If you live in Florida, buying personal injury protection, or PIP, insurance can help protect you in the event of a car accident. PIP insurance can cover damages for yourself and the other people in your vehicle regardless of who was at fault. This insurance can also cover extra expenses like funerals, child care and lost wages.
What does it mean to live in a no-fault state?
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that fault isn’t taken into consideration after a motor vehicle accident. If both drivers suffered from minor injuries, the process is simple: Your insurance pays for your injuries, and their insurance pays for their injuries. There’s no lengthy legal battle that involves proving the other driver was at fault for the accident.
For this reason, drivers in Florida are required to have PIP insurance. This can cover a wide range of expenses after your car accident.
What kinds of expenses does PIP cover?
PIP covers various medical services, including surgeries, hospital stays, ambulance rides, medication, X-rays, physical rehabilitation and more. Typically, the plan doesn’t cover 100% of the expenses; instead, it covers most of the costs and leaves you to pay a small amount of coinsurance. But you can still save thousands of dollars when you enroll in PIP insurance.
PIP also covers additional expenses that you might accrue as a result of your injuries. For example, if you have to take time off work, PIP can cover a portion of your lost wages. PIP can also cover the cost of childcare and house cleaning services if you’re finding it difficult to maintain your daily routine.
PIP insurance also has benefits for survivors. If the insurance holder was killed in the accident, their dependents might be eligible for a payout.
What can you do if you’re severely injured?
While PIP insurance is helpful for minor injuries, what can you do if you’re severely injured in a car accident? You might wish to hire an attorney so that you can sue the other driver for their recklessness or negligence. While Florida is a no-fault state, an attorney may be able to help you with a lawsuit if your injuries are debilitating.