Everyone in Florida is required to have auto insurance coverage. The specific amounts covered by the policies vary. There is one required coverage that is a must in Florida, the $10,000 PIP coverage. PIP coverage is defined in Florida Statute as “personal injury protection benefits.” You may have a deductible or no deductible at all. Hopefully, you’ll never need your PIP coverage. If you do and you have a deductible, remember that having one can cause immediate out-of-pocket costs.
Interestingly, the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law is new again and went back into effect on January 1, 2008. It now includes coverage for anyone in the policyholder’s automobile and covers damaged property that arises or is the result of an accident involving the vehicle of an insured. If a driver in Florida fails to maintain personal injury protection coverage on their registered vehicle, the state of Florida may suspend the policyholder’s driver’s license and vehicle registration. Sometimes personal economy or ignorance of policy provisions add confusion and complexity when an auto accident occurs.
Motorcycle accidents are unique and have special legal needs. Motorcyclists are not required to carry the PIP coverage that other drivers are required to carry. When the motorcyclist does not have PIP coverage, the driver of the car involved with the motorcyclist can get an attorney to provide a letter of protection. This letter is abbreviated LOP and is written to assure medical or healthcare providers that they will be paid from any future settlement or court verdict. It may be wise to hire an attorney to handle issues that arise from a car accident. Resolving accident cases and problems, even in this no-fault era, can be time consuming and complicated.
Motorcycle injuries are often much more serious for the rider than for the passengers of the cars. These injuries often result in brain trauma, loss of a limb, or even death. The services of an experienced accident attorney can exercise extra care to recover enough to provide proper care for these types of injuries.
The State of Florida requirement for drivers of automobiles to have PIP coverage is designed to cover only 80% of reasonable medical benefits and 60% of disability benefits. This is another reason to hire an accident and personal injury lawyer soon after being involved in an accident.
Property damage liability along with financial responsibility for it has clear requirements under Florida Statute. The requirements are specific to self-insurance or maintaining other coverage through a private insurance company licensed to process this type of insurance in Florida.
There is a lot to know about the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law that went into effect in early 2008. An experienced accident lawyer can solve problems for you.
Here is something to ponder. Consider something like the tricky and complicated car accident that involved many different factors last year. There was a large backlog of cars on Interstate 4 in central Florida and it was widely reported in the media. The number of deaths and injuries, not to mention property damage, was enormous. The cause was attributed to low visibility from fog and smoke from a nearby controlled burn. 50 cars and some trucks with trailers participated. Resolving this mess legally between all parties involved makes it clear why an attorney is needed after accidents like this.