Why is PIP Insurance so Important?

Personal injury protection insurance covers you regardless of whether you cause an accident (are “at-fault”) – up to $10,000 minus your deductible amount. PIP is designed to reduce the necessity of suing for reimbursement of medical and related bills from auto accidents. To be entitled to PIP benefits, you must receive initial services and care within 14 days after the motor vehicle accident. PIP pays: 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses related to the accident. 60 percent of lost wages as a result of the accident. $5,000 for death benefits. For accidents that happen in Florida, PIP covers you, relatives who live in your home, certain passengers who do not own a vehicle, and others who drive your car with your permission. Pedestrians and bicyclists are entitled to PIP coverage. PIP coverage also provides coverage for acts of violence against the policyholder while driving, including injuries sustained as a result of road rage or a carjacking. For accidents that happen outside Florida but inside the U.S. or Canada, PIP covers you and relatives who live in your home. In this case, you must be driving your own vehicle. People other than you or your relatives are not covered. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265

I Was Asked for a Recorded Statement. Should I Give it?

As a general rule, you should not give a recorded statement to an insurance company concerning a motor vehicle accident without the advice of an attorney. Insurance companies can use this statement against you to deny your claim. They can ask questions worded in such a way that they trap or trick you into responses that will hurt your case. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265

I Was Asked to Sign a Bodily Injury Release. Should I sign?

You should never sign a release without first consulting with a lawyer. Before signing a release, you have the opportunity to discuss it with a lawyer to make sure that your interests are protected, it's your right. Insurance companies approach injured persons immediately and offer a quick settlement. However, that settlement doesn’t consider the injured person’s future damages and future losses due to that injury. Before signing any forms, it’s important to understand what you are signing. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265

Can I Keep My Car if the Insurance Company Declares it a Total Loss?

Yes you may but your vehicle will have a salvage title. In Florida, once an insurance company determines that your car is a total loss, you have the option to either transfer title of the vehicle to the auto insurance company or have repairs performed to the vehicle and obtain a salvage title from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). Alternatively, a certificate of destruction can be obtained if you plan on selling the car for parts. Once a salvage title is issued, the owner will receive the actual cash value of the car minus the salvage value for the vehicle from the insurance company. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265

What is GAP Insurance and Do I need It?

GAP insurance is not required in Florida but it may be a condition to financing or leasing an auto. GAP may be purchased from the dealer, the finance company or auto insurance company. Gap insurance helps pay off your auto loan if your car is totaled or stolen and you owe more than the car's depreciated value. Gap insurance helps pay the gap between the depreciated value of your car and what you still owe on the car to the finance company. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265

What Happens When My Car is a Total Loss?

A vehicle is a total loss (or totaled) if any of the following apply: The vehicle cannot be safely repaired Repairs would cost more than the vehicle's estimated value The damage meets your state's total loss guidelines, florida is 80% A car is deemed a total loss under Florida law when the cost to repair it is 80 percent or more of its ACV – actual cash value. Actual cash value refers to how much the car was worth immediately before the damage. Most auto insurance companies in the state of Florida will pay for a total loss vehicle property damage claim in one of two ways: settlement of the damage to your vehicle on the basis of actual cash value or replacement with another vehicle of like kind and quality. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265

Do I Need to Pay Taxes on My Settlement?

Most personal injury settlements are not taxable: Compensation for physical injury, emotional distress due to physical injury, medical expenses, and lost wages due to physical injury are not taxable. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265

I’m Not A Legal Resident of the U.S. Do I Still Have Rights?

Yes, Non US Citizens or non US residents can file a claim for personal injuries. Tourist, visitors and undocumented immigrants are allowed to file personal injury claims and lawsuit just like a US Citizen. An individual’s resident status is generally irrelevant to file a claim. The same thing applies in the filing of a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. The civil justice system in the United States is open to anyone seeking redress for their injuries and damages. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. For a free case evaluation, call the Miami Legal Firm at 305-265-2265