Senate Bill 54: A Florida Bill That Would Repeal The No-Fault Car Insurance System

Under the current no-fault car insurance system, Floridian drivers are expected to purchase personal injury protection insurance coverage, also known as PIP coverage, from their insurance companies. PIP coverage allows a motorist to file a claim with their insurance company and obtain compensation regardless of who is to blame for an accident. Nonetheless, even though Florida’s no-fault insurance system has been of help to many, some people have been against the system for years.

Supporters of the no-fault insurance system believe that PIP coverage is necessary as it protects accident victims. Proponents of the no-fault insurance system maintain that the system helps accident victims cope with high healthcare costs. On the other hand, critics of the no-fault insurance system claim that the system does not effectively meet accident victims’ needs. For instance, some critics claim that the coverage limit is not sufficient.

Florida’s No-Fault Insurance

Under Florida’s no-fault car insurance system, in the event of an accident, a motorist’s insurance company is expected to pay the motorist’s medical bills and other costs, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. However, in order to receive compensation from your insurance company, you must have a minimum of $10,000 in PIP.

The primary goal of the no-fault car insurance system, from the beginning, was to help motorists recover compensation fast and reduce the burden on the court system. With PIP coverage, courts don’t have to listen to every auto accident case.

Senate Bill 54

Simply put, SB 54 is a Bill that would repeal Florida’s no-fault car insurance system. Lawmakers introduced the Bill in an effort to address the many flaws associated with the current no-fault insurance system.

Below are some of the provisions of the proposed Bill.

• SB 54 would assign liability to at-fault parties.
• Under SB 54, Florida motorists would no longer be mandated to purchase PIP coverage but instead would be required to purchase bodily injury coverage liability (BI).

Personal Injury Protection vs. Bodily Injury Protection

One of the notable changes that SB 54 wishes to introduce is a mandatory BI system. Therefore, it is vital that you understand the difference between the current PIP system and the BI system.

The main difference between the two is that, whereas PIP covers your injuries after an accident, BI protects you against claims made against you by others if you are at fault for an accident.

Need Help Filing an Insurance Claim After an Auto Accident?

For now, we cannot tell if Senate Bill 54 will pass. However, we can tell that if you recently sustained injuries in a car accident and want to file a claim, you need an attorney’s help. Our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers at the Pendas Law Firm can help you file a claim with your insurance company and receive the compensation you deserve. The Pendas Law Firm’s qualified team can also help you file a personal injury claim against an at-fault party’s insurance company if you qualify to file a third-party insurance claim. Contact us today to receive expert legal help.

The Pendas Law represents clients also in the Orlando, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach areas.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.7407.html