(561) 375-9500
The short answer is yes, personal injury protection or “PIP” insurance does cover passengers in a car accident in Florida.
While Florida drivers are aware that PIP insurance covers their own costs and expenses in car accidents, it may come as news to them that it also provides coverage for passengers.
PIP insurance will cover passenger injuries in a Florida car accident up to the limits of the PIP policy, but that coverage depends on filing claims correctly and promptly. Generally, the statute of limitations for filing a claim is two years.
A Florida car accident lawyer from the law firm of Kogan & DiSalvo in Boca Raton is a passenger’s strongest resource for filing a passenger claim under a PIP policy and negotiating with an insurer to recover the full amount of insurance benefits that a passenger is entitled to receive.
Who is generally included as a covered party under a Florida PIP insurance policy?
All Florida drivers are required by law to carry at least $10,000 of coverage for personal injury benefit and $10,000 for property damage under a PIP insurance policy. By statute, that insurance extends to:
- The person who owns the insurance policy
- Passengers in the driver’s car who are injured in an auto accident
- Family members who reside in the household of the named insured party
- Other persons who are authorized to drive the vehicle that is covered by PIP insurance
- Pedestrians who suffer injuries when they are hit by a covered vehicle
Contact an experienced Florida car accident attorney if you are unsure whether a driver’s PIP Coverage extends to cover your injuries and losses.
Whose PIP coverage applies if passengers have their own insurance?
Persons who suffer injuries in a Florida car crash may be confused about which party’s PIP insurance applies to cover losses and injuries when multiple insurance companies are involved.
A few examples below will clarify how multiple PIP insurance policies might coordinate to reimburse a party’s accident-related expenses.
- A passenger who is a vehicle owner and has PIP insurance on that vehicle will get insurance benefits from their policy first.
- A passenger who does not have insurance will get benefits from the driver’s PIP insurance.
- A policy might cover an uninsured passenger who lives with an insured party if they are related to the insured party by blood or marriage, like a policyholder’s children, for example.
Does PIP insurance cover pedestrians?
Pedestrians who are struck by motor vehicles in Florida have the same personal injury protection options as if they were passengers in the vehicle that was involved in an accident.
If the injured pedestrian does not own a vehicle and carries no other personal insurance, they can claim benefits under the driver’s PIP policy by submitting an affidavit to the driver’s insurer to verify that the pedestrian does not own a car. An experienced car accident attorney can help that pedestrian to recover the largest available PIP insurance reimbursement from that insurer.
What if a passenger suffered a disability in an accident?
Florida PIP Insurance can cover a maximum of 80% of all accident-related expenses. If a passenger has sustained injuries that will require significant time to heal, PIP insurance may cover medical expenses up to $10,000.
Additionally, a passenger who is unable to work for a significant amount of time due to an accident-related injury can receive up to 60% of their lost wages but not exceeding $10,000. This money may also be applied to assisting with daily activities like yard work, household chores, or childcare.
Are there situations where PIP coverage will not apply?
The most common exception to PIP coverage is when a relative lives with another relative, and both people are owners of a car registered in Florida. In that case, both parties would be required by law to own their own separate PIP Insurance policies.
Any car crash injuries suffered in a car accident will be covered by the person’s PIP insurance first. A relative’s PIP Insurance policy will not cover them (unless they don’t have insurance, as noted above).
We’re here to support you in the aftermath of a car accident.
Call Kogan & DiSalvo before you sign a Release of All Claims form after a Florida car accident.
Passengers who suffer injuries in a Florida car accident can claim reimbursements from PIP Insurance for their losses and injuries. But to receive the maximum compensation possible, consult with the car accident lawyers at Kogan & DiSalvo in our Boca Raton offices.
Our attorneys will handle the claims process for you and negotiate the best PIP insurance settlement that you may be entitled to receive.
You deserve to collect all available damages for your losses and injuries. That’s why it’s important to act now while you’re here and thinking about it. Filing a claim correctly and generally within the time frame of two years post-accident date is crucial in recovering benefits.
We guarantee that your case is FREE if we don’t get you any money. Schedule a complimentary consultation today or give us a call at (561) 375-9500.
