In Florida, being involved in a car crash with an uninsured driver can quickly turn into a financial nightmare. Fortunately, Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, if you carry it, serves as a crucial safety net. This coverage can protect you when the at-fault driver has no bodily injury liability or the minimum required insurance.
Why This Matters in Florida
- Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured or underinsured drivers in the country. Some estimates place the number around 20% of all motorists.
- Under Florida law, only Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) are mandatory, each with minimum limits of $10,000. Bodily injury liability is not required, so even “insured” drivers often lack real protection for serious accidents.
- That means if you’re hit by a driver without insurance (or with inadequate insurance), you could face massive medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. Without UM or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage, you might end up paying out of pocket.
What Exactly does UM/UIM Coverage Do?
- Bodily Injury Protection: Covers medical costs, lost wages, and sometimes even long-term care or future expenses if the other driver is uninsured.
- Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages that go beyond medical bills, damages PIP does not cover.
- Property damage (if you have collision coverage + UM/UIM): Covers vehicle repair or replacement when the other driver isn’t insured. But note: collision coverage is optional in Florida.
What to do if You’re Hit by an Uninsured Driver
- Check your own policy: Confirm whether you have UM/UIM coverage and at what limits. Many drivers opt out, thinking “it won’t happen to me,” only to regret it later.
- Notify both your insurance company and the at-fault driver’s insurer: If there is one. Sometimes the other driver claims they have insurance, but the policy may have lapsed.
- Gather evidence: Police report, photos from the crash scene, medical records, proof of uninsured status. This helps demonstrate you were legally entitled to use your UM coverage.
- Evaluate long-term costs: Serious injuries can lead to long-term medical treatment, lost income, or disability. UM/UIM coverage often covers future damages that PIP doesn’t.
- Consider legal help: If the other driver is uninsured and has no assets, even a court judgment might not get you paid. In those cases, using your own UM/UIM coverage is usually the only practical option.
Why Many Florida Drivers Skip UM and Why That’s Risky
Insurance in Florida can be expensive. To save on premiums, many drivers decline UM/UIM coverage. But when an accident happens, that “savings” can disappear in a single ER visit or hospital stay.
Given Florida’s high rate of uninsured or minimally insured drivers, relying only on PIP or minimal liability coverage is risky, especially for serious accidents. UM/UIM coverage provides a vital layer of protection that many drivers rely on.
What to do to Protect Yourself
- Review your auto insurance policy carefully. If you don’t have UM/UIM coverage, seriously consider adding it.
- Make sure your coverage limits are sufficient to match your lifestyle and exposure to risk (e.g., multiple vehicles, family members, etc.).
- After an accident, act quickly. Contact your insurer, collect documentation, and don’t agree to anything until you know exactly what coverage is available.
Don’t leave your protection to chance. With Florida’s high uninsured rate and minimal coverage requirements, UM/UIM insurance isn’t “optional,” it’s essential for peace of mind.
Contact a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been involved in a personal injury incident, seeking legal advice is essential to protect your rights. Our legal team has more than 40 years of experience seeking justice for accident victims. Our attorneys have sought and won millions of dollars for our injured clients.
Call 850-601-1111 to schedule a complimentary consultation with no obligations. This consultation will help you explore your legal options. Let us help you fight for fair compensation.
Chris received his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law in 2008, and he was admitted to the Florida Bar in December of 2008 followed by the State Bar of Texas in May of 2009. He has litigated, mediated, and resolved over five hundred first-party storm damage claims, and he has litigated, mediated, and successfully resolved multiple major construction defect claims with recoveries in excess of $1,800,000.00.
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