Bodily Injury Liability (BIL)
Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) coverage pays for serious and permanent injury or death caused to others as a result of a car accident that was your fault or the fault of another family member who is covered by the policy.
Serious bodily injury is defined under Florida law as any injury that results in serious disfigurement, a substantial risk of death, or loss or impairment to any body part or organ, whether permanent or temporary.
If you have unlawfully been denied bodily injury liability insurance or have a genuine bodily injury liability claim, but your claim was denied in bad faith by the other’s driver’s auto insurance company, it is important to hire an experienced car insurance lawyer in Tampa.
Tampa Bodily Injury Liability Lawyer
Contact Germain Law Group, P.A. at (813) 835-8888 or submit an online form to schedule a consultation about your automobile insurance claim in Tampa, Florida.
Attorney Michael B. Germain uses his knowledge and skill to ensure his clients are properly compensated following an automobile insurance claim, including bodily injury liability (BIL), personal injury protection (PIP), and uninsured motorist (UM) claims.
Call the Germain Law Group today about your auto insurance claim or claim denial throughout the areas in Central Florida, including Tampa, Temple Terrace, Sun City Center, Plant City, Hunters Green, Clair-Mel City, and surrounding communities in Hillsborough County.
Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) in Florida
Florida requires every driver who has a car registered in their name to carry minimum amounts of insurance. These drivers are required to maintain personal injury protection and property damage liability continuously while their car is registered in Florida according to Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law (Fla. Stat. § 627.733).
The difference between personal injury protection and bodily injury liability is that personal injury protection covers you and certain other people also covered by the policy for your injuries arising from a car accident, regardless if you were at fault or not. Bodily injury liability insurance covers the injuries of another person involved in the car accident if the accident was your fault.
Tampa Bodily Injury Liability Claim Filing Procedures
According to Fla. Stat. § 627.736, once you have been involved in a car accident, the insurance company you are filing a claim with may require you provide them with written notice of the motor vehicle accident as soon as reasonably possible after the accident. Once you have provided them with notice, they are required to pay you benefits for your injuries or the other party’s injuries sustained within 30 days after receiving the notice.
Your car insurance company is required to pay for the other party’s bodily injuries arising from the accident up to the limits of your policy. They are also required to provide you with legal representation if you are sued after the accident. However, since your insurance policy will only cover bodily injuries up to your policy’s limits, if the injured parties sustain any injury in excess of your policy limits, you may have to pay the remainder of any medical expenses out of pocket.
Certain claims are excluded from BIL coverage, including if the driver intentionally caused their injuries arising from the accident, the injuries arose from an accident while they were committing a felony, or if the operator of the motor vehicle did not have permission to drive the vehicle from the owner.
Denial of BIL Insurance Claims in Tampa
Many times insurance companies will try to find a reason to deny a claim for bodily injury liability under the driver’s car insurance policy. These reasons can include the insurance premium was not timely paid, the injury claim was fraudulent, or the injury was excluded by the bodily injury liability coverage.
If you are applying for bodily injury liability insurance, but your application was denied because another insurer denied similar coverage or you are considered a volunteer driver under Florida law. Refusal to insure a driver for any of these reasons is a violation of Fla. Stat. § 627.7261, and are not legally permitted.
After your application for bodily injury liability insurance was refused, or your claim for bodily injury liability to another driver’s insurance company was denied, you required to receive notice of the denial from the insurance company explaining the specific coverage that is denied and the specific reasons for the denial of the coverage.
It is important to hire a Tampa bodily injury liability attorney if your claim was unlawfully denied or your car insurance carrier acted in bad faith. Upon a denial, your attorney will proceed with any necessary legal action on your behalf.
Germain Law Group, P.A. | Bodily Injury Liability Attorney in Tampa
Contact the Germain Law Group today for a consultation about your bodily injury liability claim in Central Florida, including Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter Counties, and surround areas.
Michael B. Germain is an experienced car insurance lawyer in Tampa who will listen to the facts of your situation and help you determine the best recourse in pursuing your auto insurance claim.
Contact the Germain Law Group, P.A. at (813) 835-8888 for a consultation about your car insurance issues.