Posted by Editor | Posted in Personal Injury Legislation Watch
In recent weeks, The Injury Blog has detailed the debate surrounding the Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law requiring drivers in the state to carry up to $10,000 in personal injury insurance for car accident injuries. Last Friday, state legislators failed to extend this personal injury law, which will officially expire on October 1st unless the issue is taken into consideration during a special legislative session in June.
This Florida No Fault Law required drivers to purchase the PIP coverage, which would pay up to a maximum of $10,000 in coverage for car accident injuries, regardless of who caused them. Auto insurance companies had been arguing for the death of this Florida personal injury protection law because of what they said were large cases of fraudulent claims. A recent Insurance Journal story indicated that such a move could save insurance companies more than $350 million in payments to hospitals, doctors and clinics treating car accident injuries.
Proponents of this Florida personal injury protection law have warned about the possible ramifications of if it expired, including the fact that 40 percent of car accident victims in the state have no form of health insurance coverage besides mandatory PIP. The Florida Hospital Association warned that getting rid of Florida PIP would cause some hospitals to seriously consider whether they could even maintain trauma centers. The FHA added that it would urge legislators to add PIP to the agenda of its special session.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist expressed confidence in the story that the issue would be resolved in the special session. The state Senate had previously proposed a bill that would extend Florida personal injury protection for car accident injuries for three more years. A study of the current system would have also been concluded by 2010 under this bill in order to determine whether to keep moving forward with PIP at that time. However, the state House failed to take up the plan passed in the Senate, and rather pushed a proposed law that would let PIP go to the wayside and be replaced by $15,000 of coverage that could only be used in emergency rooms and hospital-owned clinics immediately after a car accident. We’ll keep you updated on any more developments with the Florida PIP debate.
Well, as of May 19 Gov Crist still has not forced the PIP issue for the special session.
http://www.flgov.com I suggest emailing him so that he gets some presure. I know he is hearing a lot about property taxes and homeowners, but there is little interest in the PIP for some reason. He can still force them to address it at the special session in June, but if he thinks that there is little interest, then he will ignore it. http://www.flgov.com
I live in S. Florida where a good portion of the people down here are illegal in the first place. This just makes it even easier for them to blend into society without any responsibility.
Honestly, there are several reasons why PIP should be continued. What about a car load of children, who are uninsured because the family cannot afford it? What about health insurance rising, because the costs will have to be moved to those other insurers? Taxes will have to go up also, because there are public hospitals that will lose millions in lost ravenue.
I am just disgusted with this whole thing. Why can’t we have politicians that for once, can project out into the future and work for US, instead of worrying where their next payoff is coming from?
Everything about this state has been getting worse over the last few years. Most of my neighbors are moving out. I might be next.
Jake
what is governor crist going to do with pip? i keep reading and hearing how he is for pip and wants to keep it, so why doesnt he just say he is adding it to a special session? i am very confused as to what is going to happen? great webiste!
Just curious if this was still being implemented on 10/01/2007? I heard over the weekend, that PIP would still be available?