Car Accidents with an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver

Florida insurance statutes mandates Florida drivers to have $10,000 in personal injury protection coverage and $10,000 in property damage coverage. However, Florida drivers are not required to have bodily injury coverage which would compensate the not-at-fault driver for their injuries. Around 1 in 5 Florida drivers do not have any insurance at all. It is important to prepare and think about the possibility of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver. Even if a driver is insured, he or she may be insured at only the minimum statutory amount, which may not be enough to cover the damages. Below are some considerations around Florida insurance law that can help you think about how you may want to protect yourself from uninsured drivers and what you can do if you are in an accident with someone without enough insurance.

No-Fault Insurance

Florida is a “no-fault” car insurance state. This means that regardless of who caused the accident each person involved can look to his or her own insurance company for payment of medical bills and/or lost wages.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance

Carrying uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance is a way that Florida drivers can protect themselves from the possibility of getting into an accident with someone who doesn’t have auto insurance or who doesn’t have enough auto insurance. Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance will allow you to tap into another pot of money if your injuries or damages exceed what is already available. In Florida, insurance companies are required to offer uninsured motorist insurance, but drivers can decline this coverage as long as they do it in writing.

Stacking

Another way that Floridians make sure they have enough insurance to be fully protected is by stacking insurance coverage. Stacked car insurance is available to Florida consumers who own multiple vehicles. For example, if you have two cars and each car has a bodily injury or uninsured/underinsured limit of $50,000, then you can “stack” the coverage together for a total of $100,000 in available benefits. Then, if you get into an accident with an uninsured motorist, you will have $100,000 in available benefits instead of only $50,000. Stacking policies is allowed in Florida, but it will raise your insurance premiums.

Clearwater Uninsured Motorist Attorneys

If you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, you need an experienced attorney on your side. If you carry uninsured motorist coverage then you will have to deal with your own insurance company to be compensated for your damages. However, just because it is your insurance company, it does not mean they have the same interests as you. Insurance companies try to get away with the lowest payout amounts possible. Our Clearwater uninsured motorist attorneys at Roman & Roman can help you to get a fair settlement from all parties involved.