Florida PIP Insurance Data Looking Positive
A report recently released from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation shows that the growth of fraud in personal injury protection (PIP) claims has stopped. As a result, legislators in the state are unlikely to change the law that was designed to reduce fraud in the state’s “no-fault” auto insurance system and proponents of the system hope that they will continue to have faith in PIP claims.
Report Findings
The report, released last Monday, indicated that the growth of fraud in PIP claims has been halted. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer commented on the report, saying “The Legislature, I’m hoping, will give this time and see how this is progressing, and that we would continue to see more of these players with less claims do what is the right thing and bring rates down for Floridians.”
The Office of Insurance Regulation report found that since the law went into place on January 1, 2013, there has been a drop in the number of PIP claims filed and damages sought. In contrast, the report found that other types of claims such as bodily injury and uninsured motorist claims have increased across the state.
In addition, the report stated that the average cost paid through PIP claims has dropped 14% statewide from 2011 through the first three quarters of 2014. In South Florida alone, the average payment has decreased 28.7% over the same time period.
Florida PIP Insurance
Under the PIP no-fault system, motorists in Florida are required to carry personal injury protection coverage that includes at least $10,000 in medical coverage. Before the 2012 law was enacted, citizens paid on average $180 per year for this portion of their auto insurance coverage. Currently, the cost of an average PIP policy only costs a mere $125 per year.
The 2012 law set the benchmarks for insurers to lower rates on coverage. It also required people involved in crashes to seek treatment within 14 days and allowed up to $10,000 in benefits for emergency medical conditions, while putting a $2,500 cap on non-emergency conditions.
One of the main benefits of PIP coverage over bodily injury, which provides coverage if a motorist causes an accident that hurts someone else, is that fewer questions of medical coverage are placed in front of the courts. It also lessens the burden on the court of injured parties seeking recovery from at-fault drivers.
Potential Problems for PIP
There are many cases in the lower courts that are pending about the law’s cap on benefits. Those benefits have not changed since PIP was created in 1979. Last year, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the law by acupuncturists and massage therapists involving a question about whether employees in those professions had legal standing to pursue the challenge.
Contact a Florida PIP Lawyer
If you or someone that you know has questions regarding PIP coverage in Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, or the West Palm Beach, area let the experienced lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm help. Call or contact the office today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
