Car accidents are very common particularly here in South Florida, where there are many cars and people who have to use a car to get to most locations. Further, many people do not have health insurance.
The short answer to the question is that generally in a motor vehicle accident your medical bills should get paid through your personal injury protection (PIP). PIP is an insurance coverage that is required on most all vehicles in Florida and an insurance that pays regardless of who is at fault.
Under the Florida Motor vehicle act, generally all cars (there are certain exemptions…buses, taxi cabs, etc.) titled in Florida must have certain minimum insurance coverage. One coverage that is required PIP. PIP pays for your medical bills and wages when you are in a car accident. It pays 80 percent of medical bills and 60 percent of wages up to a total of $10,000.00. PIP generally pays the medical bills of the insured (the person who owns the car) for any car accident they are in, whether in their car, another car, or even if they are hit by a car as a pedestrian or on a bicycle. Furthermore, PIP pays for any resident relative’s medical bills (assuming the resident relative does not own a car) for an accident, whether in the relative’s car, another car, or even if they are hit by a car as a pedestrian or on a bicycle. Lastly, PIP pays for any passengers in the car when there is an accident and pays for any pedestrians/bicycle that were hit by the car, if that person does not own a car or live with a relative that owns a car.
