What is a PIP Claim?
Florida is one of the thirteen states that have “no fault” car insurance laws in place. These laws require the injured party’s automobile insurance provider to pay for part or all of his or her medical bills and other costs associated with his or her injury. To receive this compensation, the insured must file a personal injury protection, or PIP, claim with his or her automobile insurance provider.
There are limits to the amount of compensation a claimant may seek with a PIP claim. In Florida, every motorist is required to carry at least $10,000 in PIP coverage. In 2012, the Florida House of Representatives passed House Bill 119 – Personal Injury Protection for Auto Insurance Fraud, which changed the way PIP claims are handled and further specifies the scope of the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law. If you are considering filing a PIP claim after your accident, discuss the changes written into this act with your attorney to determine your rights and legal options. Depending on the nature of your injury, you may be able to file a claim against another driver involved in your accident if he or she was the party responsible for your injury.
PIP benefits are available to drivers regardless of who was at fault in an accident. This is why the law is known as “no fault.” Unlike some other states, Florida law does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage (BIL).
The PIP Claim Process
To file a PIP claim, a victim must seek medical treatment within fourteen days of his or her accident. The next step is to file a claim with his or her PIP insurance provider. Victims are advised to work with an experienced attorney to handle this step. Personal injury attorneys understand the claims process and can effectively negotiate with insurance providers to ensure that their clients receive adequate settlements.
PIP Claims and Healthcare Insurance
Motorists who have health insurance may have higher limits for PIP claims than those without. In cases where a driver has both, he or she may only be able to submit a claim for up to a specified dollar amount to the PIP insurer. When this is the case, the victim must submit any losses beyond this amount to his or her healthcare insurance provider. If you have healthcare insurance, talk to your attorney about how it may affect your PIP claim and settlement for your losses.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Winter Park
If you have been injured in a car accident in Florida, you may be entitled to file a PIP claim against your own auto insurance provider to seek monetary compensation for your losses. Contact Hornsby Law Group at 407-599-8300 or on the web to set up your free legal consultation with one of the experienced Florida personal injury attorneys at our firm. We are here to answer any questions you have and provide you with top quality legal representation and advice as you work through your treatment and claim process.