Florida PIP
Florida's 14-day PIP rule
Florida is a no-fault state: after a car accident, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays first, regardless of who caused the crash. But that coverage comes with a hard deadline — the 14-day rule — that quietly ends a large share of otherwise valid claims.
- Deadline
- 14 days from the date of the crash
- Consequence of missing it
- PIP medical benefits forfeited
- Statute
- Fla. Stat. § 627.736
What the rule says
To be eligible for PIP medical benefits, the injured person must receive initial medical care within 14 days of the motor-vehicle crash. If the first treatment falls outside that window, the medical portion of PIP is lost — the insurer is not obligated to pay for care that began too late.
The clock runs from the date of the accident, not the date symptoms appear. Soft-tissue injuries that feel minor at first and worsen a week later are exactly the scenario the rule catches.
Who can provide the initial care
Initial services generally must come from a licensed provider: a physician, hospital, or clinic, or emergency transport and treatment. Care from certain providers (for example, a massage therapist) does not satisfy the initial-treatment requirement on its own.
Why it matters for a demand package
The first thing a reviewer checks is whether initial treatment occurred inside the 14-day window. If it did not, the PIP medical claim is compromised before any bills are even read. A well-built case file surfaces the crash date and the first-treatment date side by side so the gap is obvious at a glance.
Frequently asked
What happens if I miss the 14-day deadline in Florida?
If initial medical care does not occur within 14 days of the crash, PIP medical benefits are forfeited — the insurer is not required to pay medical bills under PIP for that claim.
Does the 14 days run from the accident or from when symptoms start?
From the date of the accident. Delayed-onset symptoms do not restart or extend the clock, which is why prompt evaluation matters even for injuries that feel minor.
What kind of provider counts for initial treatment?
A licensed physician, hospital, or clinic, or emergency medical transport/treatment. Some provider types do not qualify as initial care on their own.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 627.736 — Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law (PIP)
- Florida personal-injury firm guidance — 14-day rule, multiple sources
Last updated 2026-07-26
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Related
Educational reference — not legal advice. ClaimLens is a demonstration app that runs on synthetic data. Statutes and insurer practices change; verify anything you rely on with the primary source or a licensed Florida attorney.