Florida PIP Explained: The 14-Day Rule, $10,000 and $2,500
Florida PIP pays 80 percent of your accident medical bills, but only if you get care within 14 days. You get up to $10,000 if a medical doctor, DO, dentist, PA or nurse practitioner finds an emergency medical condition, and only $2,500 if not. Back in Motion in St. Augustine files PIP for you and helps you get the evaluation you need.
This is not legal advice
This page explains how Florida’s PIP law works for accident patients, based on Florida Statute 627.736 as of 2026. It is not legal advice. Insurance policies and individual cases differ. If you have questions about your claim, settlement or deadlines, speak with a Florida personal injury attorney.
What is the Florida PIP 14-day rule for car accident claims?
Florida PIP pays medical benefits only if you receive initial services and care within 14 days after the accident. Miss that window and PIP will not pay your medical bills, even if you were badly hurt. A chiropractic physician is one of the providers who can deliver that initial care.
The statute names a chiropractic physician licensed under chapter 460 as a provider of both initial services and follow-up care (Fla. Stat. 627.736). Use the clock below to see how many days you have left.
PIP Countdown Calculator
Enter the date of your crash to see how many days you have left to use your PIP benefits.
What qualifies as an emergency medical condition?
Under Florida PIP, an emergency medical condition (EMC) generally means injuries with acute symptoms severe enough that, without immediate care, they could seriously endanger your health, impair a bodily function, or cause serious dysfunction of a body part. Whether you had one is a medical determination, and it decides whether your PIP limit is $10,000 or $2,500.
The part most pages miss: only certain providers can make the EMC determination that unlocks the full $10,000. The statute lists a medical doctor or osteopathic physician (chapters 458 and 459), a dentist, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse (Fla. Stat. 627.736). A chiropractor is not on that list.
That is why many accident patients need a medical evaluation as well as chiropractic care. At Back in Motion we help you get that evaluation so you are not stuck at $2,500.
TODO PETE Confirm with the client how they help patients get the EMC determination (referral partner MD/PA/ARNP? in-house?) and describe that process here.
What is the maximum PIP coverage limit in Florida?
Florida PIP medical benefits go up to $10,000, but only if an MD, DO, dentist, physician assistant or APRN determines you had an emergency medical condition. Without that determination, medical benefits are limited to $2,500. Either way, PIP pays 80 percent of reasonable, medically necessary expenses.
| Your situation | PIP medical benefits |
|---|---|
| Care started within 14 days, and an MD, DO, dentist, PA or APRN determined an emergency medical condition | Up to $10,000 (80% of reasonable, medically necessary expenses) |
| Care started within 14 days, but a provider determined there was no emergency medical condition | Limited to $2,500 |
| No initial care within 14 days of the accident | No PIP medical benefits |
PIP also pays 60 percent of lost gross income and lost earning capacity if you cannot work because of your injuries. Massage therapy and acupuncture are not covered under PIP medical benefits (Fla. Stat. 627.736).
Who pays for a chiropractor after a car accident?
In Florida, your own PIP pays first, no matter who caused the crash. That is what “no-fault” means. Back in Motion files the PIP claim with your carrier for you. When PIP is used up, other coverage may pick up the rest.
When PIP runs out
- MedPay: optional medical payments coverage on your own policy, if you bought it.
- The at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage: usually through a claim or lawsuit, often handled by an attorney.
- A letter of protection: your attorney agrees the bills will be paid from your settlement, so care can continue. See impairment ratings and documentation.
- Self-pay: our up-front self-pay rates. See seeing a chiropractor without insurance.
Can PIP be rejected in Florida?
If you own a car registered in Florida, you generally must carry PIP, so you cannot simply decline it. A PIP claim can be denied or reduced, though, most often because care did not start within 14 days, there was no emergency medical condition determination, or the insurer disputes that treatment is reasonable and necessary.
Starting care early, keeping your appointments and having clear records are the best protection against a denied or reduced claim.
What is the statute of limitations for PIP in Florida?
It depends on the type of claim. Deadlines for disputing a PIP benefit with your own insurer are different from the deadline for suing an at-fault driver, and Florida shortened the general negligence deadline to two years in 2023. Talk to a Florida attorney about your specific dates.
Hurt in a crash? Start the clock on your terms.
- Head injury, confusion, or loss of consciousness
- Chest or abdominal pain, or trouble breathing
- Numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control
For everyone else: even if you feel fine, get checked within 14 days. Adrenaline hides injuries, and the PIP deadline does not move. Our auto accident and whiplash page explains our post-crash exam, Davis cervical series X-rays and how we document your injuries.
Dr. Colby Caltrider, D.C.
Palmer College graduate · OwnerDr. Colby sees accident patients every week. We file PIP with your carrier, document your injuries from the first visit, and coordinate with your attorney if you have one.
When someone walks in here in pain, my job isn't to sell them a package. My job is to figure out what's going on and get them moving again. That's it.
Inside your 14 days?
Book an accident exam. We file PIP with your carrier, document your injuries, and help you get the medical evaluation that protects your full benefit.