Personal Injury Attorneys Serving The St. Petersburg Area
No Fault Insurance St Petersburg | Clearwater | Bradenton | Tampa
We Handle No-Fault Insurance Coverage Disputes in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, Tampa & Beyond
What does it mean to say that Florida is a no-fault insurance state? It means that if you are hurt in an automobile, truck, or motorcycle accident, you will be required to seek compensation from your own insurance company – even if the accident was the other driver’s fault. Florida is one of only a handful of states in the country that has a no-fault insurance system, and at least in theory, it is intended to keep car insurance premiums low and reduce the need for costly, time-consuming litigation. Currently, Florida drivers are required by law to purchase a minimum of $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which is used to pay for medical bills and lost wages following a serious accident. Expenses beyond the limits of a driver’s policy must be recouped from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, normally with the assistance of a PIP attorney.
You might have heard that the Florida legislature passed a bill in 2012 that makes it harder for people to qualify for benefits under their no fault policies. Effective January 2013:
- You must visit a doctor within 14 days of an auto, truck, or motorcycle accident, or else you waive your right to benefits
- Coverage is capped at $2,500 unless a medical doctor diagnoses you as having an “emergency medical condition”
- Benefits no longer cover massage or acupuncture treatment
- Your insurance company can require you to give an examination under oath (EUO), which can lead to a denial of your claim
To learn more about Florida’s (new) no-fault insurance system and what role it has to play in your accident case, contact a PIP lawyer at Reeder & Nussbaum, P.A., a personal injury law firm serving St Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, Tampa, and beyond. If you have been hurt in a serious motorcycle accident, you can also turn to our firm if you think you require help from a motorcycle injury lawyer.
