Florida Uninsured Motorist Insurance Explained

Florida is notorious for having many uninsured motorists on the road. Therefore, all drivers in Florida need to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to supplement their PIP benefits. Our car accident attorneys at Mickey Keenan Law discuss the importance of UM coverage and how it works in Florida. Read more then get ready to check your car insurance policy…

What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

In Florida, residents may purchase supplemental coverage to enhance their mandatory PIP coverage. That’s your personal insurance protection coverage (Florida is a ‘no-fault’ state).

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, aka UM, can be purchased voluntarily and ensures that you have more protections in case:

• An at-fault motorist does not carry sufficient liability insurance
• You were in a hit and run accident or situation where the driver cannot be identified

The most common scenario where UM coverage is important is when injuries are sustained because of an accident with a negligent driver who does not have or has insufficient bodily injury liability coverage. If an at-fault driver carries no liability coverage, your uninsured motorist policy pays for your injuries. If the at-fault driver has insufficient liability insurance, underinsured motorist coverage will apply. Both types are referred to as UM coverage.

If you have been in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, call Mickey Keenan Law to get the settlement that you deserve.

Who Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover?

Standard uninsured motorist policies cover you, the policyholder, and your spouse, and any relatives that live in the same house as you. Typically, UM coverage also extends to passengers that are in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Keep in mind, UM coverage does not follow the car, rather it follows the insured individuals. This means that UM covers you while:

• You are riding in your car
• You are a passenger in someone else’s car
• You are a pedestrian
• You are riding a bicycle
• You are in a hit-and-run accident

What Does UM Cover?

In the state of Florida, UM coverage pays for medical bills, income loss, pain, bodily injury, sickness, or death— beyond what PIP covers— if caused by an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. Many Floridians only carry $10,000 of PIP coverage, so purchasing sufficient UM insurance coverage is the only way to ensure that you and your loved ones are fully covered in the event of an accident.

The Sunshine State requires all Florida drivers to purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance with at least $10,000 of coverage.

All insurance companies are required by law to offer UM insurance coverage and Florida drivers must sign a statement declining UM coverage to show that they elected to not include it in their insurance policy.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve reviewed your auto insurance policy, then you may want to have a licensed agent take a look and make sure you’re protected.

What Happens If I Don’t Carry UM and I am Hit by a Negligent Driver?

If you do not carry UM coverage, and the other driver has no bodily injury insurance coverage, it does not matter how badly you are injured—you will not be able to recover anything from your insurance carrier other than the required PIP coverage for medical expenses and lost wages.

In this case, you have the right to litigate against the at-fault driver due to their negligence.

Lean on our Tampa Florida Personal Injury Attorneys

If you were in an accident with a driver who did not carry proper insurance coverage or is underinsured, it’s understandable you may be worried about your medical costs. Don’t wait until you’ve been involved in an accident to learn you do not have UMcoverage. Without it, there’s little even the most veteran injury attorney can do.

Mickey Keenan Law cares about those injured by motorists with little or no car insurance. This wasn’t your fault. Even if you carry UM coverage, your insurance company may unfairly deny or limit compensation for the injuries sustained in the accident. Don’t go it alone. Our attorneys are ready to pursue your claim and fight for your settlement. We represent clients near our Tampa Bay area offices and across the state of Florida. We are ready to help you with your personal injury claim. Call Mickey Keenan Law today.