If you are injured in a car accident due to another driver not having bodily injury liability (BIL) insurance, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage will provide compensation for the costs of your damages. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and wrongful death. In other words, if the at-fault driver doesn't have enough liability insurance to cover their injuries caused by an accident, your underinsured driver will provide coverage. Collectively, both types are referred to as UM. Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you if an uninsured driver causes an accident.
The policy compensates you for the damages that would normally be covered by the at-fault driver's BIL coverage. If you are injured in a car accident caused by a driver who only has the insurance coverage required by the state, minimal additional coverage, or no insurance coverage, UM coverage may be the only way to recover financial compensation. If a driver who doesn't have BIL insurance injures you, you could be responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages that aren't covered by your PIP coverage. Your insurance company can only pay for damages for uninsured car accidents if you know what's happening. In Florida, coverage for uninsured drivers is optional coverage that you can purchase in your own car insurance policy.
You can't control other drivers on the road, so it's best to take advantage of what you can control: your insurance coverage. UM coverage can be used when you, your family members, or the driver of your car didn't cause the car accident. UIM coverage provides insurance coverage if the negligent driver's insurance coverage is insufficient to pay for all the damage caused. In the context of UM and UIM coverage, the policyholder can accumulate coverage depending on the number of vehicles covered by the policy. With nearly one in four drivers in Florida not having car insurance, adding UM and UIM coverage is a small cost compared to the potentially high bills that often accompany a car accident. After a car accident, it's essential to contact a reputable law firm to help you obtain compensation for damages caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Florida drivers must sign a statement denying UM coverage to show that they chose not to include UM coverage in their policy. UM coverage protects you, your spouse, and family members who reside in the same household as you, with some exceptions related to the “residency requirement”.Buying insurance coverage to pay for injuries sustained in an accident is another way to protect yourself and your family members. Since all of these factors are beyond the driver's control, the best way to prepare for an accident is to protect yourself from the financial consequences that may accompany an accident by purchasing coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists.
