Accidents can happen at any time. Sometimes, they cause severe physical and financial harm. This is because treatment can be expensive at times, and when you are physically injured or disabled, your potential earnings drop. You must obtain PIP coverage with a personal injury lawyer in Florida to prevent such a situation.
Personal injury protection (PIP) or no-fault coverage pays the medical costs after a car accident. It doesn't matter who causes the collision. The coverage applies to you and everyone else in your car.
With so many insurance plans available, it's easy to get confused trying to learn the difference between each. If you need help understanding PIP coverage, we are here to help.
The most significant difference between PIP and other insurance policies is that PIP covers whether you are at fault. For instance, if you are responsible for a collision and injure yourself or someone else in your car, no-fault coverage will pay the medical costs.
Similarly, PIP will still cover the medical expenses if you or a loved one get injured in a car crash because of someone else's fault. Please remember that personal injury protection coverage is only available in Florida and a few other states. For help getting coverage, you can contact us today.
A personal injury attorney in Florida represents individuals involved in car accidents. As you know, there are many instances where insurance companies withhold payments, underpay, or incorrectly pay medical professionals. The PIP attorney will help you fight against the insurance provider to claim PIP benefits.
The medical professionals may include surgeons, doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and medical facilities that treat patients involved in car crashes. The goal of your no-fault attorney will be to ensure quick payment of all medical bills submitted to the PIP provider.
At Ryan T. Hughes Law, we are a crew of Florida personal injury lawyers committed to helping medical professionals get the coverage they deserve. We start by sending out a demand letter to the insurance company requesting the payment of unpaid/underpaid medical bills. If they fail to provide coverage within (days) days, we will initiate litigation by filing a complaint in court. The litigation process includes the following:
A jury trial will be the last option if both sides can't settle. Remember that insurance policies in Florida are constantly changing. As Florida's leading PIP attorneys, we stay updated with the latest legal amendments to ensure clients' proper representation.
Please work with us to get the most out of your PIP claim. No insurance provider can take advantage of you with us by your side. We visit your medical facility to review the patient's file.
Once we have a thorough understanding of the case, we meticulously prepare the suit so your insurer has no choice but to make the PIP payments. We serve all of Florida.
Please discuss your PIP matters with the top personal injury lawyers in Florida today for maximum peace of mind.
PIP covers medical costs regardless of fault. Whether you are driving a car with your family or traveling as a passenger in someone else's car, PIP will cover if you get injured in an accident. PIP will also provide coverage if you are a pedestrian, cyclist, or riding a bike and get hit by a vehicle.
The specific costs that PIP covers depend on your purchased plan. However, PIP, in general, includes:
Please remember that PIP doesn't cover every claim. For example:
You will need minimum PIP coverage if you and your loved ones already have an excellent insurance plan with post-accident benefits. You can always increase PIP limits for additional protection like lost wages and substitute crew.
If your current insurance provider doesn't offer post-accident coverage, we suggest you go for maximum no-fault coverage.
A single accident alone can make your life miserable. If you are unfortunate enough to get into multiple accidents, there will be problems. For instance, if you get seriously injured in a car crash, your doctor may use your PIP benefits and still need coverage from your health insurance. Now, if you get into another accident the same year, you may need additional funds for treatment. Moreover, your previous car accident injuries may worsen from the latest ones. This makes it difficult for doctors to determine where the injuries came from and may also give your insurer a reason to withhold coverage.
In such a scenario, we recommend collaborating with trusted personal injury attorneys in Florida like us. We know all the hurdles that come with multiple claims and can help you clear them quickly.
All drivers in Florida are required to have personal injury protection coverage. Your PIP provider will cover up to 80% of your medical bills and lost wages, even if the fault is yours. Here are the main requirements to qualify for PIP coverage:
You must file a claim within two weeks of the crash
If you are injured in a collision, you only have 14 days to file a PIP claim. You must do so within this brief period to make you eligible for no-fault coverage in Florida. To file a PIP claim, you must contact your insurance company and provide them with your medical bills and proof of lost wages.
They may also require additional information you must provide within the given time frame. Once your insurer has everything needed, they will process the claim, which may involve some waiting period.
You must own an insured vehicle.
People who own insured vehicles and are involved in accidents can apply for Florida PIP coverage. However, certain cars are not covered by Florida PIP companies. Please confirm with your insurer whether they cover your auto or not. If they don't, your only option is a relative with PIP coverage in Florida.
If you were the passenger of a vehicle involved in the accident
This is a type of insurance that varies from state to state. In Florida, passengers injured in accidents are eligible for PIP under driver's coverage. It doesn't matter if your injuries are minor or severe. You have the right to gain coverage under the driver's policy. Since these claims don't involve lengthy investigations, payments will be made swiftly.
You should always have enough coverage to cover your medical costs, lost wages, substitute crew, and other expenses. That said, the compensation depends on the patient's circumstances. The minimum PIP coverage in Florida is $2,500.00, so you can start with that in case of an injury.
Whether your coverage will increase depends on your Emergency Medical Condition (EMC). It is a condition you obtained because of the accident or preexisting and reactivating after the crash. If your doctor believes leaving the condition untreated could lead to other health complications or bodily dysfunction, PIP coverage can be increased to $10,000.00.
While initial treatment must be received within 14 days of the accident, EMC is an exception. You can receive the compensation any time it is diagnosed. Remember that the coverage depends on the judgment of the doctor.
Only qualified practitioners can make an EMC determination. And if the specialist believes that your condition is something other than EMC, you won't receive the added coverage.
Because no-fault insurance has so many confusing parts, it's best to work with a Florida personal injury lawyer to get maximum coverage for your pain. At Ryan T. Hughes Law, we regularly deal with PIP cases and work in the best interest of our clients.
Emergency Medical Condition (EMC) is a medical report issued by a doctor after a car accident. Your case could fall under EMC if your injuries cause severe dysfunction of bodily organs. If not taken care of immediately, these cases could significantly impact your life and stop you from performing your day-to-day activities.
You can receive up to $10,000 of PIP payout if diagnosed with EMC. However, only a certified medical doctor can determine whether you have this condition. Similarly, you must go to the doctor 14 days after the accident to ensure maximum compensation. If your doctor doesn't find any symptoms of EMC, you'll be eligible for only $2500 of PIP benefits.
At Ryan T. Hughes Law, our injury protection lawyers in Florida know the complexities related to EMC. They will guide you throughout the process so that you can make informed decisions.
Several studies conducted in different cities in Florida suggest that people are involved in fraudulent claims to get compensation without any reason. So the 14-day PIP rule is implemented to eliminate such questionable claims.
It is because 14 days are more than enough for a person suffering from injuries to determine the severity of his situation and go to the hospital.
The no-fault insurance policy was put in place to reduce the burden of road accident claims on the courts, and filing a lawsuit against the other driver would defeat the entire purpose of this policy. So you can't do that even if you can prove that the other driver was at fault.
However, if you've received serious injuries that may have caused the loss of a limb or fetus, you can settle the matter outside Florida's no-fault system. You can contact our injury protection lawyers in Florida to learn about such scenarios.
Claiming your lost wages and medical expenses from insurance companies is easier said than done. Insurance providers solely exist to protect their financial interests, and the last thing they want is to pay out a fair settlement for your losses. They don't operate in good faith and employ tricky tactics to save as much money as possible.
And this is where Ryan T. Hughes Law comes in!
Our highly experienced, knowledgeable lawyers eliminate frustration by dealing with personal injury protection insurance providers and protecting your legal rights. We're fully aware of all the tactics these companies use and develop proactive strategies that force them to fulfill their obligation.
Our comprehensive representation strategy includes the following:
Understanding Your Situation - Doing an in-depth assessment of your unique situation is critical to strengthen your claim. Our lawyers carefully analyze the severity of the injury, understand how much you can claim, and plug the loopholes that could weaken your case.
Sending Out Demand Letters - We send demand letters to the insurance provider to request unpaid or overdue medical bills.
Filing a Lawsuit - If the provider doesn't comply, our lawyers will file a lawsuit and begin legal proceedings.
Preparing Litigation Work - Our dedicated lawyers will do the entire homework necessary to win the battle. This includes conducting an investigation of the accident, getting in touch with witnesses, and preparing documents.
Representation in the Court of Law - If the case still doesn't settle with the insurance company, we'll order an impartial examination of your injuries and represent you in a court of law.
Ready To Deal With Your Insurance Company Like A Pro?
At Ryan T. Hughes Law, our thirst for making your legal journey stress-free knows no bounds. We stay with you every step of the way, discuss all the options that could ease your life, and go above and beyond to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our reputation as trustworthy personal injury lawyers in Florida has resulted from years of experience, a history of successful cases, and a can-do approach. We give individual attention to each case and continue working until your desired goals are met.
Contact us today if you want to negotiate with your insurance company or file a PIP claim. We'll protect your rights like no other.