Florida has adopted a no-fault system for car insurance purposes. When an accident occurs, personal injury claims are submitted to the driver’s own insurance provider. The right to sue to collect damages for personal injuries following a car accident is limited to situations where the injuries are serious and permanent in nature.
Under state law, at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage must be put in place. This insurance protects the driver, his o her family members, and passengers riding in the vehicle when an accident occurs. It pays for their personal injuries on a per-occurrence basis.
Property damage liability insurance is also required under Florida state law, and drivers must buy at least $10,000 in protection. This coverage pays for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle following an accident. Even though Florida is a no-fault car insurance state, the insurance company will conduct an investigation when an accident occurs to determine which driver was responsible for causing it. That driver is responsible for paying for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle, as well as public property damaged in the accident. Public property includes buildings, sheds, fences, guardrails and sign posts.
Bodily injury liability coverage is not required under state law, but drivers should consider buying a policy which includes this type of protection. It pays for serious injuries and legal fees involved in defending an action brought by an accident victim.
