781-2316 for a Free Case Review or drop a message on our Contact Us page.