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Preserving Your Right to Your $10,000 PIP Medical Benefits

The legislative intent behind Florida’s original Personal Injury Protection statute (Fla.Stat. 627.736 was to insure your ability to purchase needed medical care immediately following an auto collision. This coverage is a benefit of the policy that you pay for. Until recently every Florida insured driver, passenger, or pedestrian had a right to $10,000 in coverage earmarked solely for your medical needs and wage losses. It was a simple process. If you were injured in a motor vehicle collision your insurance company was required to provide these benefits. That has now changed!

The 2012 amendments to the statute which have recently been upheld by the First District Court of Appeal give insurance companies the opportunity to limit your benefits to only $2,500 and even deny you these benefits in total.

The following are the Rules of the Road that you MUST follow in order to preserve your rights:

1. You must be evaluated by a physician within 14 days of the collision or your insurance company can deny you all benefits.
2. Within those 14 days a medical physician must determine that you have suffered an “emergency medical condition”. If this determination is not reached your insurance company can limit your benefits to $2,500 instead of the $10,000 coverage that you purchased. The statute defines “emergency medical condition” as a condition that is manifested by acute [recent] symptoms of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical care could reasonably put the patient in jeopardy of serious impairment to the function of the body or a bodily organ or part.
3. The emergency medical condition determination must be made by a medical physician. The statute prohibits other care providers such as chiropractic physicians from participating in the determination.
4. If you are injured in a motor vehicle collision consult a qualified physician immediately, ensure that you obtain an emergency medical condition evaluation and if you have any questions call us at your earliest opportunity. We are available to you 24 hours a day.

Dan and his wife Debbie were recognized as First Citizens at the YMCA Foundation of Sarasota’s Annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon

“Debbie and Dan are equal in their passion for the Y and what they’re willing to do to help our children and families. Whether they’re organizing volunteers for a project, chairing a fundraising initiative or inviting friends into the Y, they’ve done it all and more. I’m not sure they realize how many people they have inspired,” said Jennifer Grondahl, President YMCA Foundation of Sarasota, Inc.

From My Family And Firm To You,

Dan Dannheisser
DanDannheisser.com