Several years ago, Florida was a tough place for injured persons.  People hurt in a car or motorcycle crash who needed treatment had to find a doctor who would treat them without any guarantee that the doctor would get paid.  They then would have to find a personal injury lawyerwho would take their case, go to court, have a trial, and convince a jury that the person who caused the accident was to blame.  Once that was accomplished, and the appeals were finished, the insurance company that insured the person who caused the accident would finally pay the injured person’s medical bills and whatever other money damages that the jury had awarded.

This process could take years.  People who were victims in an accident and had no health insurance or inadequate car insurance simply did not get appropriate medical treatment.  People who caused accidents but were injured were completely out of luck.  If they had no health insurance, they had no treatment, except from charity hospitals or worse, state-run rehabilitation centers.

The Florida Legislature eventually tackled this problem and required all persons with a driver’s license to obtain at least $10,000.00 worth of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) car insurance.  Essentially, if you are in a car accident your PIP policy will pay:

80% of the first $10,000.00 of treatment for those injuries that are a result of your accident.  This treatment can include therapy, medicine, operations, emergency treatment and imaging, like X-rays.  Even dental work is covered.

60% of your lost  wages.

PIP will also cover your child, members of your household, and certain passengers who lack PIP Insurance as long as they do not own a vehicle. People riding in your vehicle who carry PIP will receive coverage under their own PIP for their injuries, and certain licensed drivers who drive your vehicle with your permission.

PIP also covers your child if he or she suffers an injury while riding on a school bus. PIP coverage protects you while in someone else's vehicle, as a pedestrian, or bicyclist if you suffer an injury in a crash involving a motor vehicle.