To learn more about the details of PIP in Florida, continue reading and give our skilled Panama City personal injury attorneys a call today.
What is PIP in Florida?
Personal Injury Protection coverage (PIP) refers to the part of your Florida automobile insurance coverage that is needed by the law in the amount of $10,000 and pays 80% of medical expenses, 60% of gross wage loss, addition to all expenses reasonably incurred in receiving services that you would have performed for the benefit of your household, like child care and maintaining your home. PIP also creates reasonable mileage or expenses for transportation to and from doctors’ offices for medical treatment. All PIP payments are created by your own insurance company, no matter whose negligence caused the accident. That is why PIP is often known as No-Fault coverage. PIP is payable for any injury which appeared out of the use, operation, or maintenance of a motor vehicle (but not a motorcycle). PIP may also be presented with a deductible, which lowers the amount of coverage and increases your out-of-pocket expenses if you are injured in your accident.
You must seek initial medical treatment within 14 days of the accident.
Your first diagnosis must be created by the following: a licensed medical doctor (M.D.) a Doctor of Osteopath (D.O.), Dentist (DMD), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), or provided in a hospital or in a medical facility owned by a hospital.
In order to be eligible for your entire $10,000 of PIP benefits, a medical professional must diagnose you with an “emergency medical condition”. An emergency medical condition refers to any medical condition which shows itself as acute symptoms of enough severity. These acute symptoms may include serious pain to such a degree that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in any of the following:
(a) Serious jeopardy to patient health;
(b) Serious impairment to bodily functions; or
(c) Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
In the event that you are not diagnosed with an “emergency medical condition,” you are restricted to only $2,500 in PIP benefits.
The law limits your follow-up medical treatment to care consistent with the initial medical diagnosis. Furthermore, this care must be provided, supervised, or ordered by a licensed medical doctor (M.D.) a Doctor of Osteopath (D.O.), Dentist (DMD), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), physician assistant (PA), or ARNP (advanced registered nurse practitioner).
PIP medical benefits no longer include massage therapy or acupuncture. You must pay for these forms of treatment out-of-pocket or by health insurance.
Your PIP insurance company may require you to experience an examination under oath, also known as a EUO. The scope of questioning during the examination under oath is limited to relevant information or information that could reasonably be expected to lead to relevant information. This has the ability to be a lengthy and invasive examination by the insurance company’s adjuster or lawyer about your entire medical history.
Contact our experienced Florida firm
Our firm proudly handles injury claims, insurance disputes, hurricane claims, fire loss claims, commercial litigation, and construction law matters. To discuss your case with our experienced Panama City personal injury attorneys, contact Manuel & Thompson, P.A. today.