(LegalLaw247.comjury attorney Maria Gerber is writing a letter to Governor Rick Scott, encouraging him to veto the legislative reforms limiting personal injury protection (PIP) benefits for an injured. She is urging Floridians to join her in doing the same. Such reforms were recently passed by the Florida Legislature in effort to reduce fraudulent claims. According to Gerber, these reforms, although aimed at fraudulent claims, will make it more difficult for truly injured people to get the medical care they need. She asserts, that Floridians should demand that Tallahassee politicians protect the rights of the injured citizens before Governor Scott signs off on the legislation.
Lobbyists for the insurance companies leaned heavily on lawmakers to enact these changes, which they claim will help reduce runaway fraud. The changes demand that a person injured in an accident must seek medical attention for his or her injuries by an emergency room, within 14 days of the accident, or the injury will not be covered. Also, injured victims diagnosed with soft tissue injuries will only receive up to, $2,500 in medical coverage toward their medical care/treatment. Previously, one with such injuries would have been entitled to the full $10,000 in personal injury protection.
I am writing a letter to Governor Scott today advising him that we will not tolerate these so-called reforms in Florida, and I hope other citizens mobilize and follow suit, Gerber said. The insurance companies exaggerated an elaborate tale of fraudulent schemes, and our esteemed legislators bought the story hook, line and sinker. These limitations they call reforms will cause people to go without the care they desperately need. Taxpayers should be appalled and must immediately make their voices heard, Gerber urged.
The PIP legislation was adopted in 1972 to ensure that victims of auto accidents would quickly get money they needed to treat their injuries. The legislation provided that a drivers insurance company would pay up to $10,000 toward medical bills and/or lost wages incurred after an accident. Now, an injured person may not have the use of $10,000 coverage due to stringent requirements placed on the accident victim. Instead, and in most cases, one will receive no coverage or be limited to $2,500.00 in medical care. More, acupuncture and massage therapy, treatments which have long been held effective for accident victims, are no longer covered by PIP.
In return for the recent reforms, the state sought a guaranteed reduction of 25 percent on PIP premiums from the insurance companies. In the end, lawmakers agreed to only a 10 percent premium reduction. However, an insurance company, if it refuses to lower its premiums, despite the reforms, need only write a letter enunciating its reasons for not doing such. Therefore, because lower premiums are not strictly required by the new legislation, Gerber notes sadly, she is not expecting premium reductions for Floridians. Instead, she suggests we can expect the same or higher premiums and less protection/coverage from our insurance companies.
About The Gerber Law Group, P.A.
Visit Gerbers website at http://www.gerberlawgroup.com for more information on the issue. The Gerber Law Group, P.A. has worked with thousands of clients to ensure that accident victims receive the guidance and help needed after a traumatic injury. Gerber and staff provide each client with personal attention and advocate the rights of injured people against insurance companies. The Gerber Law Group, P.A. never represents insurance companies. Gerber, a native Floridian, is vocal on issues that affect the state and its residents, particularly on issues related to helping the injured obtain justice and counsel.
For more information, contact Maria Gerber at (866)233-4529 or through the contact form found here: http://www.gerberlawgroup.com/contact.
Gerber Law Group, P.A.
Cheney Winslow
800.221.8424
winslow@attorneysonlineinc.com
Source: EmailWire.Com
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