Florida law allows victims of car accidents to recover damages through no-fault auto insurance. This means that no matter who or what caused the collision, you are eligible for compensation for your resulting medical expenses and lost wages. This provision allows you to pay your bills right away and often eradicates the need for a long legal case to determine liability before damages are paid.
How PIP works
No-fault insurance is sometimes referred to as PIP, or personal injury protection. This aspect of an insurance policy provides for damages recovery up to a certain monetary threshold (in Florida, usually $10,000).
Although you are entitled to your PIP benefits in accordance with your insurance policy, you will only be allowed to cover necessary and reasonable expenses that were caused by the accident in question. If you are found to be using PIP funds to cover other healthcare issues or extravagant procedures, you may face insurance fraud charges.
Additionally, there are some circumstances in which the PIP insurer will not compensate for an injured party’s medical costs, such as if the insured was on a motor cycle at the time of the crash, if he or she was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was involved in the accident during commission of a crime, and some other conditions.
Personal injury lawsuits
This aspect of your auto insurance policy may seem to remove the need to file a lawsuit, but this is not the case. If your medical costs exceed your PIP policy limits, you may be able to file a lawsuit. At this point, an experienced auto accident lawyer will review the facts of your case and determine if you have a valid legal claim under the negligence laws of Florida.
