Many drivers in Florida don't have uninsured motorist coverage, and if they do, it's often the minimum amount possible. Yes, you need coverage for uninsured drivers, even if you have comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance will pay for the repair of your vehicle if you are hit by an uninsured driver, but it won't cover any of your medical expenses and comprehensive insurance won't cover your expenses at all after a collision. Comprehensive insurance only pays for repairs if your car is damaged by something other than a collision, such as acts of vandalism or a natural disaster.
And you would need coverage for uninsured motorists. Read the full answer on personal injury protection (PIP) or MedPay to cover your medical expenses after a collision with an uninsured driver. It's similar to uninsured coverage, but it protects you if the person who caused the accident DOES have insurance, but maybe not enough. UM coverage covers lost wages, illnesses, bodily injuries, medical expenses and illnesses resulting from a motor vehicle collision, according to the Florida Bar Association.
If you only have the minimum car insurance requirements under Florida law, your coverage is woefully inadequate. If property damage coverage for uninsured drivers isn't available in your state or you're not required to have it, you can take out collision insurance instead. Unfortunately, Florida has a high percentage of uninsured drivers, which makes UM coverage especially important. In Florida, an average of 27% of drivers on the road don't have car insurance, meaning there's a 1 in 4 chance that the other driver won't have coverage if you have an accident.
Depending on the state and policy, drivers can also purchase underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which can be used when the at-fault driver's liability insurance is insufficient. If you have UM coverage, you're also protected against hit and run accidents, and a lawyer who specializes in car accidents can file a claim against your own insurance company, regardless of whether they ever find the other driver and whether they had insurance or not. The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) estimates that one out of every seven drivers in Florida is uninsured. Likewise, premiums for uninsured drivers are higher in states with more uninsured drivers because of the added risk.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is essential for protecting yourself and your family from financial hardship after an accident caused by an uninsured driver. It pays for injuries or damages that result from a car accident caused by a driver who does not have enough insurance. Coverage for uninsured drivers allows a lawyer specializing in car accident injuries to file a claim against their own insurance company to get the compensation they need and deserve to recover from their injuries, even if the other driver is uninsured or leaves the scene of the accident. UM coverage can be used for family members, whether they were in their vehicle at the time of the collision or not (it covers family members and you, if they or you were traveling with someone else or were also driving someone else's vehicle).
It provides you with coverage in the event that you are injured in a car accident caused by another person, and that person is uninsured or underinsured.
