Florida Personal Injury Protection Laws Could Leave Tourists Out in Cold

Most understand that if you were injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle, expenses related to your injuries should be covered by the driver's automobile insurance. Well, if you are a tourist in Florida who is hurt while outside of a vehicle (i.e. being struck as a pedestrian or bicyclist or after having fallen off a rented moped or scooter), you may be wrong.

In spite of the fact that Florida's sunny shores and myriad amusements draw in millions of visitors a year, its insurance laws are surprisingly anti-tourist. Florida statutes mandate that every licensed driver carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) with their automotive insurance policy. PIP coverage is designed to foot the bill for emergency medical care for people injured in a Tampa car accident.

Logically, the law should cover people injured in Florida car crashes regardless of where the injured person calls home. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Loopholes in the law allow the coverage to be circumvented if a non-resident is injured while walking, riding a bike or after having fallen off of/stepped out of a vehicle.

So, What Should an Injured Tourist Do?

Often times, tourists are not entirely left without coverage, as the injured individual may have his or her own health insurance that will cover some or all of the car accident-related medical expenses. This is, of course, quite unfair to the accident victim, especially with unexpected or emergency medical bills being so costly. A Tampa car accident that results in serious injury, or even death, can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Luckily for victims, though, PIP coverage is not the only legal remedy offered to someone injured in a Florida car accident. Victims may still have the opportunity to bring a legal action to recover damages and costs associated with auto accident injuries. If you or a loved one is a non-resident injured in a Florida automobile accident, speak with a skilled personal injury attorney to learn more about your legal rights and options.