Many drivers in Florida don't have this additional liability coverage, and if they do, they often have the minimum amount possible. Florida drivers are not required to have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is simply a way to ensure that the driver is better prepared to deal with the financial consequences of an accident in the event that the other driver does not have insurance or does not have enough. An accident can result in medical bills that amount to hundreds of thousands.
No, you shouldn't refuse coverage for uninsured drivers unless you have collision insurance and enough medical coverage to pay your expenses after an accident caused by an uninsured driver. Florida Statute 627,727 includes laws on motor vehicle insurance, including coverage for uninsured and underinsured drivers. Coverage for uninsured drivers also covers you if you are injured in a hit and run car accident in Florida. If you're injured in a car accident that's not your fault and the person who hit you doesn't have car insurance, you can still recover damages to pay your medical bills, repair your car, etc., if your Florida car insurance policy includes uninsured motorist coverage.
Drivers can refuse coverage for uninsured drivers in states where it's optional, but insurance companies still have to offer it. With all of these factors beyond the driver's control, the best way to prepare for an accident is to protect yourself from the financial consequences that an accident is likely to entail by taking out coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers. Although Florida doesn't require coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers, you should consider purchasing it. Each state's statutes dictate rules for that state's population and may include rules on coverage for uninsured drivers.
Although required by law, approximately one in four motorists in the Sunshine State drives without insurance. Coverage for uninsured drivers (UM) protects the policyholder by paying for injuries or damage resulting from a car accident caused by a driver who doesn't have enough insurance. As with any type of car insurance, premiums for uninsured drivers vary depending on the policyholder's risk factors. Coverage for uninsured drivers allows an attorney specializing in car accident injuries to file a claim against their own insurance company to recover the compensation they need and deserve to recover from their injuries, even if the other driver has no insurance or leaves the scene of the accident.
Coverage for uninsured drivers (UM) and underinsured motorists (UIM) works much like personal injury car insurance coverage. The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) estimates that one in seven Florida drivers is uninsured. To receive money from the insurance company for an uninsured car accident, your car accident lawyer will need to send you the essential records that are vital to the accident. But with so many accidents in the state and so many uninsured or underinsured motorists on the roads, it's highly recommended to pay a few extra dollars and choose this coverage.
