I Was Injured in An Accident with An Uninsured Motorist, Now What?

Having auto insurance coverage is very important just in case you are ever involved in an auto accident. Driving in Florida, even with auto insurance coverage, is oftentimes not enough. Why? Florida is ranked the 6th worst state for the number of uninsured motorists driving on the roads.

Now that you know that one in five drivers does not have insurance you should understand why as a safe driver, you need to have uninsured motorist coverage to make sure you are covered if you are injured in a car crash.

Auto Insurance Coverage During an Accident

Let’s be honest, being involved in an auto accident is terrible all around. There are so many things to deal with and the last thing you need to worry about is how to pay for repairs and medical bills; especially if you feel you weren’t at fault for the accident.

Sadly, Florida is notorious for our uninsured drivers, which means if you are injured in an accident and need appropriate financial coverage to help with your medical bills. Otherwise, you may be out of luck if you are hit by an uninsured (or even underinsured) driver. That is why it is so important to have UIM coverage. UIM, or uninsured motorist coverage, is an optional add-on insurance policy that covers your car accident injuries after your individual personal injury protection, PIP coverage.

Having UIM coverage during an accident is the only way your accident injuries will likely be covered. Without UIM coverage, you may be stuck financially paying out of pocket what your PIP coverage doesn’t cover — which could cost thousands of dollars.

Using Your UIM Coverage

Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not a set fee/rate. An insurance policyholder can choose the amount of UIM coverage they want. Most UIM coverage cannot exceed the amount of your standard liability coverage. For example, if your standard liability coverage is $75,000 per accident, you typically cannot carry more than $75,000 in UIM coverage.

In Florida, this additional coverage is not mandatory to purchase, although it is mandatory that all insurance policy providers offer it. A lot of drivers will opt out of UIM to save money on their annual insurance premiums, although this is a huge financial mistake if you are in an accident.

Learn More> Money Was Tight So I Cut My UM Coverage

Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cover Repairs Too?

Repairs are not covered by uninsured motorist coverage; it is a separate policy. Collision coverage is another add-on that pays to repair your vehicle if you were in an accident. One thing to keep in mind with collision coverage is it will not cover any injuries from the auto accident, just the repairs.

Remember: Florida is a no-fault state. It does not matter if the other driver was at fault and was uninsured, or if you were involved in a hit-and-run and the other driver is nowhere to be found — your collision coverage will be used to cover the vehicular repairs.

Collision insurance is a great add-on for repair coverage, but you may not want to choose the minimum option available. Say you have a more expensive vehicle, having the minimum coverage limits will barely cover the damages that may have resulted from the accident. We recommend you review your auto policy with a reputable insurance agent to annually to make sure you’re properly protected. Double-check you have UM coverage too; you may think you have ‘full coverage’ and be surprised to find that your car insurance is lacking that protection.

Have You Been Injured in a Car Crash?

If you have been injured in a car accident, you should immediately report the accident to your insurance company to get a claim started. Always seek medical attention to make sure your PIP benefits will apply should pain start days or even weeks after the accident.

If your car insurance policy is not adequate to cover potential serious injuries, and the other driver does not have insurance, you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible.

Accidents happen and when they do,call Mickey Keenan, P.A.At our personal injury law firm, we are knowledgeable about UM coverage and will review your case and fight for your compensation to make you whole again. Here, you’re like family to us. Call today at (813) 871-1300 for a free case review.