Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of insurance product you purchase that provides coverage to you when someone without insurance causes an accident to you. Suppose you are hurt in a car accident and the other driver lacks insurance, but your losses exceed your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. In that case, uninsured motorist coverage can provide additional financial support. A St. Petersburg uninsured/underinsured motorist accident lawyer can help with your case.
The Importance of Uninsured Motorist Policies
Uninsured motorist coverage provides financial support for victims. If you are in an auto accident in St. Petersburg with a person who does not have liability insurance, you can use this policy to pay for some of your losses. Note that Florida insurance laws do not require drivers to maintain uninsured policies, which means this is an elective purchase you must make prior to being involved in an accident.
If you do have it, it may help cover losses such as:
These policies protect the policyholder, but may also protect your family, passengers in the vehicle at the time of the accident, and those who are driving the car with the policyholder’s permission.
PIP or UM Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage is more challenging in Florida because the state is a no-fault state. That means every driver must carry their own PIP policy with a value of at least $10,000 in personal injury and another $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. These policies pay out first, regardless of who caused the accident, up to the selected policy value.
PIP insurance covers medical expenses and other accident-related damages, including lost work time, regardless of fault. However, it is very common for victims to face complications when filing a PIP claim. You may have far more medical bills and losses than you have coverage. For instance, if you’re involved in a serious accident and spend several days in the hospital, your costs could quickly exceed $50,000. With only $10,000 in PIP coverage, you may be unsure what happens with the rest.
That is where uninsured motorist coverage can help. If your injuries are serious and meet the qualifications under the state, you can seek legal action against the at-fault driver to recover the losses you still have. The problem with that is Florida does not require drivers to maintain liability insurance, and many do not. If they lack coverage, you can file a claim for protection under your uninsured motorist coverage.
Why This Matters in Florida
Florida has a high rate of uninsured motorists. That includes people who only maintain the minimum PIP level required. If you are in a serious accident with one of those drivers, you could face not only medical injury but devastating financial losses, with no other way to recover damages beyond filing a lawsuit. Uninsured motorist coverage gives you a way to maintain at least some control and protection for yourself when other drivers fail to cover their risks.
Note that there may be other ways to recover damages if the other party is at fault, including filing a lawsuit. However, for many drivers in a high-accident state like Florida, forgoing uninsured motorist coverage is not likely to be a wise financial decision.
