Florida accident guide

Florida's 14 day PIP rule: what happens if you wait to see a doctor

Written by Dolina Lascaze, Esq., a former prosecutor with about 19 years on the insurance and defense side. Updated October 5, 2026.

Key takeaways

PIP is no fault coverage on your own policy, and it generally pays regardless of who caused the crash.
Initial treatment must generally begin within 14 days of the accident.
Benefits are generally up to $10,000, or $2,500 if no emergency medical condition is found.
PIP pays 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses and 60 percent of lost income.
PIP does not pay pain and suffering. That is a separate claim with its own threshold.

The short answer: see a provider within 14 days

Under Florida's no fault system, you generally must begin initial medical services and care within 14 days of a car accident to receive Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits (Florida Statutes 627.736). If you wait longer, the insurer may deny your medical bills. The rule applies even when you feel only sore, and even when you were told at the scene that you looked fine.

I spent about 19 years on the insurance and defense side, and the 14 day rule is one of the most common reasons I saw injured people lose coverage they were otherwise entitled to. It is a simple rule and an unforgiving one. This guide explains what PIP is, what it pays, how the deadline works, what happens if you miss it, and what to do next. It is general information, not advice for your specific case.

If you were hurt and want to talk it through, our Florida car accident lawyer team offers a free consultation.

What PIP is

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is the no fault insurance that Florida requires drivers to carry. Florida drivers must generally carry $10,000 in PIP coverage and $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. PIP pays your own medical bills and part of your lost income after a crash, no matter who caused it.

The point of no fault coverage is speed. Instead of waiting to prove who caused the crash, you turn to your own policy first. That is why it matters so much that you open the claim promptly and follow the policy and statute requirements.

What PIP generally pays

80 percent of reasonable medical expenses
60 percent of lost income
Up to $10,000 in total, if a physician, dentist, physician assistant or advanced practice nurse determines you had an emergency medical condition
Up to $2,500 if there is no emergency medical condition determination

The details and exceptions are in Florida Statutes 627.736. PIP applies to many injured people, including some pedestrians and passengers, depending on their own policies and household.

Why the emergency medical condition finding matters

The difference between $10,000 and $2,500 can be large. A qualified provider has to determine whether you had an emergency medical condition. That is a medical judgment, and it should be based on a real examination and your real symptoms. If you are seen late, or only by a provider who is not authorized to make that determination, you may be limited to the lower amount.

The 80 and 60 percent rule

PIP does not pay every dollar. It generally pays 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses, so you may owe the remainder, and it pays 60 percent of lost income. Health insurance, medical payments coverage, or a later claim against an at fault driver may help with what PIP does not cover.

The 14 day rule

To receive PIP benefits, you generally must begin initial services and care within 14 days of the accident. If you wait longer, the insurer may deny your medical bills.

Many people lose benefits because they were told they were fine at the scene, felt sore but waited, or did not realize the rule existed. If you were hurt in a crash anywhere in Florida, see a doctor or go to an urgent care or emergency room promptly.

Count the days from the date of the accident. The safest approach is to be examined as soon as you notice any symptom, and certainly well before day 14.

What counts as initial treatment

Generally, a first visit with a qualified provider where you describe your symptoms and receive services or care. An emergency room visit, an urgent care visit, or a visit to a primary care physician or other qualified provider can be the starting point. Which providers qualify and what counts as initial services is addressed in the statute, so check with your insurer or a lawyer if you are unsure.

What if you waited longer than 14 days

Do not assume nothing can be done. You may still have other sources of recovery, such as health insurance, medical payments coverage, or a claim against the at fault driver, subject to Florida's injury threshold (Florida Statutes 627.737). A lawyer can review your timeline, your records and your policies. Even so, missing the deadline makes the claim harder, which is why speed matters.

What PIP does not do

PIP does not pay for pain and suffering. It also does not cover everything. Once PIP is used up, additional medical costs may be recoverable from the at fault driver, but only through a separate claim, and pain and suffering generally requires meeting Florida's injury threshold (Florida Statutes 627.737).

Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also apply if the at fault driver has no insurance or too little (Florida Statutes 627.727). Our guide to being hit by an uninsured driver in Florida explains how those coverages fit together.

Property damage is separate

PIP is for injuries. Your vehicle damage is handled through property damage liability coverage or your own collision coverage, not PIP.

How insurers handle PIP claims

Insurance adjusters typically look at the date of the accident, the date of the first treatment, the provider who treated you, and whether the records and bills line up with the claimed injuries. They may also ask for statements, forms and records. Delays in returning paperwork can slow payment.

They compare the first treatment date to the accident date.
They review whether bills are reasonable and related to the crash.
They may request an independent medical examination or a records review.
They track treatment gaps and may argue that treatment stopped being necessary.

Answer questions truthfully and keep copies of everything you send. If a claim is denied, ask for the reason in writing. A denial is not always the end, and a lawyer can review whether it was correct.

PIP is still the law in Florida

Bills to repeal PIP have been introduced in the Legislature in recent years, but PIP remains in effect. Check the current statute or speak with a lawyer if you are unsure.

Because the rules can change, rely on the current statute and your actual policy rather than something a friend or an old article remembers. The 2026 text of the PIP statute is the controlling source.

Common myths about PIP

Myth: PIP only applies if I was not at fault. Fact: PIP generally pays regardless of who caused the crash.
Myth: I have plenty of time because I feel okay. Fact: the 14 day clock starts at the accident, not when pain gets worse.
Myth: PIP pays 100 percent. Fact: it generally pays 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses and 60 percent of lost income.
Myth: PIP covers pain and suffering. Fact: it does not.
Myth: if the other driver was at fault, I do not need to use my own PIP. Fact: your own PIP generally pays first in Florida.

A step by step checklist

Get medical care within 14 days, and sooner if you can. Describe every symptom.
Notify your own insurer promptly and open the PIP claim.
Keep every bill, record and receipt, and note missed work.
Return PIP forms and requests on time, and keep copies.
Follow your treatment plan and attend appointments.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before getting advice. See our guide on recorded statements in Florida.
Ask a lawyer to review your coverage if the claim is delayed, denied or limited.

Injured people in Miami Gardens, Tamarac, Port St. Lucie, Riviera Beach, Orlando and elsewhere face the same rule. For common injuries that show up late, such as neck pain, see our guide to whiplash after a Florida car accident.

When to call a lawyer

Call a lawyer if your PIP claim is denied, if the insurer says you missed the deadline, if you were told you only qualify for the lower limit, if you have ongoing treatment or lost work, or if another driver was at fault and you may have a claim beyond PIP. A Florida personal injury lawyer can review the timeline and your policies. If you are near Aventura, North Miami or Miami Gardens, you may be looking for a Miami Gardens accident lawyer. If you are on the Treasure Coast, a Port St. Lucie accident lawyer can help. Our guide on what a car accident lawyer costs in Florida explains fees.

How Lascaze Law helps

Lascaze Law offers a free consultation to injured people across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the rest of Florida. You speak directly with the attorney, Dolina Lascaze, a former prosecutor with about 19 years on the insurance and defense side and trial experience. Our only office is in Aventura, but clients anywhere in Florida can complete intake by video and sign digitally. We cannot promise a result, but we can explain your PIP rights and deadlines clearly. Call (305) 473-7858.

Whether you are looking for an Ocala accident lawyer, an Apopka accident lawyer or a Gainesville accident lawyer, Florida's rules are the same statewide, and Lascaze Law offers a free consultation to injured people in all of these areas.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 14 day rule for PIP in Florida?

To receive PIP benefits, you generally must begin initial services and care within 14 days of the accident (Florida Statutes 627.736). If you wait longer, the insurer may deny your medical bills. The rule exists even if you feel only mildly sore, so the safest approach is to be examined promptly after any crash.

How much does PIP pay in Florida?

PIP generally pays 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses and 60 percent of lost income, up to $10,000 if a physician, dentist, physician assistant or advanced practice nurse determines you had an emergency medical condition, and up to $2,500 if not (Florida Statutes 627.736). Your own policy and the statute control the details.

Does PIP pay no matter who caused the accident?

Generally yes. PIP is no fault coverage on your own policy, so it can pay your medical bills and part of your lost income regardless of who caused the crash. It does not pay pain and suffering. A separate claim against an at fault driver may be possible if you meet Florida's injury threshold (Florida Statutes 627.737).

What if I did not see a doctor within 14 days?

You may lose PIP benefits, because the insurer can deny bills when initial treatment started after the deadline. You might still have other sources of recovery, such as health insurance or a claim against an at fault driver. A lawyer can review your timeline and policies and explain what options remain.

Does PIP cover pain and suffering?

No. PIP covers part of medical expenses and lost income. Pain and suffering from an at fault driver generally requires meeting Florida's injury threshold, such as a permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability (Florida Statutes 627.737). Your own uninsured motorist coverage may also matter if the other driver had too little insurance (Florida Statutes 627.727).

Is PIP still required in Florida?

Yes. Bills to repeal PIP have been introduced in recent years, but PIP remains in effect. Florida drivers must generally carry $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. Because laws can change, check the current statute (Florida Statutes 627.736) or ask a lawyer if you are unsure.

Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?

You can exchange basic information, but be careful with recorded statements, especially before you understand your injuries. Your own PIP claim goes through your own insurer. If the other driver's insurer calls, you can decline to give a statement until you have gotten advice.

How do I get a free consultation with Lascaze Law?

Call (305) 473-7858. You will speak with the attorney directly. We help people anywhere in Florida through remote intake by video and digital signing, and our only office is in Aventura. The consultation is free, and we can explain your PIP deadlines and options.

Florida statutes referenced

About the author

Dolina Lascaze, Esq. is the founding and managing attorney of Lascaze Law in Aventura. She began her career as a prosecutor, spent about 19 years on the insurance and defense side, including trial work and senior leadership at a major insurance company, and now represents injured people across Florida. She has tried more than 40 criminal and more than 30 civil cases. Because she has seen how claims are evaluated from the inside, she can explain what insurers look for and how to protect your claim from the start. Read more.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, laws change, and nothing here guarantees or predicts the outcome of any case.

Where Lascaze Law helps

Our only office is in Aventura. We represent injured people in these areas and across Florida: