Have you been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault and need to make an insurance claim? Or are you simply curious about how auto insurance liability works in Florida? Our Panama City car accident attorney explains everything you need to know concerning the basics of how PIP no-fault auto insurance works in our state.
PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection. This is a type of insurance policy designed to cover any medical bills and lost wages an injured driver suffers in an auto accident, no matter who was at fault for the wreck.
Under Florida law, every motorist is required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage. If you are unsure if your car insurance policy includes PIP insurance and how much, we recommend reviewing your policy to ensure you are adequately covered. This is because PIP coverage is a very important asset in “no-fault” states.
Florida is a “no-fault” state when it comes to auto liability insurance. In a traditional fault state, when a car accident occurs, you file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, in a no-fault state, like Florida, motorists who have been in a crash file a claim with their own insurance company, regardless of who was at fault.
This is why Personal Injury Protection is so important—it kicks in no matter who is at fault for an accident, making the claims process a bit more straightforward, in most cases. Having PIP insurance can also provide you some compensation even if the at-fault driver who caused your accident is uninsured or underinsured.
Accidents in Florida that cause very minor injuries probably won’t require legal action since your $10,000 PIP coverage should cover 80% your emergency medical expenses.
However, if there has been a serious accident, your medical bills are going to add up to be far more than the $10,000 minimum can cover. Therefore, those who suffer severe, debilitating injuries after a car accident, such as brain or spine injuries, are generally better off filing a personal injury claim for damages. By filing a lawsuit, you can receive as much funding as you need for your medical and other accident-related expenses, as long as you can prove that someone else was at fault for the accident.
Damages you may be eligible for include past, present, and future medical costs such as:
As well as other expenses and losses such as:
Receiving compensation/reimbursement for the above losses is vital for those who have suffered serious injury since the financial—as well as emotional and physical—costs of a serious car accident add up quickly. Therefore, if you or someone who know has incurred significant losses due to a motor vehicle crash, we highly recommend at least consulting with an experienced Florida auto accident lawyer so you know what your options are.
Have you or a loved one been injured in a Florida motor vehicle crash? Contact the Panama City auto accident attorneyat The Pittman Firm, P.A. to schedule a free case evaluation.