Articles and Memos

• What Your Auto Insurance Should Do for You
  What you should expect from your insurance company following a traffic accident.

Florida has personal injury protection (PIP) insurance which is known as no-fault insurance. The Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law does two things: (1) it establishes a limited exemption from liability for injuries caused to others in an automobile accident and (2) it establishes personal injury protection (PIP) benefits to pay for certain losses resulting from an accident.

If you are a resident of Florida and own a motor vehicle, you are required to purchase PIP. You are covered by PIP if you are the named insured. You, the insured, are covered by PIP while driving your vehicle or when a passenger in another’s vehicle. You are also covered while outside a motor vehicle, injured by a motor vehicle. The limit for no-faulot personal injury protection (PIP) benefits is $10,000 per
person for loss sustained as a result of bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle. PIP pays 80 percent of all reasonable expenses for necessary medical care and treatment. Such benefits may also include remedial treatment and services recognized and permitted under the laws of the state for an injured person who relies upon spiritual means through prayer alone for healing in accordance with religious beliefs. Your insurance company also pays 60 percent of any loss of gross income or loss of earning capacity.

Your insurance contract may also have medical payments coverage. This medical payments coverage may also be applied to your medical bills either in total or to pay the 20 percent remaining from no-fault. Your insurance company must apportion claims between the PIP and medical payments coverage in a fashion to maximize your benefits.

Everyone who lives in Florida or who operates a motor vehicle here for over 90 days a year must have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. If you are entitled to receive similar benefits from a major medical or disability insurance policy, Medicare, military pension benefits, or other sources, you should
ask your auto insurance company about a policy which will provide a deduction to allow for such other payments. The rates on such a policy may be significantly cheaper than standard policy rates. Since most other insurance policies protect the company against double payments for the same expenses, you may not lose any benefits with the larger deductible. Keep in mind, however, that any of these other
sources may require repayment from any settlement with a party who causes injury to you. Check your coverage carefully and review your policy with legal counsel.

• Creed of Professionalism
  A promise to be made by all attorneys.

I revere the law, the judicial system, and the legal profession and will at all
times in my professional and private lives uphold the dignity and esteem of each.

I will further my profession s devotion to public service and to the public good.

I will strictly adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of my profession’s code of ethics, to the extent that the law permits and will at all times be guided by a fundamental sense of honor, integrity, and fair play.

I will not knowingly misstate, distort, or improperly exaggerate any fact or opinion and will not improperly permit my silence or inaction to mislead anyone.

I will conduct myself to assure the just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every action and resolution of every controversy.

I will abstain from all rude, disruptive, disrespectful, and abusive behavior and will at all times act with dignity, decency, and courtesy.

I will respect the time and commitments of others.

I will be diligent and punctual in communicating with others and in fulfilling commitments.

I will exercise independent judgment and will not be governed by a client’s ill will or deceit.

My word is my bond.