Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state. This does not mean that fault is not important in an accident. It simply means your own personal injury protection will cover medical bills and certain other expenses up to a certain amount, regardless of fault. You still have the right to sue the at-fault driver if you have suffered a permanent injury.
At the Hancock Law Firm, P.A., our lawyers represent people who are injured in car accidents caused by someone else's negligence. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, we offer a free initial consultation to answer your questions about no-fault insurance.
What Is Personal Injury Protection?
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is insurance that you purchase to cover necessary medical treatment and other damages following a motor vehicle accident. PIP covers:
- 80 percent of medical bills
- 60 percent of lost wages due to disability
- 100 percent of replacement services such as housekeeping that you cannot perform due to your disability
- $5,000 death benefit
Different levels of PIP coverage are available. The minimum amount of coverage required by Florida law is $10,000.
PIP may not be enough to coverage your damages. If you have suffered what is known as a permanent injury, you can seek full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages from the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Florida is a comparative fault state, and each driver may be assigned a percentage of responsibility for the accident.
What Is a Permanent Injury?
In Florida, a permanent injury is defined as:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement
- Death
Our attorneys can review your injury and let you know if it may qualify as a permanent injury under Florida law. From our office in Tampa, we represent car accident victims in the Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, and throughout Florida.
Contact Our Hillsborough County Auto Accident Attorneys
We offer a free, confidential consultation at 888-975-1110 (toll free) or 813-915-1110 , and our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also reach attorney Mike Hancock or Claire Hancock by e-mail.
