Are proposed PIP changes good for Floridians? Gainesville and Ocala auto accident attorney speaks up.

The proposed PIP insurance bill is questionable in many areas involving practicality and intent. 

One troubling part concerns receiving payment for medical expenses.  The proposed bill places numerous burdensome requirements upon the doctors and injured policyholders before their medical bills will even begin to be considered for payment.  For example, one part of the bill would require doctors to go through a laborious deposition-like examining under oath before receiving payment for treatment.

Such an unnecessary and time-wasting requirement will cause doctors to become unwilling to accept PIP insurance as a method of payment because it would be such a pain and hassle to collect. 

Supporters of the bill claim that this requirement is a necessary means for controlling auto fraud.  That is simply not true. In fact, there are already tools, laws, in place to "fix" the system and enforce the laws.   What's true is that the passing of this bill would lead to Florida drivers having fewer options when selecting a doctor under PIP coverage. 

The Florida Legislature should pass a law that cracks down on auto fraud or enforce laws that already exist for PIP fraud.  They should not do so, however, under the umbrella of PIP coverage, especially when there are such negative impacts on the rest of us in Florida.

With the economy shrinking, less and less have health insurance.  Without PIP insurance, the rest of us will end up paying the bill for emergency care after an accident of an uninsured motorist.

Who benefits from passing such legislation?  The insurance companies benefit. Insurance companies' goals are to raise premiums and pay out less.  No Florida insurance companies are going broke selling PIP insurance.  They are thriving, making money, and just want to make more money.

As a Gainesville and Ocala auto accident attorney, I encourage the Florida legislature to turn these proposed changes to PIP down - they are not good for us Floridians!