Welcome back!!! Today - a brief read to help clarify your car insurance benefits under the No-Fault Law that you can use right here in our office when you get hurt in a car accident. THIS IS STUFF WE ALL NEED TO KNOW!!!

In Florida we have something called the No-Fault Law that governs how our insurance companies provide the benefits we pay for! The ‘spirit’ of the law, as I see it, is one that seeks to insulate you and I from the kinds of contentious, expensive, and stressful situations that may arise when one person damages another person’s property, or health out on the highway. The insurance carriers step in and try to make everybody whole, regardless of who may be at fault. That is what we pay for. Peace of mind, and financial protection, should we cause an accident, or be the victim of one.

Defining a particular law is always best handled by lawyers who specialize in that particular field. And while I’m not an attorney, I could easily play one on TV— the kind that specializes in injury law. This is simply because I have helped hundreds of my patients get well from auto accident injury, while at the same time helping them to understand the often confusing way their insurance works for them.

Whose Insurance Pays for What?

In the graphic above - Ted has St. Farm and hits Tom who has GEICO. St. Farm steps in and covers everything EXCEPT for Tom’s Dr.’s bills. This is where most folks get confused. Under NO-FAULT, your own insurance covers your injury care, regardless of who may have caused the accident, with something called PIP.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is the part of your car insurance policy that pays doctor’s bills for your injury care. Your own PIP insurance covers you, even if you did not cause the accident. The amount of coverage is from 2,500 to 10,000 dollars depending on injury severity. In some cases deductibles and co-pays apply.

The insurance industry throws a bit of a curve at us here! You must see a healthcare provider within 2 weeks of the date of accident, otherwise your PIP benefits will be denied. Sometimes we can feel okay right after a fender-bender, but start to go downhill in the days that follow. Don’t delay of you don’t feel like your normal healthy self after a collision, whether you were at fault or not. Call us. Get checked-out, and make use of your insurance benefits before the opportunity expires!

Very Important Option We Should ALL Have!

Although it is state law that we have insurance on our vehicles, it is largely un-enforceable. So…what if you get hit by someone who has no insurance? You will likely have a collision deductible to pay to fix your car. And if you are hurt badly enough, there will be no settlement for your pain and suffering—UNLESS—you have the Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) option on your policy. There may also be additional medical costs to you if treatment exceeds the limits on your PIP (a single visit in the hospital ER can easily blow through your entire PIP benefit). If you add UM, it will act just like the other guy’s insurance would, and cover repair deductibles, medical overruns, and even provide for settlements for pain and suffering. Get this. Protect yourself and your family.

Settlements

Part of the NO-FAULT law provides for cash settlements for pain and suffering if you have suffered any type of permanent injury as the victim of an accident. Permanent injury is very common in spinal soft tissues like discs and ligaments, even in minor fender-benders. For a refresher, when done with this newsletter click on the link below.

You will, however, require an expert in this field to prove this kind of bodily damage to the insurance carrier. This is one of the things we specialize in. We can also provide you with direction if the “non-TV” version of legal advice and assistance is needed.

CALL US FIRST!

On the Level

We should all be fully aware of the full range of insurance benefits we pay for. Whether you were at fault or not, there is coverage under your insurance to get care here in this office. Just don’t wait more than two weeks after the accident to call!!!

Until the next one…

Blessings to you!