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Who Pays the Medical Bills After a Florida Car Accident?

Imagine driving down Interstate 75 when a car suddenly smashes into the passenger side. The damage to the vehicle was significant. More importantly, the resulting impact caused you to experience a whiplash injury. The injury was so severe that it affected your shoulders, making it difficult for you to reach for your phone and alert EMS.

Luckily, emergency medical services arrive to take you to the nearest emergency room. You wake up to find yourself in a neck brace and a cast on the right arm. Other than the apparent pain and suffering punctuated only by your PCA (patient-controlled anesthesia), one thing will likely be on your mind: “Who pays for all this?”

The immediate answer is you. In particular, your auto insurance provider shoulders your medical bills following the incident — at least, within limits. When your coverage reaches its limits, you need to seek compensation from the other driver.

Find out more about medical coverage following a car accident in Florida.

Why Me?

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, hundreds upon thousands of car crashes are reported daily. As well, Florida emergency rooms admit thousands of car crash victims yearly. Many of the car crash injuries are debilitating, requiring either surgery or many months of rehabilitation.

In many matters of personal injury, Florida has an at-fault policy, shifting financial burdens to liable parties. However, when it comes to car accidents, Florida has a no-fault policy. This means that following a car accident, no driver is obliged to shoulder the medical expenses of the other.

Whether you are liable or not, your insurance provider needs to shoulder your medical bills. The insurance that covers your medical expenses is your auto insurance.

Auto insurance in Florida includes personal injury protection (PIP). PIP covers up to $10,000 of medical fees. In most cases, it will pay for your:

Emergency medical treatment
Ambulance
Rehabilitation
Wage loss benefits
Rehabilitation

When Should I Make a Car Accident Claim?

All motorists in Florida need to carry auto insurance to cover damages in the event of a car accident. While the coverage of auto insurance may seem like a lot, there are times when seeking compensation for damages is necessary.

When Your PIP Coverage Runs Out

As mentioned earlier, the PIP of your auto insurance has a coverage cap. Past the coverage cap, you will be responsible for paying for your medical bills.

For example, imagine that your PIP has already covered $10,000 of your medical treatment, but you need $1,000 for physical therapy. You need to pay for this unless you get compensated.

When a Procedure or Treatment Method Is Not Covered

Sometimes, PIP will not cover certain procedures. Unless you receive compensation, you will have no alternative but to pay out of your pocket for such procedures. Often, these procedures are specialized. Some diagnostic procedures may also not be covered.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer and Be Compensated Following a Car Accident

Auto insurance will cover you in the event of a car accident. However, there are limits to how much and what your PIP will cover. To avoid paying the hefty fees past the coverage limit, you need to seek compensation from the driver who caused the car accident. The best way to do this is with anOrlando car accident lawyer by your side.

Call us now if you need legal counsel and representation for your car accident claim in Florida.