THE LAW GUIDING UNINSURED MOTORISTS IN FLORIDA

The State of Florida is among the highest-ranking uninsured motorists in the United States. Chances are that the vehicle which slammed into yours may be uninsured. Florida also has a high rate of car accident occurrences in the nation. According to the ‘Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2020’, a study presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency, the state of Florida has ranked the third-highest state (coming behind the state of Texas and California) of total fatalities in motor vehicle accidents. You will want a lawyer experienced in uninsured motorists law. 

Total Fatalities in 2020 were 3,331 and 3185 in 2019, a +4.3% increase in car accident fatalities in just one year.

In Florida, every vehicle is expected to purchase one type of insurance policy or the other. Very common is Personal Injury Protection (PIP). But many drivers still drive without any insurance coverage. 

 Vehicle owners are mandated to subscribe to PIP coverage and are advised to subscribe to the Uninsured Motorists coverage(UM). An Insured Motorist (UM) coverage will cover the unpaid cost after reaching the threshold covered by your PIP coverage.  

Uninsured and Under-Insured Motorists in Florida

Uninsured Motorists coverage (UM) is insurance in Florida, where the driver who caused the accident did not take out an insurance policy. In comparison, Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) covers the cost of an accident when the driver that caused the accident does not have the minimum amount required by law in Florida. UM and UIM is not must-haves to register and operate your vehicle in Florida, but a car owner must have PIP coverage. 

Benefits of having an Uninsured Motorist Coverage 

1. It is a wise investment 

Having UM coverage is a wise investment. It is not harmful. When you subscribe to a good UM plan from a competent insurance company, it becomes a wise investment to cater to the unforeseen circumstances that nobody wishes for, like a car accident. You may end up not using it, and if ever the need arises, it is there for you. When a severe injury occurs from a fatal car accident, UM coverage will cater for costs left unmet by your PIP insurance. It will save you or otherwise help you recover your out-of-pocket expenses.

2. It provides additional coverage. 

It gives you additional coverage and protection where your PIP coverage is exhausted.  

3. It is advisable, given the high level of car accidents in Florida.

Subscribing to a UM policy is advisable, considering Florida’s high level of car accidents. There is also a likelihood that the driver who hits you is uninsured. It is advisable to arm yourself with additional insurance coverage to cushion the aftermath of a car accident.

What should I do after being hit by an Uninsured Motorist?- Uninsured Motorists Law

1. Allow the Police to conduct their investigation

The Police will usually come to the scene of an accident to investigate. They can also help to evacuate wounded victims of the crash to a hospital to seek medical attention. The Police will investigate to ascertain the cause of the accident and if a party was at fault for reckless or distracted driving. If perhaps, the accident was nobody’s fault if given the circumstances, the accident was inevitable, or if the accident was caused by a mechanical fault such as brake failure, a bad tire, or a loose screw. 

A police investigation can also help to ascertain whether one party to the accident was negligent by putting on the road a car that was not road worthy and faulty when the vehicle had previously shown signs of a fault that the driver ignored, which led to the accident.

2. Collect the details of the other driver 

The moments after an accident can be pretty chaotic. While onlookers may be bewildered, the car accident victims themselves may be confused about what to do next. It is, however, advisable not to leave an accident scene without getting the other driver’s details. You should request information such as their name, phone number, and contact address. Ascertain whether or not the driver has or does not have insurance coverage. Jot the car plate number, registration details, and other relevant details of the other driver. 

If you cannot do this yourself, someone else should do this on your behalf to avoid a hit-and-run situation.

3. Get your proof

Nothing stops you from getting your proof in other to establish your case. This can involve taking pictures of the accident scene. It may require you or an assistant to take photos from different angles to help you establish your case. 

Going to the hospital to seek medical attention can help establish your case. That you were physically and medically fit before the accident but now suffer from one ailment or another must be proven by an expert and, if shown, can assist you in recovering the cost of treating yourself and cushion the financial inconvenience you have been subjected to.

4. Contact your insurance company.

You will have to contact your insurance company since you expect them to either foot the cost or reimburse you for the money you have parted with since the advent of the accident. 

Let your insurance company know that you have been involved in an accident. When you are unsure of the correct information to divulge or cannot answer their questions adequately, it is advisable not to say anything to avoid incriminating yourself. Instead, refer them to your attorney, who will serve as your lawful representative.  

5. Contact an Uninsured Motorist Claim Lawyer

Where you have been involved in an accident where the other driver is uninsured, or you are the uninsured driver, consider contacting an uninsured motorist claim attorney near you. Where it happened in St Petersburg, The Coleman Law Group is near you and is one consultation away.

Contact Your Uninsured Motorist Claim Lawyer in St Petersburg

If your accident happened in St Petersburg, contact an Uninsured Motorist Claim Attorney and tell him that you think the driver who hit you may be uninsured. When you are an uninsured motorist, you are strongly advised to contact an uninsured motorist attorney to represent you. 

We are always present and ready to represent your interest at the Coleman Law Group. 

Contact Us Today for a Free Case Evaluation

P: 727-214-0400

F: 727-214-0407

Constance@clgfl.com

2901 1st Ave. N. Suite 303 Saint Petersburg, FL 33713