Tips to Consider while Buying PIP (Personal injury protection)

It is a norm that people ensure that they buy auto insurance for their owned cars and personal insurance for personal injuries. Little do they enquire about the various things covered under this policy. Every driver, in most of the states of the United States, needs to have himself insured. Thus, it makes one mandatory to purchase an insurance policy for them.

Why PIP?

Although Bodily Injury Liability and Medical Payment allow you to claim accident injury claim, Personal injury protection (PIP) is the most suitable one. PIP enables the drivers to claim damages not only for him but also for his passengers. So it is more wise to indulge in PIP and get maximum benefits, god forbid one has to claim for his injuries in a car accident.

Mandatory or Otherwise

It is also called as No-fault insurance in some states. It is a mandatory legal requirement. In some states, the agents include PIP in the insurance, as it may be compulsory. Also the amount payable is also fixed by the government. The states like Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey to name a few who have mandatory PIP coverage

PIP insurance limit

This is a sum assured to be paid by the car insurance company in case of accident. An amount ranging from $1500.00 to $250,000.00 depending on the injury and state is paid, varying from state to state. As a matter of fact in Michigan, where PIP is termed as no-fault insurance, pays an unlimited medical as well as rehabilitation benefits.

Tips to Buy

If you are a resident of a state where Personal Insurance Protection is mandatory, then you should fix the amount to the least that you can claim. You should also review the current car insurance that you hold, to know if personal injuries are included. This makes you relax as you won’t need any additional insurance. But if it is otherwise you need to include PIP in your car insurance

If you drive regularly with non-immediate family members and those who are uninsured or underinsured, you may have to purchase a high amount PIP. This will provide you and your passengers with blanket medical coverage within limits. You will need a high amount PIP if you are young and have limited health insurance. That inversely means that if you are middle aged or older, with extensive health coverage, then you won’t require high amounts of PIP

So be wise to choose your Personal Injury Protection plans and get the maximum benefits.

All About Personal Injury Protection

Accidents and injuries are quite unfortunate and unexpected. That makes it more compulsory for us to insure oneself for such mishaps. Personal injury protection is an insurance that is apt in such cases. It does not focus on the person who is at fault but the damage done. 

Auto Policy

A person can insure against serious injuries and damage to the car with an auto insurance policy. Under this, the person will receive a sum assured. Many a time this sum may not be sufficient to recover from losses. Moreover, the insurance company adjusts your policy and pays you. This leaves us with deficient funds for repairs of the car and medical bills.

Personal injury protection

You can file an accident injury claim using any of these: bodily injury liability, personal injury protection (PIP), and medical payment. Auto insurance for personal injury protection is the right pick of the options mentioned above.  

Salient Features

•  PIP provides for your medical bills within a particular limit
•    It even covers recuperating expenses.
•   It aids collateral repercussions that include loss of income and home aid.
• It also functions partially as a health insurance for the injured irrespective of whether the person holds a health insurance or not.
• A person who may be the cause of the accident is not liable for the injuries of the other, under PIP holder.
• Each injured party involved in the accident is guaranteed a maximum coverage under this policy.

What it Covers

It pays a per-injured person benefit, the insurer, and the specified members of the policy. The policy pays the insurer irrespective of his fault in the accident. This means he being the first party insurance holder has the benefit of claim even if the accident is caused due to his fault. 

It includes various medical expenses such as nursing, hospital, surgical, dental, ambulance and x-ray charges. PIP may also provide for medication both long term and short term and even prosthetic devices. 

If a person is disabled or sustains some injuries that throw his daily routine out of gear, he can receive benefits for household help or other chores and tasks. Loss of income is also covered under this policy. 

Funeral expenses are also borne by the insurer. In some cases, the heir of the person who died due to severe injuries also may be benefited.

Caution

PIP coverage limits vary from state to state and need to be studied thoroughly.

10 Steps to Getting a Fair Settlement for Your Injuries

STEP 1: Doctor/ Medical Treatment

When you meet with an accident, the first and the foremost thing that you would require is proper medical assistance. By seeking prompt medical treatment, you can get the required relief. However, it is essential to take appointment with a good doctor and narrate him or her about your pain. Try to state all the details accurately and without a doubt. No need to make a mountain out of a molehill unnecessarily. Discuss about all the symptoms post accident, so that accurate analysis of the injuries can be done. Keep a record of the medical treatment that you undertake. Also congregate all the medical bills and your case file securely so that these can be used while filing the lawsuit for the personal injury or while chatting with the attorney.

STEP 2: Evidence

Another important aspect before filing a lawsuit for your personal injury is collecting as much relevant evidence as possible. Try to get hold of everything that comes into your possession so that it can be used afterward. For example - Your dismantled vehicle, spare-parts, clothing, shoes, glasses or any other foreign material. You can also take photographs of the place where the accident has taken place, without disturbing anything from the location. It is extremely important for the insurance company to know that you have all the important evidence in your custody.

STEP 3: File your Lawsuit right away

The moment you recover from the personal injury, file your lawsuit right away. Do not delay as that might not benefit you in anyway. It should be kept in mind that most of the insurance companies do not try to settle your claim unless and until they find it worth or genuine or have any pressure from an attorney. That is why, it would be fruitful only when you file your lawsuit right after the injury and start putting pressure on the insurance agent.

STEP 4: Conduct a Complete Investigation

Depending upon the nature of your personal injury loss, the investigation needs to be conducted accordingly. For example, you may require the assistance of an investigator or experts who can study the location of the accident and can try to reconstruct the situation and circumstances. In fact, examination is extremely important so that the attorney you hire receive all the records and statements of the witness statements accurately. All the material that you gather during the analysis acts as an evidence that can support your personal injury claim to get the fair settlement.

STEP 5: Write down Entire Medical and out of Pocket Expenses

Pen down all your expenses that can be included in the claim that you need to submit to the insurance company. The attorney that you will hire needs to know your entire medical and other legal expenses. It is possible that you may forget about the initial expenses and would realize only later. Things like cost of filing the lawsuit, expenses involved in the process of investigation, medical bills and reports, fees of the attorney, witness fee, cancelled checks, etc., should be written down. 

STEP 6: Lost wages

When you meet with an accident, it is quite possible that you may have to take leave from your place of work, till you recover from the personal injuries. This might result into loss of wages, as you may not get your salary for the number of days you remain absent because of the accident. In such instances, it would be helpful to gather evidence from the office muster, office ledger sheets or the time cards, pay slips or cash voucher slip. All these things act as a proof of your wages loss, which can be used to support your claim.

STEP 7: Don't release your Medical records to the other party's Insurance Company

Take proper precaution to keep your injury details and the entire accident related information safe with you. You should not leak your evidences such as the medical records to the insurance company of the other party. Your opponent can misuse it against you.

STEP 8: Know your Sources for Insurance CoverageMany times, people are not aware of the different sources from where they can get financial aid to cover the losses that arise because of the personal injury. It becomes important to know the various sources, so that coverage for insurance can be collected legally. It must be kept in mind that a victim can get legal coverage from 2-3 insurance policies, all together.

STEP 9: Keep your Attorney advised

If you have been taking assistance of an attorney to get fair settlement for your personal injury claim, then it would be helpful to keep the legal professional and his office advised at all times. For example, things like the entire evidences of the accident, change in address, total medical expenditure, and changes in your checkup treatment, the exact time of end of your medical treatment, loss of wages, loss of life or any other atypical alteration in your life.

STEP 10: Do not discuss the Case

To get fair settlement for your personal injury, it is wise not to disclose your case details with anybody. Keep in mind that the adjuster sent by the insurance company may record or photograph everything that you say to him. Opponents should not receive details of your case as they can threaten you or prevent you from getting fair compensation. However, trusted people like your family, close friends or your attorney is all right.

Personal Injury Lawyer on Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law

Source : lawfuel.com

Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law is probably one of the most controversial and volatile pieces of legislation I have seen in my 25 years of legal experience as a practicing attorney in Florida. This law creates an “immunity” from criminal prosecution for those who use “justifiable force,” including “deadly force,” to defend themselves from someone who is using “imminent… unlawful force.” Found in Florida Statute Section 776, it became infamous by George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin trial.

This week, how the Stand Your Own Ground Law defense can be used in a civil lawsuit was interpreted by a Florida appellate court. The case involved a personal injury claim that emerged from a criminal case, where the State of Florida charged Jose Alvarez, a Miami roofer, with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for severely beating his co-worker, Derrick Roy Flemmings, with a baseball bat.

The attack occurred at their place of employment, a roofing company called Professional Roofing and Sales, located in Miami. In the criminal proceedings, the trial judge conducted an evidentiary hearing that included testimony from both Mr. Alvarez and his wife, as well as Mr. Flemmings. He dismissed the case, and found that Mr. Alvarez’s use of the baseball bat was justified under Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law. Read More News>>