When you have been involved in an accident in Tampa, your state-required Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance can indeed help repay some of your losses. However, PIP coverage alone might not be enough.
If you have been injured in a car accident, discuss your case with a Tampa car accident lawyer. They can share legal options for pursuing compensation beyond what PIP offers. The experienced attorneys at Steinger, Greene & Feiner know the tactics insurers use to reduce the value of claims and are familiar with the types of evidence and legal arguments that have helped past clients win cases.
Call us today at (800) 316-8514 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review. Our personal injury services are available on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay anything unless we recover money for your damages.
Why Florida PIP Insurance Might Not Cover Your Needs
Florida’s no-fault insurance system comes with some substantial benefits. There’s no need to file a claim against another driver’s insurance, in most instances, and you can be covered even if you are a passenger in another accident.
However, Florida’s PIP policy limits are woefully small compared to similar systems in other states. You only have $10,000 to cover the costs of any major injury or serious accident. If your injury is not considered an emergency, the maximum coverage will be just $2,500.
PIP medical coverage only provides 80% of the total amount of your bills. So, if you have a $1,000 emergency room bill after your accident, the maximum amount you can get for that cost is $800.
If you are temporarily or permanently disabled following a Tampa accident, you will only receive 60% of your lost wages, up to a $10,000 policy limit.
With this limited coverage, your PIP insurance may not be enough to protect you after a major accident injury. You will be left on the hook with medical debt and less income than you may need to pay your bills.
Get Compensation From At-Fault Parties with a Third-Party Insurance Claim
If your accident was caused by someone else, you may have another avenue. You can submit a third-party bodily injury liability (BIL) claim from any at-fault drivers or other parties involved.
A BIL claim can help you recover costs not covered by your PIP insurance, potentially including the remaining 20% of your medical bills, 40% of your lost wages, and other costs exceeding your $10,000 coverage limit.
To file a third-party claim in Florida, you must first prove that you have a “serious injury” as described in Florida Statutes § 627.737. You must also be prepared to establish that the policyholder was somehow negligent and that this negligence directly caused your injuries and losses.
Work with a Proven Car Accident Lawyer in Tampa to Ensure Your Injury Costs Are Met
Proving everything necessary for a successful third-party claim can be difficult, especially if it’s not immediately obvious who could be at fault for your accident.
That’s where an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer comes in. They will examine the details of your case, identify all potentially at-fault parties, calculate your damages, and assemble evidence proving the major parts of your claim.
Personal injury attorneys are familiar with the tactics insurers use to avoid liability and reduce the value of your claim. Insurance companies may allege that your injury doesn’t qualify as serious, they may attempt to avoid covering specific costs, and more.
Steinger, Greene & Feiner knows these defense strategies very well, as we have dealt with them firsthand. Our main goal is exploring every available option and asserting your right to claim the maximum amount of compensation available under the law.
With an injury attorney at your side, you can avoid common case pitfalls that might cause other people to give up and accept the costs of an injury they didn’t cause. You will also have a dedicated team available to research and document your case.
In the event that a liable party refuses to offer reasonable compensation, your Tampa car accident attorney will be prepared to take your case to court. Often, all it takes for insurers to provide a reasonable settlement offer is to see that someone is serious about protecting their legal rights.
Put Steinger, Greene & Feiner in Your Corner After You Are Injured
Your PIP insurance can cover some of your accident losses, but not all. You also may not be able to prove the facts necessary to file a strong third-party BIL claim. While you have the option to file under your own medical insurance or dip into your savings to cover costs not covered by PIP, the fact is that you should not be forced to suffer consequences for something someone else did.
Speak to an experienced car accident lawyer in Tampa during a free, no-obligation consultation to find out how we can help you recover as much as possible after your collision injury. Call (800) 316-8514 or contact us online to schedule your free appointment now.