How To Protect Your Financial Rights In A Car Accident.

Personal Injury Protection

Because Florida is a no-fault state, Florida motorists are required to carry a minimum amount of $10,000 in personal injury protection benefits. These PIP benefits pay 80% of your medical expenses, up to $10,000.00, for medical attention sought as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

However, the law requires an injured person to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, and only those individuals deemed to be suffering from an immediate/emergency medical condition will be entitled to the full $10,000.00 in coverage. Others will be relegated to only $2,500.00 in PIP coverage. Note, massage therapy and acupuncture are not covered under Florida's PIP law.

Beyond Personal Injury Protection: Med Pay Coverage

Because insurance companies only pay 80 percent of medical bills and only up to $10,000, optional Medical Payments coverage (MedPay) is advisable. MedPay covers the remaining 20 percent of your medical bills that PIP coverage does not, as well as any medical expenses beyond the $10,000 PIP limit, sometimes two or three times the limit.

Gerber Law advises all Florida drivers to obtain MedPay coverage in their car insurance policies.

Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage

After a car accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company should pay the rest of your medical expenses, and compensation for pain and suffering. But what if the other driver has no insurance or is underinsured?

Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance (UM/UIM) coverage ensures that you are taken care of by your own insurance company in the event that you are in an accident that is not your fault, and the at-fault driver's insurance is inadequate. UM/UIM insurance pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering beyond the other party’s insurance policy limits, and if the other party has no insurance at all, this additional UM/UIM coverage is your only chance at getting the compensation you need.