What is “No-Fault” Car Insurance?
Florida is one of 12 states that requires its vehicle owners to maintain “no-fault” car insurance coverage, along with a personal injury protection (PIP) plan containing benefits of at least $10,000. This allows vehicles owners who suffer minor injuries in a vehicle accident to turn to their own insurance companies for coverage. However, PIP coverage won’t automatically cover all costs resulting from a car accident. When more serious or permanent injuries occur as a result of another’s negligence in causing a wreck, however, you may be able to seek compensation for your damages from the other party’s insurance company. The fact that Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state does not mean that an individual is not responsible for causing an accident that leads to injuries to others.
What “No-Fault” Insurance Covers
All Florida car owners must maintain at least a minimal level of PIP coverage. These benefits pay for the medical costs and other non-medical costs resulting from a car accident. Medical costs can include hospital and doctor bills, therapy bills, and medication expenses. Non-medical costs may include loss of income due to an inability to work and the costs of hiring a caregiver or caretaker. These benefits are available no matter who is at fault for the accident that caused the injuries and other expenses.
The minimum PIP coverage that a car owner must carry is $10,000, with a maximum PIP deductible of $1,000. PIP coverage pays 89% of medical bills and/or 60% of lost wages due to your inability to work after an accident. If the total claim for injuries to an individual involved in an accident doesn’t exceed $10,000, then PIP is the only coverage available. In this case, you can’t sue the other person involved in the accident, even if that person acted negligently in causing the accident.
What “No-Fault” Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Florida law also establishes an “injury threshold,” which, in certain cases, allows those injured in accidents to go outside of Florida’s “no-fault” system and pursue the person responsible for the wreck that caused the injuries. This threshold is met if the person has incurred permanent injuries, disfigurement, loss of body function, or loss of a body part. Once you meet this threshold, you would then file a legal claim against the negligent person or persons who caused the accident that led to your injuries.
Reach Out to Us for Help
When a car crash arises as a result of negligence by another party and you sustain serious injuries, we know how to help. At Salazar & Kelly Law Group, P.A. in Florida, our job is to focus on you and your case, so that we can give you the legal support and advice that you need. When you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, we are here to protect your rights and help you obtain the compensation for your losses that you deserve. We understand how devastating these types of situations can be, and we have the experience necessary to ensure that you are able to recover and move on with your life. Contact our office at 407-483-0500 today, and learn about the help that we can offer you.
Resource:
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.736.html
