Florida Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorneys
Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers
Florida has more uninsured and underinsured drivers than most other states and there are no plans for improvement in the future. An independent group, the Insurance Research Council released a study in 2009 that showed the economic downturn is triggering an increase in the number of uninsured motorists, now estimated to be about one in six U. S. drivers.
Among states, Florida has the fifth highest uninsured driver rate - about 23 percent of drivers are uninsured says the study. The other states with a high number of uninsured drivers are New Mexico, 29 percent; Mississippi, 28 percent; Alabama, 26 percent and Oklahoma, 24 percent.
The number of uninsured drivers is linked to each state's unemployment rate. Right now rate of uninsured drivers in the U.S. is expected to increase from 13.8 percent in 2007 to 16.1 percent in 2010.
Florida law does require motorists to carry Personal Injury Protection or (PIP) and property damage liability coverage to drive a motor vehicle. The PIP plan is No-Fault meaning no one has to be proved at-fault to receive coverage and provides up to $10,000 in the event of an accident.
The good news is that in Florida, on average, fewer than six percent of drivers do not carry the minimum mandatory insurance. Florida's roadways are safer than they were 20 years ago. Then there were three deaths per 100 million miles. Now the current rate is 1.57, according to state statistics.
When the damages to you or your vehicle exceed the amount of insurance coverage available, that driver is underinsured. Imagine not having enough coverage to compensate you for your bodily injury. As an alternative, you may pursue an Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist claim with your insurance company.
You are covered by the reckless driving of an uninsured motorist if you have uninsured motorist coverage. That is insurance coverage you purchase that will pay you when the other driver either does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to compensate you for your injuries.
Florida law states that your insurance provider must offer you uninsured motorist coverage. He or she must present you with a document, authorized by the Florida Department of Insurance, to sign if you choose to reject uninsured motorist coverage.
This type of coverage generally is not expensive and protects you from the one out of four drivers on the road who maybe uninsured. There is something else to consider. If your child or a member of your household is walking or riding a bike and is struck by a hit-and-run driver, your uninsured motorist coverage will compensate you for the injuries. And if you are a passenger in another person's vehicle and there is a collision and you suffer injuries, your uninsured motorist coverage would cover treatment of your injuries if the car's owner was underinsured or had no insurance.
That's why at Farah & Farah we always advise our clients to purchase uninsured motorist coverage. An experienced Florida uninsured motorist accident attorney can help you with a free consultation to determine if you are eligible for these benefits.