Daytona Beach Injury Lawyer Blog

When I first meet with clients who have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, I always ask them about their auto insurance. They will often tell me that they have "full coverage." These clients are often disappointed to discover that their insurance is woefully inadequate to protect them or compensate them when it matters most.

If you own a vehicle which is registered in Florida, you are only required to purchase $10,000 in personal injury protection (commonly referred to as PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. PIP will pay for your medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. Property damage liability coverage pays for damages that you cause to another person's property.

Florida law does not require you to maintain other valuable insurance coverage. Four common types of coverage that you should consider purchasing are:

Bodily Injury Liability pays others for injuries or death for which you are responsible. This coverage also provides legal defense for you if the injured party files a lawsuit seeking damages.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist covers you for damages caused by a driver who has no insurance, a driver who has inadequate insurance or a hit-and-run driver. The Insurance Research Council has estimated that 23% of Florida drivers have no insurance. This percentage does not take into account Floridians who have insurance that does not provide bodily injury liability coverage.

Collision pays for damage to your vehicle when it is hit by another vehicle.

Comprehensive covers your vehicle for losses caused by an incident which is not a collision. This may include incidents like thefts, floods or fires.

The aforementioned coverages are not an exhaustive list of all types of insurance coverage available to you. However, purchasing some or all of these coverages will definitely give you more piece of mind if you are involved in an auto accident.

Continue reading "Why "Full Coverage" Auto Insurance is Not Enough" »

On May 12, 2010, a man in his thirties was hit by a vehicle while he attempted to cross South Ridgewood Avenue in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was transported by EVAC ambulance service to Halifax Hospital Medical Center for a broken arm and leg injury. According to the Daytona Beach Fire Department, the man had a "decreased level of consciousness."

On May 16, 2010, a 66-year-old Holly Hill resident was hit by a truck in front of the well known bike week establishment Destination Daytona. The man was leaving the Harley-Davidson-themed complex after a concert. While crossing U.S. Highway 1, also know as Ridgewood Avenue, he was hit by a Longwood resident that was also in Daytona Beach to attend the concert. The pedestrian accident victim died on scene from multiple injuries.

Similar to above, many accidents involve pedestrians being hit by automobiles. Further, it is very common for pedestrians to not have health insurance. A major concern for uninsured pedestrian accident victims is who will pay for their medical bills if they do not have the ability to pay. Hospitals are notorious for sending bills that are owed to collection agencies and the nonpayment of medical bills could possibly affect a person's credit rating.

Under certain conditions a pedestrian accident victim may qualify for $10,000 in benefits that includes payment of lost wages, medical bills, prescription medications and death benefits. Under the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, a person who has a registered vehicle in Florida must carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection Benefits. This is usually referred to as PIP benefits. In many circumstances, these benefits are extended to pedestrian accident victims if a few requirements are met.

First, the pedestrian accident victim must not have a vehicle registered in the State of Florida. This is because under Florida law if a person has a registered vehicle in Florida, they are required to carry PIP coverage of their own. Second, a pedestrian victim must not live with a relative that has a registered vehicle in Florida. If you live with a person that has a registered vehicle in Florida and you are legally related to that person, you would possibly qualify under that person's insurance benefits.

Therefore, a pedestrian accident victim may have access to $10,000 in PIP benefits if the pedestrian accident victim does not have a registered vehicle in Florida and does not live with a relative that has a registered vehicle in Florida. If you are a pedestrian accident victim and have questions or concerns regarding PIP benefits, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Continue reading "Pedestrians Hit by Vehicles May be Entitled to $10,000 in Insurance Benefits" »