When Does PIP Insurance Allow You to File a Lawsuit?

Personal injury protection, otherwise known as PIP, is a type of car insurance all residents of Florida must have. In order to be in accordance with the law, you must have the minimum coverage for both PIP and property damage liability (PDL). The minimum amount for both is $10,000.

The purpose of PIP is to pay for any medical bills, loss of income, etc. if you are involved in a traffic collision. This is regardless of whether you were at fault. The reason for this is to curb the amount of car accident-related claims in the state, and also to ensure you are sufficiently covered if for some reason the other driver does not have insurance.

The drawback of PIP is that victims may only be paid out a small amount for the accident, or may even receive claim denials. The amount of compensation an individual receives may not be sufficient enough to match with the treatment they need, or with the amount of time they need to take out of work. If this is the case and the accident wasn’t your fault, you may be able to bring a claim against the at-fault party in order to cover all your finances suitably. If this is the case, it is imperative you find experienced legal representation that can help advise you on your situation and build a case.

It is important to note that not all individuals can file a claim, and it depends on the unique factors of your situation. If an accident is not too serious claiming on your PIP is easy to do and will cover the costs, however if an injury is more severe the situation can change. If you have to be hospitalized for an extended period of time and have a life changing injury, medical treatment may well be expensive and ongoing. It will also mean you may not be able to work for many years to come, and there are also other factors to consider such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment. PIP does not cover these claims, and neither does it pay out for estimated losses (such as future earnings) as the limits are quite low. If the accident you’ve been in has and will continue to cost more than your PIP limits, this is when you need to look into compensation through alternative avenues – the at-fault party.

If you need advice on any claim and are unsure of how to move forward, visit the team at Franco Firm for expert assistance.