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Roman & Roman's Main Office is Located in Hudson, FL
Clearwater Personal Injury Attorney
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Should I Purchase Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

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When purchasing car insurance, one of the key decisions you’ll face is whether to add uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. With a significant number of Florida drivers lacking insurance, this coverage can be a vital safety net if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver in Clearwater, Hudson, or Tampa.

Why Is UM Coverage Important in Florida?

Uninsured motorist coverage is an additional type of car insurance that protects you if you’re involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or whose insurance is insufficient to cover your damages. UM coverage can also apply in situations involving hit-and-run drivers, where the at-fault driver is never identified, leaving you without the ability to file a claim against their insurance.

Florida has many uninsured drivers. According to recent studies, around 20% of motorists in the state are driving without insurance. This means that one in five drivers you share the road with may not be carrying insurance. Without UM coverage, you could be left covering medical bills and repair costs out of your own pocket, even after leaning on your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

What Happens If You’re Injured by an Uninsured Driver?

If you’re injured in an accident with an uninsured driver and you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, your first line of financial recovery will come from your own PIP coverage. Up to $10,000 in PIP funds can be accessed for medical expenses and lost wages in most cases. While this is undoubtedly helpful, it may be insufficient if there is long-term harm or significant medical costs.

Without uninsured motorist coverage, your options may be limited to suing the at-fault driver personally. Unfortunately, uninsured drivers often lack the financial resources to cover damages, leaving you with few avenues for compensation.

On the other hand, if you were carrying UM coverage at the time of the collision, you can file a claim directly with your own insurance company. UM coverage effectively steps in when the at-fault driver’s insurance fails to provide for your losses.

There are an array of advantages should you choose to invest in UM coverage.

  • Financial protection. UM coverage ensures that you have a financial safety net in place if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
  • Hit-and-run incidents. It offers protection in hit-and-run situations, which are especially common in Florida.
  • Supplementing inadequate coverage. When expenses exceed what’s provided by your own policy or the at-fault driver’s insurance, UM coverage can be accessed.
  • Peace of mind. You can drive with confidence knowing that you’re protected, no matter what type of insurance (or lack thereof) other drivers have.

To pursue compensation, have a conversation with a Florida personal injury lawyer about how to safeguard your interests after a traffic incident.

Is it time for you to lean on your UM coverage? Talk to the attorneys at Roman & Roman about how to make the claims process as smooth as possible so you can access the monetary relief you need. Connect with over 100 years of combined legal experience today, schedule a confidential consultation.

Although the law firm of Roman & Roman has offices in Clearwater, Hudson and Tampa, we handle cases and claims throughout  Florida. We also meet personally with our clients if at all possible, rather than impersonally over the phone or on the Internet.

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