CAR ACCIDENT INSURANCE INFORMATION
Insurance Companies
The insurance companies are set up to immediately manage your claim, are you? Call Gaines Nolan Injury Law and have an Attorney well versed in dealing with insurance companies help you. Insurance Companies are in the business of making money, their goal is to pay you the least amount possible for your injuries. Gaines Nolan Injury Law is well versed in the tactics deployed by insurance companies to overwhelm personal injury victims: intimidating paperwork, statements “under oath” and the assignment of multiple adjusters so that you have no idea who is handling what portion of your claim. Gaines Nolan Injury Law can help you through the intentionally confusing insurance process after an accident to protect your entitlement to the greatest value for your injuries.
Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Under Florida’s no-fault law, you must obtain medical treatment related to an automobile accident within 14 days in order to recover Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. The failure to do so, will likely be viewed as a waiver of your right to those benefits and can reduce your recovery of bodily injury benefits.
PIP benefits can pay for 80% of the reasonable cost of treatment for an emergency medical condition (EMC) sustained in a car accident. An emergency medical condition is defined as an injury that (1) puts your life in danger, (2) severely impairs a bodily function, or (3) causes the severe disfunction of a bodily part or organ. If you only sustain non-emergency injuries, PIP insurance will not cover 80% of your expenses; however it will cover up to $2,500 of your medical expenses.
In addition to covering the cost of medical treatment, PIP benefits can also be used to replace a portion of your lost wages if you are unable to work. The maximum amount of PIP benefits you can recover is up to $10,000.00. If you have questions about seeking PIP benefits call the attorneys at Gaines Nolan for a free consultation.
Property Damage Coverage
Florida law any property you damage with your vehicle as the at-fault driver. If the other driver was at fault, then his or her insurance should pay to repair your damaged property, which is typically your vehicle, it can also be other items of value, including a house, mail box or fence. A driver can add additional coverage beyond the $10,000 to shield themselves against potential lawsuits to ensure there is enough coverage to repair the other driver’s property.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
Bodily Injury Liability Insurance (BI) is a type of automobile insurance coverage that pay for injuries and deaths caused by negligent acts. The coverage pays for the physical injuries caused to the victim of the auto accident. For instance, if you were hit by another driver who was at fault in the wreck and they have bodily injury liability coverage, you should be paid money from their coverage for your injuries. While, if you cause a car accident, your bodily injury liability insurance will pay for injuries you caused to other person, but not for your own injuries. Your own injuries would be paid by other parts of insurance coverage you might have, such as your No-Fault Personal Injury Protection Coverage. Unfortunately, Florida does not require this kind of insurance coverage in most instances. If you have been involved in an automobile accident and have questions about the available BI coverage, call the attorneys of Gaines Nolan Injury Law to have your questions answered.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured Motorist (UM)/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) protects you if someone else injures you and they don’t have adequate bodily injury coverage. Roughly 25% of all drivers in Florida do not carry any bodily injury coverage, ranking our state among the highest number of uninsured drivers in the country. If an uninsured driver causes an accident in which you are injured there is no insurance coverage from which you can recover. Although you could pursue a claim directly against the other driver, it may be very difficult to recover any financial compensation.
Alternatively, many Floridians purchase a 10/20 bodily injury policy, which means their policy will pay a maximum of $10,000.00 for an individual injured due to their negligence; with a cap of $20,000.00 paid out if multiple people are injured. Since so many Florida drivers do not have adequate coverage to protect you, you should protect yourself by purchasing UM/UIM coverage.
UM/UIM coverage comes into play if you are injured by a driver that is uninsured or underinsured allowing you to recover from your own insurance carrier if you are injured in an automobile accident. This type of coverage is also applicable if you are the victim of a hit and run, and typically extends coverage to family members and passengers who are inside your vehicle at the time of an accident. The attorneys at Gaines Nolan Injury Law have over 30 years of experience pursuing claims against insurance carriers for UM/UIM benefits. If you have questions, call Gaines Nolan Injury Law.
Breach of Insurance Contract Against Insurance Carriers
Insurance companies maximize their profits through enacting business practices intended to minimize paying out on claims. A breach of contract lawsuit may be brought against an insurance provider under a variety of circumstances, including when it fails to fulfill agreed upon terms in an automobile policy through unfair settlement practices. The attorneys at Gaines Nolan Injury Law have over 30 years of experience pursuing claims against insurance carriers for failing to properly evaluate and pay-out UM/UIM benefits. If you have questions, call the attorneys at Gaines Nolan Injury Law, they have answers!
