What is Florida’s 14-Day Accident Law?
Florida’s 14-day accident law is one of the more unique personal injury laws that exist in the US. Many people are overwhelmed after their car crash and are not sure what steps they need to take. Between filing a claim and seeking medical attention, the process of handling a car accident in the first days that follow can be overwhelming.
If you have been in a car accident in Florida, you have 14 days to seek medical attention and use your PIP (Personal injury Protection) that is included in your auto insurance policy coverage. This coverage helps people offset the medical costs that can be associated with car accidents and it well-worth accessing after your car accident.
If you have been involved in a car accident and are not sure if you need to follow the 14-day accident law, you need to read on!
What is the 14-Day Accident Law?
While the general text of the 14-day accident law states that you have 14 days after your accident to seek medical care, there are some exemptions related to this rule. The terms of your insurance contract might allow you more time than this, and many insurance companies provide a list of reasons that you might still be able to secure care after the 14-day period.
In most cases, the police will have to respond to an accident and complete a report within 14 days as well. This can impact your ability to access your PIP coverage with some insurers. You will need to make sure that you are aware of the text of your contract with your insurance company. This can make a big difference in the timeframes that you need to adhere to under your contract.
You might have missed the 14-day window due to other circumstances, but your policy might have an exemption for your situation written into their policy language.
What Kind of Medical Care Can I Seek?
If you did not end up at the ER right after your accident, you might not be sure if you can seek help that is targeted at your specific discomforts. You might have questions about what constitutes medical care and what can be covered by the PIP (Personal Injury Protection) on your insurance policy. Florida Law 627.726 lays out what constitutes medical care under the 14-day accident law.
You will find that almost every kind of medical care that you could need is covered under this law. You might even be surprised about the kind of care that can be covered under your PIP after your accident. Many people are not aware that their care visits related to the accident extend to providers like the dentist or the chiropractor.
The following medical care is included in the 14-day period set out by law:
- Primary care doctor visit
- Hospital care of any kind
- Dentist visit
- Chiropractor
- Specialty doctor visit
- Urgent care visit
- ER visit within the 14-day period
- Outpatient care facility visit
- EMT care
You will see that almost all of the kinds of medical care that you could need are covered within the 14-day accident law. The law is meant to help people to seek the care that they need and get the coverage that is needed for this care through their auto policy.
How Much of My Medical Costs Will be Covered?
Each person’s auto insurance policy might have unique PIP coverage amounts. Many policies in the state of Florida pay up to $10,000 toward your medical bills. For those who do not have this level of coverage, you might have access to a one-time $2,500 for bills resulting from your accident that are not related to emergency care. You will need to look at your policy limits to be sure what your policy covers.
You will need to remember that there are limits to all PIP coverages on every car insurance policy that exists. You will not always be able to cover all of your medical costs with your PIP coverage. PIP coverage is meant to help you to cover your bills directly related to your accident. This coverage is not supposed to cover all of your bills for years of treatment after the accident.
This is one of the reasons that you need to be sure that you secure a personal injury car accident lawyer for your case if you are going to have ongoing care that is needed for years to come. The sad reality of some serious vehicle accidents is that they can cause ongoing health struggles for people. Your PIP coverage will not take care of this need, but compensation and settlements can help you to support your needs for ongoing care.
Your car accident lawyer will make sure that you can seek the compensation that you deserve after your accident. You might be entitled to pain and suffering compensation as well as coverage for your ongoing medical care and limitations that might prevent you from going back to work. If you are going to have to deal with a long-term disability, you will definitely need your car accident lawyer to help you seek compensation for this need.
Do I Need a Car Accident Attorney?
If you have been in an accident and were not allowed to access your personal injury protection because you were incapacitated or unaware of this law, you will want to secure a personal injury lawyer. This lawyer will help you to file a lawsuit against the insurance company if they are denying you access to your PIP or if the fault related to your accident has been incorrectly assigned to you.
Having a skilled car accident attorney on your side can make all the difference in the success of your car accident legal case and you will be much more likely to be able to access the personal injury protection that you need to help you pay your medical bills. This is particularly true if you have been involved in an accident that involved many vehicles.
Make sure that you work with a skilled personal injury lawyer after your car accident in Florida so that you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
Sources:
https://www.anidjarlevine.com/faqs/what-is-the-florida-pip-14-day-rule/
https://bernsteininjurylaw.com/blog/floridas-14-day-pip-rule/
https://www.pensacolalawyer.com/florida-14-day-accident-law/
https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frbp/rule_8002
https://flinjuryfirm.com/personal-injury-lawyers/does-gap-insurance-cover-windshield-replacement
