Understanding Florida PIP Laws

Understanding the Florida PIP Laws - Margate, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs
Understanding the Florida PIP Laws is essential in order to maximize the benefits you are entitled to if you are in an auto accident.

By Dr. Adam J. Friedman, Margate / Coconut Creek, Florida – Back in January of 2013, significant changes were made to the Florida PIP (Personal Injury Protection) Law and these changes definitely impacted your medical costs if you were injured in an accident.

Personal Injury laws are signed into effect to help protect citizens if you do in fact have an accident and need help with your medical bills. However these new laws might actually reduce your PIP benefits by 75% (even though it is mandated that you continue to pay the same premium).

Florida PIP Law – Important Changes To Be Aware Of…

Changes that took effect January 1, 2013 included:

– You have only 14 days from the date of the accident to seek treatment.
– Unless you are diagnosed with an “Emergency Medical Condition or EMC” you will not be allowed to seek the full $10,000.00 in PIP benefits. Without an EMC you are only entitled to $2,500.00 in chiropractic care.

An EMC or an Emergency Medical Condition is:

Acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in:
1. Serious jeopardy to patient health.
2. Serious impairment of bodily function.
3. Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.

Furthermore, only an M.D., D.O., P.A or ARNP is allowed by law to make the diagnosis of EMC. (We have an MD on site that will authorize your EMC if you meet the criteria.)

Massage therapy and acupuncture are not reimbursable at all under the new PIP statute.

So in essence if you are not diagnosed with an EMC and want to get treated with chiropractic care then you are only entitled to $2,500 in PIP benefits even though you have paid for the full benefits. AND remember, you will receive $0 in PIP benefits if you begin care after the 14 days after your accident, no matter how badly you are injured.

So What Should I Do If I Have Been Injured in an Accident?

Call us First! We can get you into our office within 24 hours of contact, usually the same day. Emergency care is available.
And as stated above, we do have an MD on site that will assist with your EMC. We have multiple physicians in different specialties to provide the patient with convenient care in one location and we will refer you to an experienced attorney to help you establish your case.

Remember, we have been treating Personal Injury, Auto Accident, Slip and Fall, and Workman’s Compensation patients for over 15 years in the Margate, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek area. We can get you out of pain and healthy again while we work with your attorney to facilitate a quick, timely, and appropriate accident settlement.

Call us at 954-495-6564 to get started!

Yours in health,

Dr. Adam J. Friedman