Options After You Exhaust PIP Benefits

Florida adopted no-fault insurance to make it easier for injured motorists to receive benefits following an accident. Unfortunately, the state’s required insurance is meager: only $10,000 in PIP benefits. Anyone with even a moderate bodily injury can quickly exhaust this coverage. Now what?

If you have unpaid medical bills or lost income, reach out to our firm today. A Miami car accident lawyer at Pita Weber Del Prado can run through your other options, some of which we discuss in more detail below. We encourage you to contact our firm if you have any questions.

1. Use Other Insurance

You might have other insurance which can cover some expenses related to the car accident:

• Health insurance can pay for medical treatment, including rehab and pain medication. Once you exhaust PIP, you can use this insurance to pay for medical care.
• Collision insurance might pay to fix your car, although this is optional coverage in Florida.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage can pay compensation if you lost a limb in an accident, such as a foot. Some people have AD&D insurance through a credit card.

Go through all your insurance policies to see if you have any of the above. They can at least defray some of the costs of an accident. Remember, the typical car accident usually causes more than $10,000 in car damage and $15,000 in other expenses, such as medical care.

2. Sue the Driver

The driver who caused the accident is legally liable for damages caused. Many of our clients are hurt in rear-end collisions, rollovers, or T-bones because a distracted motorist crashed into them. When a driver is at fault, the victim can seek compensation with a legal claim.

If the driver has liability coverage, then you can submit a claim on their insurance. Otherwise, you might file a lawsuit and seek damages. A lawsuit will require more preparation, including creating exhibits and preparing witnesses to present testimony to a jury.

However, the driver might negotiate a settlement to avoid trial, even if the driver lacks liability coverage. Your attorney should consider all options for increasing the compensation you receive.

3. Make a Claim on Your Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Coverage

This is another option for obtaining compensation once you have run through your PIP insurance. Both underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage are optional coverage in Florida, so you might not have them. However, if you bought liability insurance, then the insurer should have offered UM/UIM coverage unless you declined it in writing.

Uninsured motorist coverage will pay benefits if the at-fault driver lacks any liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage might pay benefits if the at-fault driver’s insurance policy isn’t large enough to cover all expenses.

Call Our Office for Assistance

Car accidents are financially devastating. Even one night in the hospital can cost $10,000 or so. If you need surgery, your bills can explode.

Pita Weber Del Prado believes injured motorists deserve compensation. Let’s review your options if you’ve exhausted PIP benefits but still have uncompensated expenses, such as lost income or medical care. You can schedule a complimentary consultation with a Miami car accident lawyer.

Source:

smartfinancial.com/car-accident-cost