Florida No Fault Insurance: The PIP Claim Clock After a Crash

Yes. Florida no fault insurance still applies to your crash, because the 2026 bill to repeal the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law died in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on March 13, 2026, so your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is still where your medical claim starts. The most urgent deadline is that, to use PIP medical benefits, Florida law requires you to get initial services and care within 14 days of the crash and to give your insurer written notice as soon as practicable.

Those two steps start a sequence of deadlines that continues after you file. This guide walks through that sequence in order. It covers which policy pays your claim, using the state’s official notice of PIP rights and benefits to explain who is covered. It then explains what happens during the first 14 days and why an emergency medical condition finding matters. After that, it covers how the insurer’s 30-day payment clock works, what to do if the insurer asks for documents or an examination under oath, and the steps the statute sets out if a payment is late, reduced or denied.

The last section looks at situations where PIP may not cover everything. Each step links to the statute or state agency it comes from, so you can check the rule yourself as your claim moves forward.

Is Florida still a no-fault state in 2026?

Yes. Florida’s no-fault system and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage are still in place. If you were hurt in a crash, your claim still runs through PIP.

The 2026 bill that would have repealed the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, SB 522, died in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on 3/13/2026. Its House companion, HB 769, died the same day in the Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee. Even if SB 522 had passed, its proposed effective date was January 1, 2027, not July 1, 2026. Posts claiming PIP “ended” in 2026 are wrong.

PIP benefits are paid without regard to who caused the crash. The required benefits, exclusions and claim rules are set out in section 627.736 of the 2026 Florida Statutes. For many people, the claim begins with their own auto insurer, even when another driver was at fault. The next section explains whose policy pays in your situation.

If you hear a new repeal rumor

You don’t have to rely on social media or secondhand summaries. You can check a bill’s status yourself:

• Go to the bill’s page on flsenate.gov.
• Find the “Last Action” line, which shows the most recent official step, such as passing or dying in committee.
• Check the bill’s proposed effective date. A bill that passes does not always take effect right away.

For a broader look at the system, see our guide on how PIP claims work in no-fault states and when you can sue. The rest of this article focuses on Florida’s PIP deadlines and what to do at each step.

Whose PIP policy pays your claim

If you own a car in Florida, start with your own insurer. If you don’t, look to a relative’s policy in your household or to the policy on the vehicle you were riding in or struck by. Florida’s state-required PIP rights notice, Your PIP Rights and Benefits Under the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law (form OIR-B1-1149), explains who is covered. The notice says Florida residents who own a motor vehicle must buy PIP, and the named insured on the policy is covered.

According to that notice, these people may also be covered by a vehicle’s PIP:

• Relatives who live with you may be covered by your policy.
• Passengers in the insured vehicle may be covered by that vehicle’s PIP.
• Pedestrians struck by the insured vehicle may be covered by that vehicle’s PIP.

There is an important exception. Passengers or relatives living with you who own a vehicle that must be licensed in Florida are not covered by your PIP. They need their own policy, and their claim goes to their own insurer.

The notice also lists exclusions. These include injury to someone who was driving the insured vehicle without the owner’s consent and injury to someone who intentionally injured themselves. If one of these situations might apply to you, read the full list on the form before you assume a policy will pay.

The notice form is marked Revised 01/2013. If its wording ever differs from current law, the statute controls. That statute is section 627.736 of the 2026 Florida Statutes.

If a car hit you while you were walking and you don’t own a vehicle, the striking vehicle’s policy may be where your claim begins. Our guide to filing an insurance claim after a pedestrian accident walks through those next steps.

Days 0–14: the Florida PIP 14-day rule and the emergency medical condition

If you were hurt in a Florida crash, the most important date is day 14. Under Florida law, PIP medical benefits pay 80 percent of reasonable expenses for medically necessary care only if you receive initial services and care within 14 days after the accident (section 627.736(1)(a), Florida Statutes). If that first visit happens later, PIP medical benefits may not be available at all. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)

How much PIP medical coverage you can reach

After that first visit, the amount available for medical care depends on whether a qualifying provider determines that you had an emergency medical condition:

The statute lists who can make this determination. Those providers are a physician, dentist, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse licensed under specific chapters of Florida law. The decision belongs to that provider based on their own evaluation. Neither you nor this guide can decide in advance whether a particular injury will qualify.

What to do in the first two weeks

• Get checked within 14 days, even if you feel fine. Some injuries are not obvious right after a crash, and the deadline does not move if symptoms appear later. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)
• Keep your visit records. Save discharge papers, visit summaries and bills that show the date you were first seen.
• Ask about the emergency medical condition determination. Ask the provider plainly whether they made one. If they did, ask that it be included in your records.

Write down the date of your first visit next to the date of the crash. That one comparison can affect the rest of your PIP claim.

Notifying your insurer and the 30-day payment clock

The insurer’s deadline to pay starts when it gets written notice of your covered loss and how much it is. Report the claim promptly and in writing so that clock can start.

Report early, and in writing

Under Florida’s PIP statute, section 627.736, an insurer may require written notice of the accident as soon as practicable afterward. A phone call is a good start, but follow it with something in writing. For the full filing process, see our step-by-step guide to filing a PIP claim in Florida.

How the 30-day clock works

• Full claim: PIP benefits become overdue if they are not paid within 30 days after the insurer receives written notice of the covered loss and its amount. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)
• Partial claim: If your written notice covers only part of the claim, that part is overdue if it is still unpaid 30 days after notice. Amounts you document later get their own 30-day clock, which starts when the insurer receives that proof. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)
• The exception: A payment is not overdue if the insurer has reasonable proof that it is not responsible for paying it.
• Interest: Under the statute, benefits that become overdue also carry interest.

Keep a simple claim log

The clock runs separately for each piece of your claim, so a clear record can matter later. For every bill, wage statement or other document you send, write down:

1. What you sent, such as a provider bill or a wage statement
2. The date you sent it
3. How you sent it, such as mail, email, fax or the insurer’s online portal, plus any tracking or confirmation number
4. Any reply from the insurer and the date it arrived

With this log, you can see when each 30-day period should end and show what the insurer had in hand, and when, if a payment comes late or comes in short.

When the insurer asks for documents or an examination under oath

A request from your insurer can change your payment deadline. A document request can extend it. An examination under oath is a step you generally have to complete before benefits are owed. Knowing which request you received helps you track where your claim stands.

A written request for documents

If the insurer sends a written request for documentation or information within 30 days of receiving notice of your loss, the deadline shifts. Under Section 627.736 of the Florida Statutes, the amount being questioned becomes overdue if it is not paid by the regular deadline or within 10 days after the insurer receives the documents, whichever is later. The sooner the insurer has what it asked for, the sooner that 10-day window starts. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)

An examination under oath (EUO)

An EUO is a formal session where you answer the insurer’s questions under oath. The statute (s. 627.736(6)(g)) says anyone seeking PIP benefits must comply with the policy terms, and that includes submitting to an EUO. Complying is a condition precedent to receiving benefits. In plain terms, the insurer is not required to pay until you have met that condition.

The law also limits how insurers use EUOs. An insurer that, as a general business practice, requests EUOs without a reasonable basis is subject to Florida’s unfair insurance practices statute (s. 626.9541).

Protect your timeline

• Answer in writing. Respond to each request by letter or email so there is a clear record.
• Keep copies. Save the request and everything you send back.
• Calendar the date you sent it. Write down when the insurer should have received your documents. This lets you work out when the 10-day window closes.
• Get help with an EUO notice. If an EUO request seems unclear or unreasonable, Legal Lawsuit can help you find someone to review it before your scheduled date.

If PIP payment is late, reduced or denied

If your PIP benefits are overdue, the next formal step is a written pre-suit demand letter. If you are close to running out of coverage, you can also ask the insurer to confirm when your limits are used up. Free state help is available at any stage.

The pre-suit demand letter

Under Florida’s PIP statute, section 627.736, a lawsuit for PIP benefits cannot be filed until the insurer has received written notice of an intent to initiate litigation. That notice cannot be sent until the claim is overdue.

The statute also sets what the letter must contain:

• It must state that it is a “demand letter under s. 627.736.”
• It must include specific details, such as the insured’s name and the amounts claimed.

A letter that leaves out required details may not do its job. Check the statute’s exact wording before sending one, or have someone familiar with PIP review it.

Asking whether your policy limits have been reached

If there is a dispute, the same statute requires the insurer to tell the insured, on request, that the PIP policy limits have been reached. The insurer must give this notice within 15 days after the limits are reached. Knowing this helps you and your medical providers plan for bills that PIP will no longer cover. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)

Free help from the state

The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services, takes insurance concerns at no cost. Its Consumer Services contact page lists these options:

• Online: submit a concern, and it is assigned to an insurance specialist.
• Toll-free helpline: 1-877-693-5236.
• From out of state: (850) 413-3089.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

If you’d like to understand your options before choosing a path, Legal Lawsuit’s plain-language guides walk through each stage of a claim. Read them at your own pace.

When PIP is not the whole picture

PIP may not cover all of your costs after a crash. Florida’s statute caps medical and disability benefits combined at the $10,000 required PIP limit, which pays 80% of covered medical expenses and drops to $2,500 without an emergency medical condition determination. If your bills or lost income go past that point, other coverage may need to pick up the rest. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)

Your PIP file and these other coverages are separate tracks. Each has its own procedures, so a PIP claim does not cover them. The most common ones are:

• Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage: This may help if the costs left after PIP are significant. If you think this applies to you, our guide to how an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim works walks through that process step by step.
• Property damage: PIP covers injury-related benefits, not repairs to your car. Vehicle damage is handled as its own claim.
• Claims beyond your own policy: Whether you can pursue anyone else depends on questions about fault and injury that this PIP guide does not cover.

Before you start on the next track, it helps to have these in one place:

• Your PIP payment records
• Any explanation-of-benefits letters
• A running total of the costs PIP has not paid

These documents show exactly where your PIP benefits stopped, and every other claim starts from that point.

PIP works differently elsewhere and refused payments have their own steps; see what to do when a car insurance claim is denied.

For the full sequence of what comes after PIP, including how the different claims fit together, see our main guide to filing a car accident claim. If you are unsure which coverage applies to your situation, Legal Lawsuit can help you figure out where to start.

Keep researching on Legal Lawsuit

• More research on Legal Lawsuit

Frequently asked questions

Did Florida repeal PIP or no-fault insurance in 2026?

No. In 2026, a bill to repeal the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law was filed, but Senate Bill 522 died in the Banking and Insurance Committee on March 13, 2026. Its House companion, HB 769, died in the Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee the same day. The repeal would not have taken effect until January 1, 2027. For a crash happening now, PIP is still the first place to look for medical and wage benefits.

What happens if I didn’t see a doctor until after 14 days?

Florida’s PIP statute ties medical benefits to timing. Under Section 627.736 of the Florida Statutes, PIP covers medical care only if you received initial services and care from a qualifying provider within 14 days after the crash. If your first visit came later, your insurer can refuse to pay PIP medical benefits for that care. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)

When care does start on time, PIP pays 80% of covered medical expenses. The limit is up to $10,000 if a provider determines you had an emergency medical condition, and $2,500 without that determination. If you missed the 14-day window, other coverage may still apply, so check the rest of your policy. (Fla. Stat. 627.736)

How long does my insurer have to pay a PIP claim in Florida?

Generally 30 days. Under the same Section 627.736, a PIP benefit is overdue if it is not paid within 30 days after the insurer receives notice of the covered loss and the amount owed. If the insurer disputes only part of a claim, the undisputed part still falls under the 30-day rule. A payment is not overdue if the insurer has reasonable proof that it isn’t responsible. Benefits that are overdue carry interest.

If the insurer sends you a written request for documentation, the statute sets a separate 10-day timeframe. Read any such letter closely and respond promptly.

Do I have to give an examination under oath to get PIP benefits?

If your policy requires it, usually yes. Section 627.736 makes compliance with a policy’s examination under oath (EUO) provision a condition precedent to receiving benefits. That means skipping a properly requested EUO can put your claim at risk. The statute also limits these requests: an insurer that misuses EUO demands can be committing an unfair practice. If an EUO request seems excessive, keep a copy and ask questions before you refuse.

Who can I contact if my Florida PIP claim is stalled?

The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services accepts insurance concerns. You can submit a concern online, and it will be assigned to an insurance specialist. You can also call the toll-free helpline at 1-877-693-5236, or (850) 413-3089 from outside Florida, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Before you call, gather your claim number, the dates you sent notice and documents, and any letters from the insurer. If you’d like help understanding your options, Legal Lawsuit can point you toward next steps.

Sources

1. SB 522 (2026): Motor Vehicle Insurance · The Florida Senate · 2026-03-13
2. OIR-B1-1149 Notification of Personal Injury Protection Benefits: Your PIP Rights and Benefits Under the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law · Florida Office of Insurance Regulation · 2013-01-01
3. Contact Us: How to Reach Consumer Services · Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary by state and change over time; check the linked sources or speak with a licensed attorney about your situation.