If you’re injured in a car accident in Florida, you might assume your
auto insurance will cover your medical bills.
But many Floridians are surprised to learn that the standard Personal Injury
Protection (PIP) coverage only provides $10,000 — and that money disappears fast if you’re facing hospital stays, surgeries, or rehabilitation.
So what happens if your medical bills reach $50,000 or more, and your policy caps at $10,000? Several factors come into play and there are a few potential options for
recovery of medical costs.
How Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Works
- Every driver in Florida must carry $10,000
in PIP coverage.
- PIP pays up to 80% of reasonable medical bills and 60% of lost wages, but only until that $10,000 runs out.
- Once you exceed the limit, the rest of your bills are on you — unless other coverage or claims are available.
When our law firm represents injured victims, we provide multiple car accident lawyers for each case. This team of attorneys will
work very aggressively to preserve every available right to full recovery and compensation. Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome on each case.
Recovering from injuries is difficult enough. The right law firm can help make these situations much better for any victim.
Options When Medical Bills Exceed PIP
If your medical expenses are much higher than your PIP limit, you may still have options:
- Health Insurance – If you have it, your health insurance may pick up some of the remaining costs.
- At-Fault Driver’s Insurance – If the other driver was negligent, your attorney can pursue their bodily injury liability coverage to cover additional
damages.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage – This optional add-on to your own policy can be a lifeline if the at-fault driver has little or no insurance.
- Personal Lawsuit – If the at-fault driver has significant personal assets, your attorney may pursue them directly.
Can You Get a Higher Coverage Limit?
Yes — but only before an accident happens.
- Many insurance companies offer Medical Payments (“MedPay”) coverage, which stacks on top of your PIP and can raise your available coverage to $20,000, $50,000, or more.
- Adding UM/UIM coverage is also critical. Florida doesn’t require it, but it protects you when the other driver’s policy won’t cover your
damages.
Why Legal Guidance Matters
Insurance companies don’t make this process easy. They may delay, deny, or minimize claims — especially when injuries are severe. As experienced Tampa personal injury lawyers, Fernandez Law Group has a strong history of:
- Identifying every available source of compensation.
- Pushing back against lowball settlement
offers.
- Ensuring medical providers and insurers follow the law.
- Helping our clients recover the full value of their damages, not just what’s left after PIP runs out.
That $10,000 PIP limit can be very limiting. If your injuries are serious, your recovery often depends on pursuing additional claims and coverages. The sooner you get an attorney involved, the more options you’ll have to protect your health and financial future.
Our car accident lawyers are very experienced and fully prepared to
litigate aggressively on behalf of our clients. There are no up front fees or costs unless we win and our consultations are always free. Reach us by phone, email, or our quick contact form. And if you’re still unsure, have a look at the reviews we receive.
