If you are in a car accident with someone else in the state of Florida, it is fairly likely that you will recover at least some of the damages from your own insurance company through your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy. The no-fault law, at its essence, requires that all drivers carry personal injury insurance in order to ensure that they are compensated to the limit of their policy regardless of who is at fault for the accident that they are involved in.
After you have been involved in a car accident that someone else caused, one of the most important steps that you can take is to work with an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida, like Abercrombie, P.A. Because of Florida’s no-fault law, you will find that many insurance companies that you work with will attempt to limit your settlement payments, regardless of whether or not their client was at fault, because of this law. However, Florida’s no-fault law does not mean that you are not entitled to damages from the other insurance company.
Florida’s No-Fault Law Requires You To Carry Certain Coverages
Florida’s car insurance laws are much different than most other states, and this means that you will need to make sure that you meet the insurance requirements, and understand the risks that you are accepting if you do not purchase additional coverage. The state minimum for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is $10,000, and while choosing the minimum coverage will certainly save you money on your premium, you could find yourself in some serious financial trouble if you are in an accident with an underinsured (or uninsured) driver and your injury costs exceed that policy limit.
In addition to PIP, you will also be required to carry Property Damage Liability (PDL), which covers damages that you may cause to any personal property during an accident that you caused. However, it is important to note that because this is “liability” insurance, it will only cover damages that you are liable for, not damages that you suffer. Note the difference between “protection” and “liability” in the two coverages that you are required to carry.
PIP Does Not Mean You Can Not Sue For More Damages
Whether or not you use your PIP coverage, you may still be able to seek additional damages from the other driver, their insurance company, and sometimes even your own insurance company depending on the circumstances. However, these processes can quickly get complicated, meaning that the advice and help of an experienced attorney will be extremely handy to ensure that you get what you deserve, and that you get it as quickly as possible.
Working with an insurance company that is obligated to pay you immediately means that the insurance company will be working against you in order to limit their payments and protect their own financial interests over your own. With this knowledge, it is quickly clear why an attorney will be a huge help.
Consult An Attorney No Matter How You Are Proceeding With Your Claim
As mentioned above, as soon as an insurance company realizes that they are financially responsible for some, or all of the damages that you have suffered after a car accident, they will begin to work on ways to restrict these payments as much as possible. This is true whether it is your own insurance company, or the insurance company representing the other driver. This is why free initial consultations are so helpful with personal injury lawyers, and something that you should take full advantage of to learn about your options, and how these lawyers can help.