Are you getting the car insurance you need?

Florida law requires that each and every person who owns a car in the State of Florida obtain and maintain No-Fault insurance or P.I.P.  Your P.I.P. or Personal Injury Protection insurance provides for the payment of your medical bills, according to your particular policy provisions.  Your insurance company pays your accident-related medical bills regardless of who is responsible for causing an auto accident in which you may be involved. Your P.I.P. applies to you even if you are in someone else's car and suffer injury in an accident.

When you purchase P.I.P. insurance be sure to ask your insurance agent how much "deductible" is associated with your policy.  According to the law, your deductible is used in calculating the amount of money for which your insurance company may make you responsible before they pay one penny for your bills.  When an insurance company receives a bill submitted for payment, it first calculates the amount for 80% of each individual bill, it then charges that amount to your deductible until the deductible you chose has been met.  The insurance company then reduces the amount available to you in PIP by the amount of deductible. 

In addition to the deductible, the insurance company also may challenge your medical bill as to whether it is for services that were reasonable and necessary in light of the care provided.  This challenge is much more difficult because the insurance company may refuse to pay benefits they believe to be unreasonable or unnecessary, or beyond what is customarily charged for the same services in the community.  This passes more of the charge on to you when your case in is ready for settlement.  You may be left with a large medical bill that you can’t pay.

Sometimes, an injured person gets treatment from the doctor for his injuries only to find that the other party does not have insurance to pay or protect payment of a doctor’s bill.  This may force you and the doctor or health care provider of your choice to file a lawsuit in order to get your insurance carrier to pay your doctor bill based upon your policy.  If this situation has happened to you, please call my office and we may be able to help you get your doctor’s bills reduced substantially or even paid in full.

Your P.I.P. also allows payment for other accident-related expenses like benefits for wages lost as a result of the accident, or expenses for household care, and certain death benefits for insured individuals who die as a result of an auto accident.

Be careful of recent changes by insurance carriers that seek to have you “choose your own policy” coverages.  If you are unclear about the terms or limits of your policy, you might be limiting your coverage when you truly need it.  

It is always advisable to have a qualified lawyer on your side to help you after you are injured.  We also provide consultations to those looking to understand the terms of their auto insurance policies.  Call me TODAY at 759-6100 in Miami or at 1-800-394-EVAN outside Dade and Broward Counties if you have any legal problems and I will help you to know your rights.