Florida is one of about a dozen states in the U.S. that follow no-fault insurance laws and mandate drivers carry PIP insurance if they want to register their vehicle. A few, like Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, give drivers the option to opt out of the no-fault system and get normal bodily injury liability insurance.

Florida is also the fourth most expensive state for auto insurance, costing the average Florida driver around $1,426 monthly in contrast to the nationwide average of $1,057. This may surprise drivers since most PIP policies only provide a paltry amount of coverage and inevitably force victims of auto accidents to pay something out of pocket.

PIP insurance’s limit of $10,000 was introduced nearly 50 years ago in 1979 and hasn’t changed despite inflation and rising costs. In 1979, you could have bought a house for $15,000. Adjusted for inflation, $10,000 in 1979 dollars is equivalent to roughly $45,000 in 2024 dollars, and yet the PIP limit remains the same.

The goal of the no-fault system was to provide victims with an efficient means of receiving compensation with minimal conflict while reducing the volume of civil torts pursued annually – but that’s seldom the end result.

More often than not, no-fault insurance tends to benefit the at-fault drivers. It allows them to avoid litigation and consequences for their negligent behavior while the victims are left to cover their own damages, paying increased insurance premiums in addition to out-of-pocket treatment costs.

The good news for drivers in Boca Raton is the $10,000 PIP is just the mandatory minimum for auto insurance in Florida, meaning you can still add other types of coverage, including your comprehensive auto insurance, collision coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and liability coverage.

Liability coverage, in particular, can be crucial for protecting yourself from lawsuits if you cause a crash that results in serious injuries.

At Kanner & Pintaluga, the auto accident attorneys at our Boca Raton office will help you file a claim against the at-fault driver if your medical costs exceed your PIP coverage limits or you’ve suffered serious, debilitating or disfiguring injuries.

Your ability to sue tends to be a fickle variable that depends on the specifics of your case. That said, you can usually sue the other driver if:

• • You’ve suffered severe injuries or your property has been significantly damaged
• • Your PIP coverage isn’t sufficient to cover your damages

You may not be able to sue the other driver if:

• • Your injuries or damages can be adequately covered by your PIP coverage
• • You’re more than 50 percent at fault for the accident
• • More than four years have passed since the accident occurred