Despite Great Expectations, PIP Bill is Rejected by Florida Legislature

The Dickensian decline of two PIP bills pending before the Florida House on Monday marked the failed efforts of some Florida legislators to reform insurance personal injury protection (PIP).  HB 967 and HB 1411 and their Senate counterpart SB 1694, which were heavily backed by insurance companies, would have imposed significant obstacles for persons injured in auto accidents (and their attorneys) to recover PIP benefits.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, the proposed changes included the following:

• Requiring injured claimants and anyone treating them to be examined under oath;
• Mandating an examination by a doctor hired by the  insurance company;
• Denying claims earlier if the claimant did not cooperate;
• Sending claims to a panel of arbitrators instead of paying them;
• Giving insurance companies more time to investigate claims;
• Tying PIP reimbursement to Medicare rates; and
• Limiting attorneys’ fees, thereby “reduc[ing] their incentive to take insurance cases.”

Click here for a complete summary of the bills.  On April 25, 2011, the House Subcommittee on Human Services voted down the bills 9 to 8.

According to the Florida House of Representatives’ Summary Analysis of the PIP reform bills, the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law (No-Fault Law) requires motorists to carry at least $10,000 of no-fault insurance, known as personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.  PIP provides payment of medical, surgical, funeral and disability benefits to the named insured and persons injured while in, or struck by, the insured motor vehicle without regard to fault. In return for assurance of payment of these benefits, the No-Fault Law places limitations on lawsuits for non-economic damages (pain and suffering).  PIP is designed to compensate individuals quickly and efficiently and reduce automobile insurance costs and litigation.

The injury and accident attorneys at PERENICH The Law Firm help those injured in motor vehicle accidents file PIP claims and recover benefits and other damages.