PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION INSURANCE IS REQUIRED FOR DRIVERS ON JANUARY 1, 2008

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill (to reduce the amount of money medical providers (chiropractors, etc.) can charge) in regards to Florida's Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, and drivers and car owners would be wise to know that Florida law will once again make it mandatory for drivers to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance beginning on January 1, 2008.

As part of the legislation which makes Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage mandatory, insurance companies must advise their policyholders the way in which the mandatory restoration of PIP/no-fault will impact them. The notice must clearly inform the policyholder on these points:

• Beginning on January 1, 2008, Florida law requires drivers to maintain PIP insurance coverage which pays covered medical expenses for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash by the policyholder, passengers, and relatives residing in the policyholder's household.
  
• If a policyholder fails to maintain PIP coverage, the State of Florida may suspend the policyholder's driver license and vehicle registration.

Unfortunately the reality is that many drivers in Florida are uninsured, either because they cannot afford auto insurance or they are simply irresponsible.  If you do not own a car, and ride in other people's cars, it is important to have health insurance. This is so you do not have to rely on the driver or owner of the car that you are in to have complied with Florida auto insurance laws.   

We have been successful in favorably resolving car accident injury claims for our clients even when the car that they were in did not have insurance.  We've made bodily injury claims against the at fault driver(s) and the value of the case begin(s) at dollar one of the injured person's medical expenses.