With increasing automobile accident figures each year, it’s imperative to understand which insurance policy to use to ensure that you are receiving the proper compensation for your injuries from a car accident.
To understand how to use it, it is important to know what Personal Injury Protection, also referred to as PIP, is. PIP is auto insurance, sometimes offered as its plan as an add-on to a pre-existing insurance plan, that covers medical bills, lost income, and other monetary losses that are the result of an automobile accident.
PIP is often referred to as “no-fault” car insurance because the fault for the automobile accident is a nonissue whether or not PIP will be permitted for usage. Consequently, one of the primary aims of PIP policy is to provide fairly prompt payment for injuries from a car accident, as there is no need for a liability lawsuit to be resolved for the injured to receive a payout.
PIP coverage will vary state-to-state as various states require PIP—including coverage amounts—, whereas others may not. States such as Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, and Utah require PIP coverage of various amounts. Some states that offer PIP coverage, as opposed to requiring, it as part of a no-fault insurance system, include the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Delaware, Maryland, and Oregon require PIP coverage, however as an add-on to a car insurance policy instead of a stand-alone policy. Any other state does not offer PIP coverage to policyholders.
Personal Injury Protection covers medical bills stemming from car accident injuries, income that was lost due to an inability to work consequent of the car accident, reimbursement of various expenses acquired as a result of the car accident injuries, and when necessary, the cost of funerals and burial expenses, if the policyholder died as a result of the accident.
If you need advice, counsel, or a car accident personal injury lawyer in Tampa, Inkelaar Law Firm is prepared to assist you.
Personal Injury Protection does not cover injuries or vehicle damage suffered by both other drivers and passengers in another vehicle, vehicle damage to the policyholder’s car, or an accident as a result of intentional or criminal conduct while driving, such as driving under the influence that lead to the crash. Another rather prevalent category of insurance claim not covered by PIP includes that of pain and suffering, whether it be physical or mental, as a consequence of the automobile accident.
It is important to remember that PIP insurance payout does have a cap. The dollar amount varies from state to state, so do not forget to read the fine print of applicable Personal Injury Protection Insurance documents and policy forms. In addition, there is an opportunity to utilize whichever insurance policies apply to the policyholder.
If something like a brain injury is sustained, as a result of the car accident, a Tampa brain injury lawyer, like Inkelaar Law Firm, would recommend utilizing PIP for whatever expenses can be covered under the policy, in conjunction with health insurance for maximum injury payout.
Whether or not you should use health insurance for an automobile accident injury claim is all dependent on whether or not you have Personal Injury Protection coverage, and the amount covered. There is a degree of coaction between health insurance and PIP coverage, where health insurance can cover whatever else PIP does not in a valid insurance claim.
In Florida, PIP coverage is 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses, consequent of the accident, up to $10,000 resulting from a covered injury, regardless of who is at fault for the automobile accident. Ensure that you are always consulting a legal professional, such as any of our Inkelaar Tampa car accident personal injury lawyers.
At least 2.8 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, 13.2% of which are resulting from motor vehicle accidents. With such a high percentage of extremely expensive auto accident consequences, how does a policyholder deal with an automobile accident-related brain injury in Tampa? For PIP-related legal counsel, or if you are looking for an automobile accident or brain injury attorney in Tampa, contact us at (813) 535-5574 or visit our website today for a free case consultation.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.
