July 31, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ ? The Florida legislature recently made changes to the state?s no-fault auto insurance laws that took affect this past January. The changes are significant and increase limitations on insurance coverage.
In the state of Florida, every driver purchasing auto insurance must purchase a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, protection. This protection essentially pays for expenses like medical bills and lost wages, to an individual injured in an auto accident, regardless of fault.
However, amid the legislature?s actions, PIP coverage and other areas of Florida?s no-fault auto law today are much more restrictive.
Benefits contingent on 14-day treatment timeframe
One new change involves a 14 day contingency on payment of PIP medical expenses.
Before January of this year, anyone injured in a car accident in the state of Florida could receive the PIP benefits as stipulated under his or her insurance policy.
However, as of January 1, 2013, anyone injured in a car accident in the state of Florida is entitled to these PIP benefits only if they have sought treatment for the injuries sustained within 14 days of the accident.
If they fail to seek treatment during this time frame, all expenses under PIP must be paid out of pocket.
Emergency medical condition diagnosis
Another change to Florida?s no-fault insurance laws includes the ?emergency medical condition? requirement.
This essentially means that before anyone injured in an auto accident can collect the full $10,000 in allowable PIP benefits, he or she must first be diagnosed with an ?emergency medical condition? by a licensed medical professional. If that person is not, he or she is only entitled to $2500 in PIP benefits.
An emergency medical condition is essentially a condition that requires immediate medical attention due to the seriousness of the condition or injury.
Prohibition against message therapy, acupuncture benefits
Another change to the law includes a prohibition on benefits for message or acupuncture treatments.
Individuals injured in an auto accident after January 2013 must now pay for these expenses out of pocket, even if prescribed by a physician or chiropractor.
Ramifications
Opponents of the changes argue that there?s a long list of problems with these new restrictions on auto insurance coverage for policyholders in Florida. One Judicial Circuit Court judge stated that the new limitations on the Florida no-fault auto insurance system is an inadequate alternative to the tort system and issued an injunction to stop the law from being implemented. On appeal, however, a stay was granted and the law went back into effect.
Since the changes are seemingly here to stay, seeking the help of an accident attorney as soon as possible after the auto accident today is more vital than ever.
A lawyer knowledgeable in the specifics of the changes and other intricate areas of Florida?s no-fault auto law can make sure rights are protected and seek the maximum amount of benefits available under the law.
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