Are Tourists Covered by PIP Insurance in Florida Car Accidents?

When people think about visiting Florida, they usually picture sunny beaches, thrilling theme parks, and unforgettable road trips. Very few tourists ever imagine they might get into a car accident during their trip. However, accidents happen, and when they do, things can get complicated fast, especially when it comes to insurance. One question that often comes up is whether tourists are covered by Florida’s Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, insurance system.

Understanding PIP Insurance in Florida

Before we can answer the big question, it helps to understand what PIP insurance is and why Florida requires it. Florida is one of a handful of states that follow a no-fault insurance model. Under this system, every driver must carry their own insurance that covers their medical bills and lost wages, no matter who caused the accident. This insurance is called Personal Injury Protection, or PIP.

In Florida, drivers must have at least $10,000 in PIP coverage. After an accident, your PIP policy pays for 80 percent of your medical expenses and 60 percent of lost wages, up to that $10,000 limit. It is designed to speed up the claims process and prevent lawsuits over minor injuries.

Does PIP Insurance Cover Tourists?

Now comes the big question. If you are a tourist driving around Florida and you get into a car accident, does PIP insurance cover you? The answer depends on a few factors, mainly whether you are driving your own car, renting a vehicle, or riding as a passenger.

Tourists Driving Their Own Vehicle

If you are visiting Florida and you brought your own car from your home state, your own auto insurance policy will usually apply first. If your home state has PIP coverage, your policy might extend to your travels in Florida. However, if you are from a state that does not require PIP or no-fault insurance, things get trickier. In that case, you may not have PIP coverage at all, and you would rely on the at-fault driver’s insurance or your own health insurance to cover medical bills.

Many out-of-state insurance policies automatically adjust to meet Florida’s minimum coverage requirements while you are visiting. But that does not always mean you have PIP benefits identical to those of a Florida resident. You should double-check with your insurer before you travel.

Tourists Renting a Car in Florida

If you rent a car during your Florida vacation, you might be offered insurance options at the rental counter. Basic rental agreements usually come with some minimal insurance coverage, but that coverage might not include PIP. In most cases, unless you specifically purchase supplemental insurance that includes PIP or medical payments coverage, you will not have automatic PIP protection through the rental company.

That means if you are injured in an accident while driving a rental car, you may have to use your personal auto insurance policy, your travel insurance if it includes medical coverage, or your personal health insurance to cover your medical expenses.

Tourists Riding as Passengers

If you are riding as a passenger in someone else’s car and an accident occurs, the situation changes again. In Florida, if you have your own auto insurance policy that includes PIP, even if your car is back home in another state, your own PIP would apply first. If you do not have any auto insurance, the driver’s PIP insurance should cover your injuries up to the policy limits.

However, if the driver does not have PIP or their coverage is not enough to cover your medical expenses, you may need to pursue compensation through other means, like filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

Florida’s PIP Laws and Out-of-State Visitors

Florida law primarily focuses on Florida residents when it comes to requiring PIP insurance. Tourists are not mandated by law to purchase PIP coverage while visiting. However, once they are involved in an accident on Florida roads, the state’s no-fault rules still apply. That means, ideally, everyone turns to their own insurance first for medical care and wage reimbursement, whether they live in Florida or not.

What Happens If a Tourist Does Not Have Insurance?

If a tourist is uninsured and gets into a car accident in Florida, things can get messy quickly. Without any PIP coverage to fall back on, you will need to rely on your health insurance to cover your medical bills. If you do not have health insurance, you may be responsible for paying out of pocket.

In situations where another driver caused the accident, you can pursue a claim against that driver’s bodily injury liability insurance, if they carry it. Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance, though many do, especially those who rent vehicles commercially or drive professionally.

Seek Legal Guidance

Tourists in Florida can be covered by PIP insurance under the right circumstances, but it is not guaranteed. Whether you are driving your own car, renting a vehicle, or catching a ride with friends, your coverage situation will depend heavily on the details of your existing insurance policies and the specific facts of the accident.

Traveling should be about making memories, not worrying about car crashes. However, being informed about how insurance works with laws in Florida can make a huge difference if the unexpected happens. Call Linton Robinson & Higgins, LLP at our New York City office at 332-241-9036 or our Miami office at 786-882-7316 to schedule a free consultation with our team.