Lesser Law Blog - Personal Injury Law » Personal Injury Protection (PIP) http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:20:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 But I Don’t Want to Go to Court… http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog/%e2%80%9cbut-i-don%e2%80%99t-want-to-go-to-court%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog/%e2%80%9cbut-i-don%e2%80%99t-want-to-go-to-court%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:19:14 +0000 Michael S. Smith http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog/?p=174 Thru the years, we have frequently had clients express concern about “going to court.”  This reaction is natural, since many of our clients have never had any interaction with the justice system.  On television, “court” looks like a very scary…

]]> Thru the years, we have frequently had clients express concern about “going to court.”  This reaction is natural, since many of our clients have never had any interaction with the justice system.  On television, “court” looks like a very scary place.  Slick lawyers hammer witnesses into confessions before the first commercial break.  What sane person would voluntarily subject herself to such abuse?

Reality, of course, is much different from television drama.  Many civil disputes are resolved before a lawsuit is even filed.  Of those that are filed, well over 9 out of 10 are settled without the client ever setting foot in the courthouse.  Florida has a very strong pre-trial mediation program.  This program is mandatory, and no case can go to trial in Florida without first going through the mediation process.  Trained mediators help the parties try to reach a compromise they can live with.  We have had great success in resolving cases through pre-trial mediation.

Of course, not every case settles before trial.  We have found that, after getting over the initial butterflies, our clients almost universally agree that the process is not as bad as they expected.  Palm Beach County is blessed with the finest judiciary in the State of Florida.  Our Judges do not allow the sort of behavior seen on television dramas, and the experience is simply not as nerve-wracking as TV would suggest.

Our lawyers have a vast amount of trial experience. Insurance companies and defense lawyers know this.

Our abilities in the courtroom allow us to resolve most of our cases before trial.  While it might be natural to have feelings against “going to court,” that should never be a reason for not pursuing a valid claim.

]]> http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog/%e2%80%9cbut-i-don%e2%80%99t-want-to-go-to-court%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/feed/ 0 Personal Injury Protection http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog/personal-injury-protection/ http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog/personal-injury-protection/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:26:59 +0000 Glenn E. Siegel http://www.lesserlawfirm.com/injuryblog/?p=59 Under Florida’s system, each person who operates a vehicle in Florida for more than 90 days must have what is known as “personal injury protection” (PIP) insurance. PIP insurance covers the insured, the insured’s relatives residing in the same household,…

]]> Under Florida’s system, each person who operates a vehicle in Florida for more than 90 days must have what is known as “personal injury protection” (PIP) insurance. PIP insurance covers the insured, the insured’s relatives residing in the same household, anyone driving or riding in the insured’s car, and anyone not in a motorized vehicle who is hurt as a result of the use of the insured’s car regardless of who is at fault in the accident. This is why Florida is known as a No-Fault state. Often we are asked “Why should my insurance coverage have to pay for my PIP coverage if I was not at fault in the accident.” A No-Fault state actually works to your benefit and is designed so that you do not have to wait for someone else’s insurance company to process your claims, when your own insurance company owes you a duty to promptly do so. It also prevents the situation of having to wait to try to get these expenses paid if there is a dispute as to who caused the accident.

The extent of PIP coverage is as follows: up to $10,000 per person for (1) medical expenses (paid at 80% of reasonable expenses); (2) lost income and earning capacity (paid at 60% of any loss of gross income and loss of earning capacity); and (3) funeral, burial, or cremation expenses (equal to the lesser of $5,000 or the remainder of unused personal injury protection benefits.

It is very important when filling out your application for insurance that you read it carefully. It typically asks for the names of all resident relatives over the age of 15. Make sure to disclose all such individuals or your insurance company may try to claim a material misrepresentation of your policy and attempt to deny coverage for PIP and other insurance coverage. Please contact us to discuss any questions you may have, and we will be happy to review your policy and advise you about your insurance coverage.

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