Clients come to us after they’ve been involved in an accident and want to know why they are receiving medical bills for a car accident that they didn’t cause. They aren’t always happy to hear the reasons after we explain it to them, but that is how the laws are in Florida.
Under Florida law, everybody is required to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as part of their insurance plan. This insurance pays 80% of your medical expenses after a Florida accident, up to $10,000, no matter who is at fault. Once that $10,000 is exhausted then you turn to your medical insurance, or you have to pay out of pocket if you don’t have medical insurance.
This is the point where you go after the defendant to start paying the other 20% your PIP coverage didn’t pay; plus, whatever else you may owe now that you’ve exhausted your PIP coverage. Depending on the severity of your injuries, the defendant might also pay intangible damages such as pain and suffering and the inconvenience of it all.
In order for the at-fault insurance company to pay anything, they will request that you sign a release saying in exchange for them giving you X amount of money you will not pursue any further compensation for this accident. It is important that you don’t sign a release without knowing for sure the severity of your injuries and what your recovery time will consist of.
If you have been involved in an accident and have questions about bills or a release, please call us at 407-254-4901 or text us at 407-644-4444. We are always happy to offer a no obligation, free consultation to discuss your case with you.
