What is PIP?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a form of auto insurance coverage that covers a portion of  medical bills and lost wages, that may arise if you have been injured in an auto accident. PIP may pay a specified amount of your damages resulting from an auto accident regardless of who was at fault.

PIP coverage, also known as “no-fault” insurance,is currently required in the state of Florida. Every vehicle driver and owner on the road in Florida is required to have $10,000 in PIP coverage as part of their auto insurance. Failure to have PIP is grounds for license suspension and fines.

How does PIP work?

Your own PIP coverage may pay a portion of your medical expenses and lost wages if you’ve been injured in an accident regardless of who was at fault. PIP pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages up to a limit of $10,000 or the amount of additional PIP coverage you have purchased. Payments made under PIP are usually made quickly because no determination on fault needs to be made. Remember that you will not be entitled to receive PIP payments if you have not sought medical treatment within 14 days of an accident. In addition, if a medical expert determines that your injury is not an emergency, you may only receive up to $2,500 in benefits.

Who is covered by PIP?

PIP typically covers:

• The insured whether they are in the car, riding a bicycle, or a pedestrian involved in an accident with a vehicle
• Family members who live with the insured
• Passengers in the insured’s car that do not have their own PIP

What if PIP Doesn’t Cover All of My Losses?

Although Florida only requires $10,000 in PIP coverage, this may not be enough to cover all of your losses in an accident, especially if you have an emergency medical condition. You should consider purchasing additional insurance coverage. If your injury is serious or permanent and is caused by the negligence of the other driver, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.

If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should have an experienced attorney evaluate your case. Contact the trusted lawyers at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk online or call us at 1-800-538-4878 to schedule your free consultation.