Hurt in Car Accident?

Car Accident & Motor Vehicle Insurance Coverage Attorney

Personal Injury Protection, Bodily Injury, Property Damage & Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Hurt in an accident? Are you covered by insurance? Auto and motor vehicle crashes occur every day. They can be devastating for everyone involved regardless of fault. The result could be serious injury, death and or significant property damage. We have found that the trend is that insurance companies usually try to low-ball a settlement or deny your claim for property damage or for personal injury. Personal automobile insurance is purchased for cars, trucks, and other vehicles and provides liability protection against losses incurred as a result of a motor vehicle crashes (car accidents, truck accidents).

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

The State of Florida’s minimum coverage is $10,000 as long as you have a valid Florida license plate. Also called Florida “No Fault Insurance”, Personal Injury Protection insurance covers you – for lost wages and medical bills, regardless of fault (i.e. whether or not you cause the crash) – up to the limits of your policy. PIP covers the named insured and other members of the household. PIP coverage also protects you while you are in someone else’s vehicle, or as a pedestrian, or a bicyclist, if you suffer an injury in a crash involving a motor vehicle. PIP pays:

• 80 percent of Medically Necessary Expenses;
• 60 percent of Lost Wages;
• 100 percent of Replacement Services such as child care, housekeeping, or yard work;
• Up to $5,000 for Death Benefits.

Property Damage Liability (PDL)

The State of Florida’s minimum coverage is $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) as long as you have a valid Florida license plate. Property damage liability coverage pays for damages you or members of your family cause (and are liable for) to other people’s property in a crash involving a motor vehicle. Other people’s property can include cars, telephone poles, buildings, traffic signs, fences and trees. You may be liable for damages that exceed the amount of your insurance. It is recommended that purchase enough of this insurance to cover the amount of damage your car might do to another vehicle or object. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in your policy.

Bodily Injury (BI) Liability Insurance

The State of Florida doesn’t require drivers to carry Bodily Injury (BI) liability insurance. BI insurance is intended to protect you from claims brought against you by other people that may have suffered “bodily injuries” or death as a result of your negligence. BI coverage also provides lawyers a legal defense if you are sued by the injured party. Through BI Coverage, the insurance company will pay for injuries (medical bills, pain and suffering, permanent injury, loss of consortium, and loss of income, loss of enjoyment of life, and out of pocket expenses such as travel costs for medical care) up to the BI policy limits.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) / Underinsured Motorist (UIM)

Uninsured or Under Insured Motorist coverage is not mandatory but provides protection to you the policy holder, resident relatives, and passengers in your vehicle-if involved in an accident with someone who has no liability coverage or just too little insurance to cover your damages. It also provides coverage if you are injured in a “hit and run” accident.

UM coverage comes in 2 ways – “Stacked” or “Unstacked.” Simply stated, “stacked” multiplies your limits for this coverage by the number of cars you’re insuring. For example, if you have 2 cars in your household and choose stacked coverage, the UM benefit amount is multiplied by 2. Although this increases your premiums, the UM benefits double, thereby providing you with added personal protection.

Remember, the State of Florida doesn’t require drivers to carry bodily injury (BI) liability insurance. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 drivers are uninsured or underinsured. This said, the likelihood of getting in an auto accident with someone who doesn’t have enough insurance coverage is high. In this event, you may make a claim under your UM policy. The UM carrier “stands in the shoes” of the tortfeasor (wrongdoer).

Click here to learn the minimum car insurance requirements by state.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in an auto accident, are having issues regarding PIP, PDL, BI, UM/UIM, or issues with your insurance company – or are just unsure of your legal rights, contact us here. Car and truck accidents are often caused by a distracted driver – cell phone usage, eating or drinking, reading, applying makeup, shaving, talking with passengers, attending to children, changing a song on an iPod or a channel on your radio. Other auto accidents are caused by drunk driving, hit and run, rear end collisions, intersection accidents, backovers, rollovers and tractor trailer crashes. We have also created some valuable auto accident resources. West Palm Beach, Florida Car Accident and Insurance Coverage Lawyers serving: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Lantana, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Hobe Sound, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Palm Beach County, Treasure Coast, Broward County, Martin County and Miami-Dade County