Getting injured by a careless driver is bad enough. When that driver compounds his or her carelessness by failing to pay for liability coverage, the wounds become financial in addition to physical.
While this scenario sounds frightening, you can protect yourself by purchasing uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage from your own insurance company.
- Uninsured motorist coverage protects you in the event the at-fault driver had no liability insurance whatsoever. It may also apply to a hit-and-run accident, depending upon the circumstances.
- Underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits are less than the damages you sustain after an accident. This coverage kicks in once the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits are exhausted.
Florida’s car insurance policy mandates are lenient compared to many states. The minimum required coverage for personal injury protection is only $10,000. The minimum amount of property damage liability (PDL) is also only $10,000. When you think of how far $10,000 will get you in terms of paying for medical treatment after a serious injury, the need for underinsured coverage becomes apparent. With the average price of a new car rising above $40,0000 in the U.S., a mere ten thousand in property damage coverage will also likely fall far short of your needs.
Protect yourself when you can’t rely on others
Unlike other states, Florida does not require you to purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. By purchasing such protection, you can rest assured that your insurance needs will be covered in the event you encounter a careless driver who is also a careless vehicle owner.
In any event, you can benefit from talking with an experienced personal injury lawyer who knows how to maximize compensation from all available insurance policies.