Panama City: A Tire Injures High School Senior - Florida Car Insurance for Pedestrians?
PIP coverage of $10,000, which is designed to cover medical expenses and lost wages related to injuries resulting from an accident. The PIP coverage applies even to pedestrians, which should be helpful to a young lady and her family after, Kaitlyn Beckham, a Panama City high school senior, suffered injuries after she was struck by a tire as she walked across the Hathaway Bridge.
The driver of the vehicle is unknown because the driver did not stop at the scene. Also, no witnesses stopped to report the incidents, so the vehicle and its owner remain unknown. Due to the tire not rendering the vehicle inoperable, authorities believe that the vehicle in question was a multi-axle vehicle, like a semi-truck.
The tire not only led to the injuries of Kaitlyn Beckham, but also caused other automobile accidents who were distracted by the incident. The driver of the vehicle could face charges for leaving the scene and not properly maintaining the vehicle.
Kaitlyn’s medical bills, at least up to $10,000, will most likely be covered by PIP coverage held under either her or her parents’ insurance. In addition, if they have Uninisured/Underinsured Motorist (UM) coverage, then she may be able to recover for her injuries and any related out-of-pocket expenses. UM coverage comes into play because the at-fault vehicle is unknown.

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Representing Adults and Children injured in Florida and their families for over 50 years. Handling an injury case requires knowledge of Florida laws, medical care, education, and family matters as they pertain to the injured person.
Personal Injury Attorney with Emphasis on Child Injury Matters, Author, Founder of Child Injury Lawyer Network