Florida Auto Insurance

The personal injury protection clause in Florida automobile insurance is abused. Still, it's worth keeping, but reform is needed.

PIP, as the provision in policies is commonly known, provides up to $10,000 to cover medical costs, lost wages and death benefits for individuals injured in automotive accidents.

Auto insurance companies say letting PIP expire would allow them to sharply reduce premiums in Florida. However, PIP's demise would shift the burden of dealing with auto accident injuries onto hospital emergency rooms. And it's possible that health insurance companies, knowing they might end up having to cover injuries from car accidents, could start raising rates as well.

Tallahassee has talked a good game in terms of PIP reforms in the past, only to approve meek changes. The Legislature has to save PIP this year, but it must rescue it in a way that makes PIP worth saving.