Of the nearly 1,800 bills introduced in the Florida House and Senate during the 2018 legislative session, fewer than 200 survived both houses and were sent to Governor Rick Scott. Several of the bills posed to become law may impact people who are involved in a personal injury lawsuit, whether a workersโ compensation claim or an injury-producing auto accident.
Floridaโs New Flood Insurance and Workersโ Compensation Regulations
Although Floridaโs first respondersโincluding police officers, firefighters, and EMTsโare often first on the scene to witness tragic, traumatic events, their workersโ compensation policies donโt cover job-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under a new law, first responders who are dealing with mental or emotional injuries caused by their working environment may be eligible for expanded workersโ comp benefits.
Floridaโs insurance companies are now required to give big, bold disclaimers to their customers who purchase hurricane insurance beginning in 2018. As many Florida residents learned after Irma, hurricane insurance can cover damage caused by hurricane-force winds but wonโt cover the resulting flooding. All hurricane insurance policies now require a statement, in at least 18-point bolded font, that their insurance coverage does not include flood damage and that flood insurance must be purchased separately.
Attempt to Repeal Floridaโs No-Fault Insurance Laws
Florida is one of just a handful of states with a no-fault auto insurance framework. This system, which essentially requires all drivers to carry the risk (and their insurers the cost) of their own repairs in an accident, is designed to make auto insurance prices more standard across-the-board.
However, some drivers point to higher-than-average premiums for Florida drivers and argue that the state law requiring drivers to carry $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is too strict. Although bills to repeal Floridaโs no-fault insurance laws were introduced in both the House and the Senate, they drew steep opposition from some lobbying groups and ultimately didnโt have enough traction to succeed.
This doesnโt mean the idea of eliminating no-fault insurance is dead in the water. Itโs likely that the next legislative session may bring another push toward an at-fault insurance model or other attempts to reduce auto insurance premiums (or loosen mandated coverages) for Florida residents.
If you or a loved one are facing an insurance claim of your own, or are otherwise dealing with the impact of someone elseโs negligence, itโs important to get legal advice before you make any binding decisions. Call Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick, P.A. atย (954) 905-4600ย or fill out theย free case evaluationย form on our website today to learn more about your options.