How to File a PIP Claim in Florida
After a car crash in Florida, the first insurance claim for your injuries usually goes to your own insurer, not the other driver's. Personal injury protection, or PIP, pays part of your medical bills and lost income regardless of who caused the crash. It has strict rules about when you must get treatment and how much it will pay, and missing them can cut your benefits to a fraction or to nothing. This guide explains each rule and the steps to get paid.
What happens when you reach out
- You tell us what happenedSend the short form or call. It takes about a minute, and you share only what you are comfortable with.
- A claim specialist reviews itWe look at your deadlines, the insurer or agency involved, and the records your claim will need.
- We call you backUsually the same day, to explain your options. There is no cost and no obligation.
Prefer to talk now? Call (833) 333-0905 or text 954-933-5065.
Make sure your PIP claim gets paid
Tell us about the crash and your treatment so far. A claim specialist reviews it and calls you back, usually the same day.
Legal Lawsuit is not a law firm. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
On this page
What PIP pays
The required PIP limit for medical and disability benefits combined, per person.
Of reasonable expenses for medically necessary care, if you get initial care within 14 days.
Of lost gross income and earning capacity while you cannot work because of the injury.
Paid per person when a crash injury causes death.
All four figures come from Florida's no-fault statute (Fla. Stat. §627.736(1)). Your policy may also include optional medical payments coverage that can pay part of what PIP does not.
The rules that decide your benefits
| Rule | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 14-day rule | Medical benefits are paid only if you receive initial services and care within 14 days after the crash. | §627.736(1)(a) |
| Emergency medical condition | Benefits can reach the full $10,000 if a qualified provider determines you had an emergency medical condition. If a qualified provider determines you did not, medical benefits are limited to $2,500. | §627.736(1)(a)3.-4. |
| When payment is due | Benefits are overdue if not paid within 30 days after the insurer gets written notice of the covered loss and its amount. | §627.736(4)(b) |
| Pre-suit demand letter | Before suing for overdue benefits, you must send a written notice labeled a "demand letter under s. 627.736." If the insurer pays the overdue amount with interest and a penalty within 30 days, no lawsuit may be brought. | §627.736(10) |
The emergency medical condition finding matters most. Ask the treating physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner to document it if it applies, because it is the difference between $2,500 and $10,000 in medical benefits.
Filing the claim, step by step
Get initial care within 14 days
Emergency room, urgent care or a doctor. Keep the discharge papers and every bill.
Report the crash to your own insurer
Give the date, place and a short description, and get a PIP claim number. Passengers and pedestrians may claim under their own household policy; see pedestrian claims.
Complete the insurer's forms
Most insurers send an application for benefits and a wage verification form for your employer. Return them promptly and keep copies.
Have providers bill PIP directly
Give every provider your PIP claim number so they bill the insurer. Track what has been billed and paid.
Document lost income
Ask your employer to complete the wage form, and keep doctors' notes saying you could not work.
Follow your treatment plan
Gaps in care and missed appointments are common reasons PIP stops paying. Attend any insurer-requested medical exam on time.
If PIP does not pay
Ask for any denial or reduction in writing, with the reason. Common disputes are treatment started after 14 days, no emergency medical condition finding, a claim that treatment was not medically necessary, or a missed insurer exam. Once benefits are overdue, a written demand letter that meets the statute is the required step before a lawsuit, and it gives the insurer 30 days to pay with interest and a penalty (§627.736(10)).
Beyond PIP: claims against the at-fault driver
PIP rarely covers everything. You can claim against the at-fault driver for losses PIP does not pay, but in Florida a claim for pain and suffering requires an injury that meets the no-fault threshold: significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death (Fla. Stat. §627.737(2)).
A negligence lawsuit against the at-fault driver must generally be filed within two years (Fla. Stat. §95.11(5)(a)). If the other driver has no bodily injury coverage or too little, see uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. For the full claim process, see our car accident claim guide.
Common questions
Does PIP cover motorcycle riders?
No. Florida PIP applies to vehicles with four or more wheels. See our motorcycle accident claim guide.
Will a PIP claim raise my premium?
PIP is no-fault coverage, but rating rules vary by insurer. Ask your insurer how it treats PIP claims where you were not at fault.
What if I was hurt as a passenger in someone else's car?
You usually claim PIP under your own policy or a household family member's policy first, and under the car's policy if you have none.
Does the claim review cost anything?
No. It is free.
PIP denied, reduced or slow?
Call (833) 333-0905 any time, or send the short form. A claim specialist will check what PIP owes and what else may be available.
Legal Lawsuit is an information and claim-review service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Florida insurance law changes; confirm current rules with your insurer or a licensed attorney. Legal Lawsuit and TortAdvisor are under common ownership.
