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What Should Your PIP Claim Cover?

In many states, injured car accident victims can file insurance claims with the policy owned by the driver who was at-fault for the accident. Florida law, on the other hand, requires that every driver carry a $10,000 no-fault auto insurance policy called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. When you are in a crash, your own PIP coverage will cover certain costs of your own injuries—without any need to prove fault in the accident.

While PIP insurance requirements aim to reduce the number of car accident lawsuits filed in Florida, many people do not understand just what PIP insurance claims should or should not cover.

Medical bills can overwhelm patients, so know that PIP insurance will cover some of your medical treatment costs. This can include:

• Ambulance Rides
• Emergency treatments
• Hospitalizations
• Surgeries
• Medications
• Rehabilitative services

PIP coverage will pay for 80 percent of your medical expenses, but if your injuries are not considered “emergency medical condition[s]” (EMC), your medical coverage will be limited to $2,500. If you were deemed to have an EMC, your coverage may go up to your policy limit, which is usually $10,000.

PIP insurance can also cover lost wages if your injury kept you from working. If your injuries disabled you and you had to miss work, you can recover 60 percent of the income you lost. In addition, if your injuries prevented you from performing normal services—such as laundry, childcare, or cleaning—you can seek compensation for the lost value of those services.

When PIP policyholders die in auto accidents, their estates can recover the above benefits plus as much as $5,000 for expenses related to funerals or burials.

First and foremost, you will not recover through PIP any losses that exceed your policy limits. If your medical costs rise above your limit—which they can easily do—you will have to seek compensation from the at-fault party, which involves proving liability for the accident. In addition, PIP insurance will not cover intangible losses such as pain and suffering or emotional distress caused by your injuries. If your losses exceed your PIP policy limits, you can take legal action against the driver whose negligence caused the crash. You also have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit if you suffered particularly serious injuries.

After a car accident in Florida, you may have to seek compensation for your injury-related losses through different avenues. An experienced car accident lawyer can review your case and advise you whether to file a PIP claim or take additional legal action in civil court. At the Lawler Firm, P.A., we help clients through every step of their car accident cases. If you were injured in or around the Brandon area, contact us online or call us today at (813) 413-8828 to schedule a free consultation.

About the Author

Stephen M. Lawler