On Friday, October 16, 2026, Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue responded to a two-vehicle crash near West Hillsboro Boulevard and North Powerline Road in Deerfield Beach. One vehicle had rolled onto its roof, and firefighters had to extricate an occupant before transporting them to a local hospital. Crashes like this raise the same urgent questions every time: who pays the medical bills, what happens if the other driver has little or no insurance, and how long do you have to take legal action? Florida has specific answers — and several deadlines that start running immediately.

Florida Is a No-Fault State: Your Own PIP Pays First

Florida requires every registered driver to carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). After a crash, your own PIP coverage pays first — regardless of who caused the collision. PIP generally covers 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost wages, up to the policy limit.

Two details catch people off guard. First, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash or you lose your PIP benefits entirely — even if your injuries seem minor at first. Soft-tissue injuries and concussions often surface days later, so getting checked out promptly protects both your health and your claim. Second, the full $10,000 is only available if a doctor determines you suffered an “emergency medical condition”; otherwise PIP is limited to $2,500 for non-emergency care.

When PIP Isn’t Enough: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

A rollover crash can easily generate medical bills far beyond $10,000. That is where uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage matters. Florida does not require drivers to carry UM coverage, but insurers must offer it — and a significant share of Florida drivers carry no bodily-injury liability coverage at all.

If the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your losses, your own UM coverage steps in to pay for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages your PIP did not cover. In hit-and-run crashes — which South Florida sees regularly — UM coverage can be the only path to compensation when the other driver is never found. Reviewing your UM limits now, before a crash, is one of the most important things a Florida driver can do.

Florida’s Two-Year Deadline to File a Lawsuit

Florida law now generally gives crash victims two years from the date of the collision to file a personal injury lawsuit — a shorter window than the four years allowed before 2023. Miss that deadline and the claim is typically barred, no matter how serious the injuries.

Two years sounds like plenty of time, but building a strong case takes months: medical treatment must run its course so the full extent of injuries is known, records must be gathered, and insurance negotiations often drag on. Starting early also preserves evidence — skid marks fade, surveillance video is overwritten, and witnesses become harder to find.

Fault Isn’t Always All-or-Nothing: Modified Comparative Negligence

In multi-vehicle crashes like the Deerfield Beach rollover, fault is often disputed. Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule: your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages at all. This makes the early evidence — the police report, photos of the scene, witness statements — especially important, because every percentage point of fault assigned to you directly reduces what you can recover.

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Crash

1. Call 911 and make sure a police report is filed.
2. Get medical care the same day — the 14-day PIP rule makes this critical.
3. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, road conditions, and your injuries.
4. Exchange information but avoid discussing fault at the scene.
5. Notify your own insurance company promptly.
6. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before speaking with an attorney.
7. Keep every medical bill, receipt, and record of missed work.

If you were hurt in a car crash in Miami-Dade or Broward County, you do not have to sort through PIP rules, UM coverage, and filing deadlines alone. Tacher Law offers free consultations for car accident and other personal injury matters. Call (305) 644-2211 or visit our contact page to discuss your situation.

Tacher Law, 16445 Collins Avenue, Suite 1625, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160.