Florida’s no-fault system means your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays first for crash-related care and a portion of wage loss, regardless of who caused the collision. By statute, PIP generally covers 80% of reasonable, necessary medical expenses and 60% of lost wages, up to $10,000 in combined benefits, plus a $5,000 death benefit. The statute also bars carriers from forcing you to buy extra coverages just to receive PIP.
These rules live in Fla. Stat. §627.736, which controls eligibility, billing, and timing. For injured drivers and passengers in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, these immediate benefits keep treatment moving while liability is investigated. If you were hurt in a rideshare, as a pedestrian, or as a passenger in someone else’s car, PIP priority rules and policy language determine which policy responds first, but the same statutory standards apply.
For clear, statute-grounded help from top-rated North Miami car accident lawyers, start a free case review with Buchalter Hoffman Dorchak & Lissa.
The 14-Day Rule and the EMC
Two rules drive your early decisions.
First, you must seek medical care within 14 days of the crash or PIP can deny benefits entirely; care can be with an ER, MD/DO, dentist, or chiropractor, among other providers recognized by law. Second, to access the full $10,000, a qualified provider must determine you have an Emergency Medical Condition (EMC); without an EMC, your medical benefits are capped at $2,500.
EMC is an acute condition whose lack of immediate treatment could cause serious jeopardy to health, serious impairment of bodily functions, or serious organ dysfunction. Many injuries—concussions, cervical sprain/strain, lumbar disc injuries, internal injuries—are documented over days or weeks; prompt visits, clear symptom logs, and compliant billing codes help preserve wage loss (paid at 60%) and prevent “reasonableness” disputes over therapy frequency or imaging.
If your bills exceed $10,000 or your wage loss continues, PIP remains the starting point while your claim is evaluated for liability, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, and other sources of recovery. Recent explainers remain consistent about these mechanics: 80% medical, 60% wages, $10,000 policy limit, 14-day treatment requirement, EMC for full access.
Exceeding No-Fault
No-fault does not eliminate accountability for serious harm. Florida limits non-economic damages (pain, suffering, inconvenience) unless injuries meet the permanent-injury threshold in § 627.737: (a) significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function; (b) permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability; (c) significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement; or (d) death. When that threshold is supported by medical proof, you may pursue the at-fault driver (and insurer) for the full measure of damages beyond PIP, including future care, loss of earning capacity, and non-economic losses.
Timing matters. For negligence claims accruing on or after March 24, 2023, Florida applies a two-year statute of limitations (§ 95.11(4)(a)). That shortened period makes early preservation decisive: secure photos from the scene, request nearby camera footage, download EDR data before it’s overwritten, and document every provider visit. While PIP funds early care at 80% medical / 60% wages (up to $10,000), a documented EMC (§ 627.732) often becomes the backbone of a liability or UM/UIM claim once the § 627.737 threshold is met.
Proof wins cases in South Florida. The strongest presentations align compliant PIP records (timely first visit, EMC in the chart) with liability evidence so negotiations focus on impairment, function, and future cost—not paperwork defects. Our South Florida car accident lawyers use physician opinions, therapy progress, and diagnostic findings to connect symptoms to crash forces and to quantify future needs credibly.
Your Next Steps with Miami, FL Car Accident Attorneys
Your next steps matter more than rehashing insurance rules, so let’s move your case forward with a plan tailored to your injuries, work demands, and family needs. Our Miami car accident attorney offers case reviews, bilingual support, and coordinated appointments so treatment and claims tasks run in parallel without wasted time. We manage insurer communications, assemble a persuasive demand package, and prepare litigation from the start so negotiations happen on your terms.If you want an experienced car accident lawyer that handles matters right away, we’re ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a focused consultation.