What Is Florida’s 14-Day PIP Rule
When you’re involved in a car accident in Florida, the Florida PIP statute requires you to first turn to your auto insurance company for your medical expenses and lost wages under your auto policy’s personal injury protection coverage. However, you have a deadline for filing a PIP claim after a car accident. Specifically, the Florida 14-day accident law requires you to pursue medical treatment within two weeks of getting hurt in a car crash. Failing to see a healthcare provider before this deadline expires may jeopardize your eligibility for benefits.
Understanding Florida’s PIP Insurance Requirements
Under Florida law, all drivers must have auto insurance that provides at least $10,000 in personal injury protection coverage, which includes medical and disability benefits for injuries or illnesses arising from the ownership or use of a motor vehicle. PIP coverage in Florida can cover up to 80 percent of all reasonable expenses for medically necessary treatment and rehabilitation, including prosthetic devices. Furthermore, PIP can reimburse a car accident victim for 60 percent of their lost gross income or loss of earning capacity due to injuries preventing them from working. Florida PIP coverage also provides up to $5,000 of death benefits in addition to medical and lost wage benefits.
The 14-Day Rule Explained: What You Need to Know
To qualify for PIP benefits under the 14-day rule, you must seek medical attention and care from a qualified healthcare provider within two weeks of a car accident. Most types of medical or dental care will qualify under the 14-day rule. Examples of qualified healthcare providers that can render treatment for the purposes of the 14-day rule include:
- Emergency medical technicians (treatment received at the accident scene)
- Emergency room physicians and nurses
- Urgent care clinic providers
- Primary care physicians
- Chiropractors
- Dentists
However, other types of alternative treatments, such as massage therapy or acupuncture, may not qualify as treatment that satisfies your obligation under the 14-day rule.
Consequences of Missing the 14-Day Deadline
If you fail to seek medical or dental treatment within 14 days of a car accident in Florida, you may lose your right to obtain PIP benefits from your auto insurance provider. A car accident victim who waits more than two weeks to see a healthcare provider may have their PIP claim denied by their insurer. The requirement to seek treatment within 14 days of a car accident helps ensure that the treatment a claimant receives is necessitated by the accident and not some unrelated injury.
A person who does not obtain treatment within the 14-day deadline may have to pursue legal action against their auto insurer to fight for PIP coverage, undermining the benefit of no-fault PIP insurance.
Contact Our South Florida Car Accident Lawyers for Help with Your PIP Claim
Have you been in a car accident in South Florida? If so, you must act quickly to preserve your right to PIP benefits. Contact Rosen & Ohr, P.A. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our car accident attorneys to get help pursuing fair compensation.
Jerrad Ohr focuses on workers’ compensation cases, personal injury claims, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death lawsuits, and medical malpractice cases. Mr. Ohr’s hard work ethic, innovative drive, technical experience, and extensive array of knowledge provide great assets to our firm’s clients.
