Florida law requires drivers to have certain types of insurance coverage before registering a vehicle. Unfortunately, far too many drivers fail to fulfill those obligations.
When a driver does not have the required insurance and causes a car accident to happen, this has serious consequences for crash victims who may be unable to recover the compensation they deserve.
A Tampa uninsured motorist accident lawyer at Diaco Law can provide help exploring your options in these difficult situations. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation to learn more.
What is An Uninsured Motorist in Florida?
Florida law imposes certain insurance requirements before you can register a vehicle in the state. Specifically, drivers who want to register any vehicle with four or more wheels must:
- Purchase a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
- Purchase a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability insurance (PDL)
Unfortunately, some drivers do not buy or maintain the required minimum amount of coverage. In fact, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has explained that around 5.40% of all drivers statewide are uninsured in Florida. In Hillsborough County, that rate is actually a bit higher at 5.81%.
What Happens if You’re in an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist?
If you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist, the driver who caused the crash may not have the money to provide you with the required compensation.
Drivers are supposed to cover the property damage they cause if they are responsible for an accident. In cases of serious injury, an at-fault driver may also be expected to cover damages resulting from physical harm caused by the accident, if the injuries are severe enough that drivers are not restricted to relying solely on their personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
A driver without insurance won’t have a policy to pay for a crash victim’s losses. If you were in a crash with a driver who has no insurance, you could try to pursue a claim against that motorist to collect from their personal assets, but there’s a good chance that not enough money would be available.
Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage May Help
In Florida, companies that sell auto insurance policies are required to offer uninsured motorist coverage under Florida Code section 627.727. Drivers don’t have to accept this coverage, but do have to opt out of it in writing if they don’t want it.
If you have uninsured motorist coverage, it can stand in for the at-fault driver when that driver doesn’t have the required insurance. In other words, uninsured motorist coverage can cover your losses for you, up to your policy limits, that the other driver should be paying for, but can’t.
You’ll need to understand how this policy works, follow your insurer’s requirements, and make certain that you know your rights so you can get the full compensation you deserve, as insurers sometimes try to pay less than they should when policyholders make an uninsured motorist claim.
Getting Help from Diaco Law Firm
Diaco Law Firm can provide the help you need to explore your options if you are involved in an accident with a driver lacking insurance coverage. Contact our Tampa uninsured motorist accident lawyers online or call (813) 221-7978 today to find out how we can help you fight for justice.