As the 4th of July approaches, most families are busy preparing plans for Independence Day weekend. Unfortunately, so too are car crashes and other highway vehicle accidents.

The new PIP Reform Bill of 2012 will usher in a swath of questionable requirements and limitations on personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance coverage that may ultimately do more harm than good to Florida drivers. The following are a few recommended steps to take following an auto accident to maximize your PIP benefits.

Tyler Morr died this past Wednesday afternoon, May 23, 2012, at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida after sustaining grievous injuries following a youth race car crash on the preceding Saturday. Tyler was only 12 years old and a racing competitor within the cockpit of a high performance race car at the time of his fatal crash. Needless to say, the standards for ensuring safety of the competitors are not always clear when it comes to a stock car race involving children.

Perhaps the most disgraceful aspect of the 2010 BP oil spill was BP’s attempt to shirk its responsibility for the disastrous effects of the spill, including properly compensating those affected by this tragedy. Fortunately, at the urging of President Obama, BP established a $20 billion claims fund in June, 2010 for those directly affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The deadline to submit claims is August, 2013.

After Florida legislators disseminated and debated multiple versions of PIP reform bills, the House and Senate approved HB 119 on March 9, 2012. The bill is awaiting signature by Florida Governor Rick Scott, a major proponent of reforming the state’s current personal injury protection (PIP) law.

This past Saturday, the injury and trial attorneys as well as bankruptcy lawyers at PERENICH The Law Firm were among nearly 20 food sponsors at the St. Petersburg Bar Association’s annual Oktoberfest.