Florida Automobile Insurance Laws & Requirements

Clearwater Insurance Dispute Lawyer

Florida is a No-Fault state. This means that regardless of fault for the car accident, your insurance company will assist in the payment of your medical bills. Many people ask why is my insurance company paying my medical bills when the other person is at fault? It is because Florida wants people to be able to receive medical treatment if they are injured in an automobile accident, regardless of fault.

PIP coverage is mandatory in Florida and, subject to some exceptions, pays for 80% of medical expenses related to an auto accident and 60% of lost wages, up to a limit of $10,000.00 per person, per accident. This coverage will also pay $5,000.00 for funeral expenses. You may also choose a deductible on your PIP coverage which will need to be satisfied before your insurance company begins paying your medical bills. PIP coverages can vary according to the factors you specify. For example, with PIP coverage, drivers are asked to choose whether they would like to exclude persons listed on the policy from receiving lost wage protection. If this coverage is declined, your Florida auto insurance premium will be lower, but that person on the policy will not be able to recover wages in the event that an auto accident injury prevents them from working. You can also select varying deductibles of supplemental coverages such as Medical Payments Coverage.

Bodily injury coverage will compensate you for any damages over and above your Personal Injury Protection coverage. This coverage is provided by the at fault party, if their insurance policy provides for it. It will compensate you for the remainder of your unpaid medical bills and unpaid past wages; for the payment of future medical bills and lost wages, for pain and suffering, etc.. Unfortunately, Florida does not require automobile drivers in Florida to carry bodily injury coverage. This is why it is so important to have uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If you were in a car accident with someone who did not have insurance (an uninsured motorist) or someone who does not have enough insurance to fully compensate you for your injuries (an underinsured motorist), you may be eligible for benefits under your own policy or the policy that covered the vehicle you were in. In most cases, you will be able to collect for your lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, etc., in the same way as if the driver of the car that hit you did have insurance. We will contact your insurance company and demand that they provide us with a complete copy of your own car insurance policy so we can determine if you have uninsured motorist coverage or underinsured motorist coverage..