A car accident can inflict grievous personal injury on you or a loved one. It can also make you liable for costly medical bills, prevent you from earning vital income, and disrupt your life for weeks, months, or even longer. These are reasons to hire a PIP law firm as soon as possible after a car accident.
The Cliff Notes: Key Takeaways From This Post
- 1PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection and is a type of “no-fault” insurance that provides claimants with reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs resulting from an accident.
- 212 states have some form of PIP insurance coverage, 9 of which make it mandatory in order to receive the full benefits.
- 3PIP coverage can include up to 80% of qualifying medical expenses (capped at $10,000), 60% reimbursement for lost wages, 100% funding of replacement services), and up to $5,000 in death benefits.
- 4There are several valid reasons why any person involved in a car accident should hire a PIP law firm; such as protecting their rights and ensuring all fees are reimbursed correctly.
- 5A reliable PIP lawyer can also help plaintiffs understand what qualifies as an “emergency medical condition” and provide representation if necessary in court.
PIP Law in Florida
Physical, mental, and financial recovery from a serious car accident can be time-consuming and stressful. In many states, Personal Injury Protection (or PIP) is designed to cover basic medical expenses and other costs incurred from an accident. However, there are many guidelines and regulations that a claimant must successfully navigate in order to receive the full benefits from this provision.
The following information will discuss these points in more detail:
- What is PIP?
- What does PIP cover?
- Why should you hire a PIP law firm after an accident?
What Does PIP Stand For?
Personal Injury Protection is also known as “no-fault coverage.” The basic intent of PIP is to limit penalties on drivers that cause accidents (for instance, by preempting sky-high insurance premiums), while also providing some reimbursement for accident victims that have medical expenses and other costs as a result of the accident.
As of this writing, there are a dozen states that have some form of “no-fault” insurance laws on the books. These include:
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
In 3 of these states (Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) PIP is optional. However, in the other 9 states, it is a mandatory policy for all drivers.
If an insurance provider refuses to pay out for a legitimate PIP claim, then the claimant has the right to file a PIP lawsuit. This lawsuit would involve contract law, instead of tort law. In other words, the plaintiff’s case would focus on the insurance provider’s alleged breach of contract, as opposed to negligent or reckless behavior that did not involve any prior written agreement between the two parties.
What Does PIP Cover?
In “no-fault” states, such as Florida, PIP coverage limits are strictly regulated. Per Florida law, PIP coverage can include:
- 80% of qualifying medical expenses, capped at $10,000
- 60% reimbursement for lost wages
- 100% coverage of qualifying replacement services (e.g., necessary activities that you are unable to perform as a result of the accident)
- Up to $5,000 in death benefits (such as funeral expenses)
To illustrate how this would work in a real-life scenario, imagine that a driver named John was the victim in a car accident. As a result, he incurred a $15,000 debt in medical bills, lost $10,000 in wages, and had to pay $500 to hire a dog walker for his two Great Danes. PIP coverage would potentially pay $10,000 for his medical expenses, $6,000 for his lost income, and the full $500 for the “replacement service” provided by the dog walker.
It’s important to note that many Florida residents confuse MedPay with PIP. However, MedPay offers an additional $5,000 worth of coverage for medical expenses and is a supplement to PIP insurance.
Why Should You Hire a PIP Law Firm After an Accident?
Even though it is not mandatory for you to hire a PIP lawyer