Many car accidents in Florida are handled through no-fault insurance. When a crash causes a serious or permanent injury, though, the claim can move beyond PIP and into a claim against the at-fault driver, an employer, a rideshare policy, or your own uninsured motorist coverage. Gross Law Group represents people seriously hurt in car crashes in Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Pace, Milton, and throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Our Pensacola office is at 21 East Garden Street downtown. The first consultation is free. Call (850) 331-7775 or contact us online.
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Key Takeaways About Pensacola Car Accident Claims
- Florida PIP covers up to $10,000 in benefits, and most Florida drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability insurance.
- A claim for pain and suffering against the at-fault driver requires a permanent or otherwise serious injury under Florida law.
- Crashes involving company vehicles, rideshare drivers, or commercial trucks often have more insurance available.
- Florida generally allows two years to file, and a person more than 50 percent at fault cannot recover.
- Fee terms are set out in a written agreement.
Car Crashes on Pensacola-Area Roads
Pensacola drivers share the road with interstate traffic on I-10, commuters on I-110, and beach traffic on U.S. 98 across the Pensacola Bay Bridge to Gulf Breeze, the gateway to Pensacola Beach. Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29), Davis Highway, and Nine Mile Road carry heavy local traffic, and the summer season adds visitors who may be unfamiliar with local roads. We handle crash claims on these roads and on local streets throughout the area.
How Florida No-Fault Insurance Affects Your Claim
Florida requires vehicle owners to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability, but most drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability coverage (FLHSMV). PIP generally pays 80 percent of reasonable, medically necessary medical expenses if you receive initial treatment within 14 days; the full $10,000 is available for medical care only if a qualifying provider determines you had an emergency medical condition, and medical benefits are limited to $2,500 if a provider determines you did not (Fla. Stat. 627.736). To claim pain and suffering against an at-fault driver, the injury must involve significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, a permanent injury, significant permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death (Fla. Stat. 627.737(2)).
For people with serious injuries, PIP is usually only the starting point. The case often depends on what other coverage exists and whether the injury meets Florida's threshold.
Finding Available Insurance Coverage
Part of our job is to identify all coverage that may apply. Depending on the crash, that can include:
- The at-fault driver's bodily injury liability policy, if the driver has one
- Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM) coverage
- An employer's commercial auto policy, when the at-fault driver was working at the time
- Rideshare coverage. Florida requires at least $1 million in primary liability coverage, which the driver, the rideshare company, or both may provide, from the moment a driver accepts a ride until the passenger gets out. When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, the minimum drops to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident (Fla. Stat. 627.748(7)).
- Commercial trucking coverage when a truck was involved (see our Pensacola truck accident page)
- Other parties whose conduct contributed, such as a business that willfully and unlawfully served alcohol to an underage driver, in the narrow circumstances Florida law allows (Fla. Stat. 768.125)
Florida Law After HB 837
Under the 2023 changes to Florida law (HB 837), most negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023 must be filed within two years (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a)), and wrongful death claims also carry a two-year deadline (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(e)). Florida now uses modified comparative fault: in most negligence cases (medical negligence claims are an exception), a person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own injury cannot recover damages, and a lower share of fault reduces the recovery (Fla. Stat. 768.81(6)).
HB 837 also changed how medical bills are proven. Evidence of medical bills that have already been paid is now limited to the amount actually paid; evidence of unpaid bills generally includes what the injured person's health coverage would pay (or, for people without private coverage, an amount tied to Medicare or Medicaid rates); and treatment under a letter of protection must be disclosed (Fla. Stat. 768.0427). That makes careful documentation of current and future care more important than ever.
What We Do After You Call
- Obtain the crash report and identify witnesses, cameras, and vehicle data that may help show what happened
- Notify insurers and handle communications so you are not pressured into a quick release
- Coordinate with your doctors to document the full extent of your injuries and future care
- Calculate lost income, medical expenses, and the effects on your daily life
- Negotiate with insurers and, if a fair resolution is not offered, file suit in the First Judicial Circuit
If your injuries are life-altering, our catastrophic injury practice works with medical and economic professionals to document long-term needs.
Talk With a Pensacola Car Accident Lawyer
Call Gross Law Group at (850) 331-7775 or send us a message to discuss your crash. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee: No Recovery, No Fee. The first consultation is free.
Learn more about our Pensacola personal injury practice, or our Panama City car accident practice if your crash happened in Bay County.
Gross Law Group, P.A. – Pensacola Office
21 East Garden Street, Suite 208
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: (850) 331-7775
Pensacola Car Accident FAQs
Will my own PIP coverage pay my medical bills?
Florida PIP generally pays 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000, regardless of fault, if you receive initial treatment within 14 days. Medical benefits are limited to $2,500 if a qualifying provider determines that you did not have an emergency medical condition; the full $10,000 requires a determination that you did. Serious injuries often cost far more, which is why we look for other sources of coverage.
Can I sue the other driver for pain and suffering?
Under Fla. Stat. 627.737, you can claim pain and suffering against the at-fault driver if the injury involves significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death.
What if the driver who hit me has no bodily injury insurance?
Florida does not require most drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply if you have it, along with any other party who shares responsibility. We review your policies and the facts to find available coverage.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Florida?
For most negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023, the deadline is two years under Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a). Some claims, such as claims against government entities, have different deadlines and written notice requirements, so please call promptly.
How much does it cost to hire Gross Law Group?
See fee terms in your written agreement. The first consultation is free.