Car accidents happen almost every single day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019 there were nearly seven million police-reported crashes in the United States.
Florida ranked well above the national average in termsof deaths from motor vehicle crashes per capita with over 3,000 crashes that year.Motor vehicle accident survivors may face major financial hardships due to highmedical bills, lost earning capacity, or property damage, which is why the state administers a PIP statute.
I am sure by now most Florida residents have heard of the term “no-fault” whenpurchasing their auto insurance policy. This is due to the Florida Personal InjuryProtection “PIP” statute which requires drivers to carry $10,000 when selecting an autoinsurance plan. This $10,000 is used to cover the driver’s injuries as well as theirhousehold members, children, and sometimes passengers. The $10,000 PIP coverageis applicable regardless of fault, which is where the term “no-fault state” comes from.
Bodily Injury Coverage
You may be wondering, “What about the person who IS at fault, can’t we go after their insurance for pain and suffering?” This may be possible if there is bodily injury liability(“BI”) coverage on the at-fault party’s auto insurance policy, which pays for injury ordeath to others. However, Florida does not require drivers to include BI in their autoinsurance when selecting a plan (with a few exceptions).
Why is this important to know?
Imagine you are driving home from a long day of work or school, it’s 5:15pm, there is heavy traffic, and you are stopped at a red light, waiting for the light to turn green, thenBOOM! A 2002 Jeep Wrangler slams onto your rear bumper, demolishing the entire back of your car. You instantly feel a jolt of pain running up your neck from thewhiplash, and your head is bleeding from smacking onto the steering wheel. You areabout to step out of your car to check the damage, then the light turns green, and theWrangler backs up and speeds past your vehicle before you can capture theirlicense plate number. You are now a victim of a hit-and-run accident.
This is a common scene in Florida which leaves the victims with high medical bills, painand suffering. Fortunately, there is PIP coverage to take care of these bills, however aspreviously mentioned, this coverage requirement is limited to $10,000.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
In addition to the mandatory PIP coverage, Florida residents may purchase different types of insurance Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist, aka “UM” or “UIM.” UM ispurchased voluntarily as an additional insurance to supplement PIP. The purpose ofUM is to ensure that you have full auto insurance coverage when an at-fault motoristhas insufficient liability insurance, or in a hit-and-run accident or other situation wherethe at-fault driver cannot be identified.Essentially, if the at-fault driver has no BI, your UM will step in and provide coverage.Similarly, if the at-fault driver has insufficient BI to cover your injuries resulting from anaccident, your UIM will also provide coverage. Both examples are referred to as simplyUM.
How can we help?
If you were in a crash similar to the example from earlier or with a driver who did not have proper insurance coverage or is underinsured, it is essential to have on your sidean experienced Florida car accident attorney, especially when you are faced with largemedical bills and other losses as a result of another negligent driver. Demesmin &Dover Law offers determined and skilled attorneys to the injured.
Even if you have UM coverage, you may encounter resistance from your insurancecompany. They may try to unfairly deny or limit the amount you are compensated foryour injuries. Our attorneys face these tactics every week and are fully preparedfor and ready to respond accordingly. We can help you navigate the complex path tomaximizing your insurance claim. We offer free consultations to motor vehicle accidentvictims to discuss with them how we can help through the claims process.
Our attorneys have a strong history of dealing firmly with insurance companies and willnot hesitate to pursue a bad-faith insurance claim, if necessary. Contact us to learnabout your options for pursuing compensation. D&D Law represents victims and theirfamilies throughout the state of Florida.
