Why You Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida
Accidents with an uninsured motorist can be expensive and can leave your insurance company to cover the costs alone. Your insurance policy may not be able to pay all your expenses, which can cause you to be left with debt from your treatment. Uninsured motorist coverage can provide you with extra protection and peace of mind that your accident will be taken care of, even if the other driver cannot pay for your damages.
Florida law requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which can be used to help cover medical expenses and lost wages if you are in an accident. A PIP policy will not cover all the expenses of an accident, however, and won’t compensate you for future losses. Because of the incomplete coverage that PIP offers in the event of an accident, Florida law also requires insurance providers to offer Uninsured Motorist (UIM) coverage as an option for drivers.
All insurance providers in Florida must offer drivers UIM coverage, but it is not mandatory that drivers purchase the coverage. UIM policies are an option that drivers can choose in addition to the minimum legal coverage. UIM insurance can help cover what drivers’ PIP policies will not, including:
- Any medical expenses, to the policy limit
- Lost wages not covered by PIP coverage
- Future medical expenses, to the policy limit
- Future wage losses, to the policy limit
- Non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering
- Hit and run accidents
Even if you are in an accident with an insured motorist, your policy can be used to help cover any expenses that their policy will not cover. UIM coverage is intended to provide extra protection for you, and to help cover costs that aren’t covered by your PIP coverage or the coverage of the other driver. Many drivers also don’t realize the coverage option they purchase for each of their cars can be combined to increase their policy limit in the event of an accident. This is referred to as ‘stacked’ coverage.
In Florida, over 23% of motorists are uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute’s 2012 survey. This amount makes Florida second in the nation for the number of uninsured drivers on the road. Because of the high chances of an accident with an uninsured driver, every policyholder should invest in UIM coverage. The benefits of a UIM policy far outweigh the costs of maintaining coverage. Contact your insurance agent today to find out about your policy options for uninsured motorist coverage.
Receiving compensation after an accident with an uninsured motorist can be a struggle. Our Florida car accident attorney, Wes Pittman, has over 30 years of experience helping the residents of Bay County recover the damages they deserve. Contact The Pittman Firm, P.A. to request a no-cost consultation.