Will Florida Repeal “No-Fault” Laws for Car Accidents?
The Florida Legislature is moving to repeal its 50-year-old motor vehicle no-fault law, a major shift for drivers. Senate Bill 54 and House Bill 719 are advancing, with debates around how the change will affect insurance rates and accident claims.
Currently, if you’re injured in a Tampa auto accident, you use personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to cover your medical bills, regardless of fault. If this new legislation becomes law, Florida will transition to an “at-fault” system, meaning you’ll need to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Key Changes for Florida Drivers
- Bodily Injury Coverage Becomes Mandatory
With PIP insurance eliminated, drivers will now be required to carry bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. This coverage ensures that at-fault drivers’ insurance will compensate victims. - MedPay Coverage Available Without Deductibles
Insurers may offer medical payment coverage (MedPay), which pays medical expenses regardless of fault. Unlike PIP, MedPay won’t limit claims for pain and suffering, but it also won’t provide as broad protection.
What If You’re in an Accident Before the Law Changes?
The new fault-based system would take effect on January 1, 2022, and the no-fault rules will still apply to accidents that happen before that date.
Navigating these changes can be tricky. If you’ve been involved in an accident or need advice about insurance claims in Tampa, contact The Black Law Company at 813-321-7380 to discuss your options.
This post was written by Okoye Morgan Jr., a lawyer with extensive knowledge as a car accident attorney East Tampa FL. Okoye is one of the founding partners of The Black Law Company, specializing in personal injury law, trust and estate law, civil litigation law, and criminal defense.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
