The Perazzo Law Firm’s Car Accident Attorneys Manage Compensation Insurance Claims: Insurance Plans for Motorists in Florida – Miami’s Personal Injury Attorney
The Perazzo Law Firm’s personal injury attorneys present ten insurance plans for Florida’s drivers, serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County. What kind of insurance plans exist and how can they protect me?
- My insurance does not cover the full extent of my car’s damages.
- My medical expenses surpass my insurance limits.
- The other party’s insurance does not fully cover my medical costs.
- I’m seeking an insurance plan that provides the most comprehensive coverage.
The car accident attorneys at the Perazzo Law Firm are well-versed with such insurance policy issues and concerns. Understanding the type of insurance you or another driver has is critical in case of an accident. It’s also crucial to be aware of the insurance plans that are available to you.
These are the Ten Insurance Coverage Plans for Car Owners and Drivers in Florida.
Have you been involved in a car or truck accident? The Perazzo Law Firm’s insurance claims attorneys for motor vehicles inform Florida drivers that all registered vehicle owners and operators in Florida are legally mandated to have a basic Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage (PIP / PD) vehicle insurance policy in case of an accident involving another vehicle, a pedestrian, a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, ATV, etc. This could lead to personal injury, property damage, losses, or even third-party wrongful death. If this occurs, the person legally at fault may likely be held responsible for the victims’ injuries and losses. The Perazzo Law Firm’s Miami Personal Injury team wants to remind vehicle operators that the main aim of insurance is to aid in covering the expenses of medical treatment, property damage repair or replacement, and any other losses attributed to the car accident, while also protecting the victims or the party at fault. In such cases, the expertise of a car accident attorney and insurance claims lawyer is paramount when dealing with accidents that involve personal injuries, damages, losses, or wrongful death.
In Miami, the Perazzo Law Firm emphasizes that maintaining insurance is essential and compulsory in Florida to manage the financial impact of personal injuries, property damage, losses, or wrongful death resulting from a motor vehicle accident in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Therefore, it’s critical for registered vehicle owners to understand their insurance coverage and what their policies can handle in the event of an accident leading to injury, damage, losses, or wrongful death. It is crucial to have an experienced personal injury attorney who prioritizes their client’s best interests when handling insurance compensation claims following a motor vehicle accident in Florida.
What kind of insurance do you possess and how does it safeguard your best interests?
THE PERAZZO LAW FIRM ELABORATES ON THE TEN MOST ESSENTIAL INSURANCE POLICIES FOR CAR OWNERS
UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE (UM):
The team of auto accident lawyers at the Perazzo Law Firm emphasizes the critical importance of Uninsured Motorist Insurance (UM) for all car owners. This policy becomes indispensable considering the high prevalence of uninsured or underinsured drivers, as UM covers you if the other party involved lacks sufficient insurance to cover potential personal injury, property damage, or harm to your family. Notably, Florida is amongst the top five states with the most uninsured drivers navigating U.S. roads and urban streets. The Perazzo Law Firm highlights that your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) only covers a portion of medical expenses and does not account for pain and suffering or excess costs that might result from a major accident. Such incidents may lead to facial injuries from an airbag, shoulder injuries, brain trauma, or even wrongful death. Healthcare expenses for treating facial injuries or fractures can easily surpass $100,000. Basic coverage policies like PIP and Property Damage (PD) do not cover the costs of treating severe injuries or account for pain and suffering, lost wages, or vehicle damages. Consequently, you could find yourself financially responsible for circumstances that weren’t your fault. To safeguard against such scenarios, insurance providers must offer these policies, leaving you the option to either accept or reject the coverage. To acquire UM or Under-Insured Motorist (UIM) coverage, the car owner must possess Bodily Injury Protection insurance (BI). Typically, insurers present the BI contract with the checkbox already filled in. Our Florida auto accident lawyers believe this occurs because UM insurance provides exceptional value for its cost. While insurance companies have abundant information about you, including your residential location, employment, credit score, etc., to evaluate your risk of causing an accident, they cannot predict the likelihood of another driver colliding with you or causing an accident. As Florida law dictates this insurance premium, UM is generally less costly than mandatory insurances and poses greater risk to the insurer, which may not highlight its importance to drivers. Typically, bodily insurance is required to access uninsured motorist coverage. The Perazzo Law Firm strongly advises car owners to obtain uninsured motorist coverage (UM) or Under-insured motorist coverage (UIM) to prevent financial hardship caused by someone else’s negligence or fault. It is also a crucial policy to have if a hit and run incident occurs. Coupled with PIP and PD, UM will cover your pain, suffering, lost income, and any other losses in line with the amount purchased. The Perazzo Law Firm wants car owners to know that there are two types of UM coverage: STACKED and UNSTACKED. The latter applies to each of your vehicles individually, but will not cover you if you are a passenger in someone else’s car. However, UM will cover when operating the vehicle involved in the accident. Stacked UM coverage insures you, those specified in the insurance policy, and your household family members, regardless of which vehicle was involved in an accident. It’s termed “stacked” because the coverage accumulates according to the number of vehicles in the policy, if you have more than one. For example, three vehicles carrying a $100K policy means you have $300,000 in coverage to cover injuries or losses for everyone in the STACKED UM policy. The Perazzo Law Firm hopes this information helps illustrate the function and significance of UM insurance and what it means for you and your family. Although this explanation is not exhaustive, it is a good starting point to understand UM better.
STACKED AND UNSTACKED UM COVERAGE
- STACKED UM: If you request UM from your insurer, you can choose between Stacked or Unstacked. Stacked UM coverage can be added to each of the vehicles you own but will cover each one separately and cover the vehicle being driven at the time of an accident. It also covers the vehicle owner and those specified in the policy. Stacked UM increases the coverage limit in the event of an accident and is recommended for those owning multiple private vehicles or a fleet of commercial ones. Furthermore, stacked UM covers the policy holder in case of an accident in another person’s vehicle, whether as a driver or passenger. Stacked UM can also be combined to increase the payout for injuries, damages, and/or losses sustained in an accident.
- UNSTACKED UM: Unstacked UM coverage is often purchased when a policy holder wants to add UM to one vehicle rather than several. Unstacked maxes-out at the limit you establish and purchase as stipulated in the policy. Unstacked UM insurance is also cheaper than stacked UM coverage as it doesn’t apply to vehicles not on the policy.
BODILY INJURY LIABILITY INSURANCE (BI)
While not mandated by Florida law, Bodily Injury (BI) insurance is advisable for those who can afford it. BI offers financial coverage to the policyholder in case they cause personal injury or wrongful death during an accident. This protection is essential because it may safeguard your assets if you’re at fault in an accident. If you’re a victim, your car accident lawyer will seek compensation from this insurance for your injuries, damages, or lost wages. BI also covers legal expenses if the policyholder faces further legal action due to an insurance claim. Thus, if you or a loved one is injured in a car accident and the at-fault driver has BI, you can claim compensation for medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses, or legal fees. Consequently, the at-fault driver won’t have to pay out of pocket for the victims’ injuries. BI is sometimes required for those leasing or financing a vehicle. BI is usually sold in two parts – maximum per person and total maximum, often represented as $100K/$300K or $10K/$20K. The first figure is the maximum payable per person, and the second is the total payout per accident. Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage operates similarly. For further details on BI coverage, reach out to an insurance provider or consult with the car accident attorneys at the Perazzo Law Firm for a free initial consultation.
UMBRELLA INSURANCE POLICY
An Umbrella Insurance Policy, though not widely known, offers extended liability coverage beyond your standard car or home insurance policy. This policy serves as a safety net, protecting the policyholder against high-value claims and lawsuits arising from accidents in Miami and Florida. If you are held legally liable for causing injuries, damages, or deaths, an umbrella policy could protect your assets from significant claims for compensation. The Perazzo Law Firm’s car accident attorneys in Miami understand that any accident resulting in personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death can put your assets at risk, making an umbrella insurance policy an invaluable layer of extra liability protection. Often chosen by individuals with considerable assets and savings, an umbrella policy can shield these assets from extreme liability claims. To qualify for an umbrella policy, most insurance companies require the policyholder to have at least $1 million in assets. The required coverage level depends on your net worth and your likelihood of participating in activities that could cause significant harm or death to others. Jonathan Perazzo recommends a $1 million umbrella policy, which might seem substantial, but could prove insufficient to fully compensate victims in the event of severe injury or wrongful death. For more information on Umbrella Insurance Policies and their benefits for both policyholders and injured parties, we recommend consulting with an insurance company representative or contacting the Miami or North Miami Beach offices of the Perazzo Law Firm for a free initial consultation online. An umbrella policy is named as such because it broadly covers various scenarios.
COLLISION COVERAGE
When a vehicle hits objects like trees or lampposts, resulting in damage such as a broken headlight, cracked windshield, or even total wreckage, collision insurance can cover the repair or replacement costs. If a vehicle loses control on the highway and collides with guardrails or cement dividers, this type of insurance can foot the bill for the resultant damages. It’s often a mandatory requirement for leased or financed vehicles until they are fully paid off. This insurance is particularly beneficial for owners of high-end cars frequently driven on Miami roads. However, it doesn’t cover theft, hit and run incidents, damage to other vehicles, weather-induced damages, or medical bills from the accident. The Perazzo Law Firm in Miami emphasizes that collision insurance has a coverage limit, typically based on the post-accident value of the vehicle, not its pre-accident market value. If you don’t carry collision coverage, the time to get back on the road may extend due to investigations by the other driver’s insurance company to determine fault, assess damages, and decide on potential compensation settlements. With collision coverage, your vehicle is insured regardless of who’s at fault, a benefit as liability can sometimes be shared in accidents. Collision coverage is the only policy that will cover your vehicle’s damages if you’re at fault. For more information, contact your insurance provider or call (786) LAWS-411 for a free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers. Having collision coverage can expedite the process, save valuable time, and prevent you from paying out of pocket while waiting for the other motorist’s insurance to cover your damages.
GUARANTEED AUTO PROTECTION INSURANCE (GAP)
GAP insurance is designed to cover the disparity between a vehicle’s current market value and the remaining loan or lease balance owed to the lender. This type of insurance is commonly chosen for new cars or commercial trucks, which depreciate rapidly at the outset. There are two main avenues to secure GAP insurance: one is through an insurance intermediary or broker under insurance industry regulation, and the other is via an unregulated waiver agreement from a financial institution or insurer. In Florida, the Perazzo Law Firm highlights the importance of this coverage, as other insurance policies like PIP or PD only pay out up to the vehicle’s fair market value, whereas GAP insurance covers the remaining owed amount. To learn more about GAP coverage and its protection for policyholders and third parties in Miami car accidents due to negligent driving, consult an insurance provider or reach out to our team of car accident lawyers at our North Miami Beach offices for a free initial consultation online.
COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE
Comprehensive insurance, while optional for vehicle owners in Miami, covers a wide array of non-collision incidents that could damage vehicles. These incidents may range from acts of vandalism due to personal disputes or social disorder, natural disasters like hurricanes or hailstorms, intentional collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, or animals, to vehicle theft, including all of its parts. Comprehensive coverage is usually expected for leased or financed vehicles until fully paid off. Thus, vehicle owners with comprehensive coverage are thoroughly protected against scenarios causing damage, not covered by collision or property insurance in Miami and Florida. The Perazzo Law Firm strongly suggests Comprehensive Insurance Coverage for vehicles with high monetary or sentimental value, like vintage cars. This coverage safeguards your vehicle against nearly everything not related to an owner-caused accident.
CAR RENTAL INSURANCE
Certain insurance providers offer supplementary coverage for rental cars in Miami and other popular Florida cities. The Perazzo Law Firm, based in North Miami Beach, suggests that policyholders consult with their Florida insurance providers before accepting the insurance offered by car rental companies. If you have an insurance claim involving a car accident in Miami with a rented vehicle, please contact us right away. Car rental insurance is particularly beneficial for those unfamiliar with Miami’s roads, highways, and neighborhoods.
MEDPAY
MedPay, short for Medical Payment Coverage, supplements your existing auto insurance policy. It’s designed to cover medical expenses stemming from injuries incurred in car accidents, irrespective of who’s at fault. MedPay is meant for the insured driver and any passengers hurt in the accident, not third-party victims. Typical coverage includes costs from collisions, roll-overs, and other severe incidents, with compensation ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on your policy.
Covered medical costs often include:
- Emergency room expenses
- Laboratory tests
- Imaging like X-rays, CT-scans, MRI’s
- Surgical procedures
- Medication
- Hospital stays
- Prosthetic limbs or implants
- Rehabilitation
However, MedPay isn’t a substitute for medical insurance. After a car accident involving a MedPay policy holder, law firms, such as the Miami-Dade based Perazzo Law Firm, collect the injured party’s medical bills. They then submit these to the relevant car insurance provider, aiming for the insurer to cover the victim’s medical treatment costs.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
PIP insurance is mandatory in Florida for vehicle owners and operators, as per the guidance from the Perazzo Law Firm. PIP covers the medical costs of the vehicle owner, policy listed individuals, same-household relatives, and potentially passengers if they don’t have their own coverage. The usual payout is up to $2,500, subject to deductibles and co-payments. However, in case of an emergency medical condition, you might be entitled to up to $10,000 for injuries and lost wages.
PIP is a complex facet of vehicle accident law, hence further details can be found on our website. Crucially, PIP pays out irrespective of who’s at fault for the accident. Post-accident, victims sign an assignment of benefits allowing doctors to bill insurance providers directly, although exceptions may permit personal injury victims to file their own PIP claim.
The reason for mandatory PIP is to ensure prompt payment of medical bills up to $10,000, common in most accidents, hence avoiding credit score issues and fear of treatment costs for victims. With PIP, you can receive treatment irrespective of fault or existing medical insurance. However, it’s advised to supplement PIP with other policies, like Uninsured Motorist coverage, for a comprehensive safeguard against severe personal injury or third-party wrongful death.
Property Damage (PD)
PD insurance caters for damages inflicted on another person’s property by the policyholder during a car accident. This could range from vehicle repairs, replacement parts to damage to physical structures like fences or gates. The amount PD insurance would cover in an incident where the policyholder causes property damage to another’s assets depends on several elements.
These can include the model and value of the vehicle at the time of purchase, its equity, the annual income of the policyholder, home equity, and more. To gain a deeper understanding of how much PD covers those injured in a car accident caused by the policyholder’s negligence, it is advised to consult an insurance provider. Alternatively, you can reach out to the Perazzo Law Firm staff online for a free initial consultation.
Proceeding with An Insurance Claim for Compensation
If you or a loved one experiences injury or loss due to a car accident, truck incident, motorcycle crash, or any motor vehicle-related mishap, it’s advisable to consult the Perazzo Law Firm. You’ll be able to understand your insurance and how it offers protection in case of personal injury, property damage, loss, or wrongful death. The Perazzo Law Firm offers superior service with zero upfront costs and accurate answers to all your queries.
The nature of your insurance coverage as a vehicle owner in Florida determines the level of protection. Comprehensive insurance typically covers all damage to the vehicle and its occupants. In contrast, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance provides coverage up to $10,000 for damages or injuries in a car or truck accident, irrespective of which vehicle they occur to.
Remember that under certain circumstances, such as vehicle theft due to negligence (e.g., leaving keys in an idling car), your insurer might not cover the damages. For detailed assistance and legal advice, reach out to the Perazzo Law Firm.
INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN FLORIDA?
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Striving to be the best car accident lawyer in Miami, Jonathan Perazzo, personal injury attorney and founder of the Perazzo Law Firm, understands that the moments after a car accident that leads to injury, can be daunting for car accident victims. That is why, it is fundamentally important to contact a trusted and dedicated Miami car accident lawyer following an accident.
Contact us ONLINE or CALL 888-PERAZZO now for a FREE CONSULTATION
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