You may have auto insurance, but what happens if you're injured in an accident caused by someone who doesn't have enough insurance to cover your injuries?
It's a situation many drivers don't think about until it happens. That's where uninsured motorist coverage comes in.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, commonly called UM coverage, helps protect you when you're injured in an accident caused by a driver who has no bodily injury liability insurance or doesn't have enough coverage to compensate you for your injuries.
Depending on the circumstances and your policy, UM coverage may help pay for:
- Medical expenses related to your injuries
- Lost wages if you're unable to work
- Future medical care
- Pain and suffering when applicable
- Other covered damages resulting from your injuries
Unlike bodily injury liability insurance, which protects you when you're responsible for injuring someone else, uninsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you and other eligible insureds when another driver is at fault.
Why Is This Coverage Especially Important in Florida?
Florida generally requires registered passenger vehicles to carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL).
However, most Florida drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability insurance simply to register and operate their vehicles.
That means a driver could meet Florida's basic insurance requirements and still have no bodily injury liability coverage to compensate you if they cause an accident that leaves you seriously injured.
And even when the at-fault driver does have bodily injury liability insurance, their limits may not be enough to cover the full extent of your injuries.
What Happens If the Other Driver Doesn't Have Enough Insurance?
Imagine you're injured in an accident caused by another driver.
Your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages total $100,000, but the at-fault driver only carries $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage.
That leaves a potential $75,000 gap.
If you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, your policy may help compensate you for eligible damages beyond what the other driver's insurance can pay, subject to your coverage limits, policy terms, and other applicable benefits.
Without UM coverage, you may have to pursue the at-fault driver personally for damages their insurance doesn't cover, and collecting that money isn't always possible.
Doesn't My Personal Injury Protection Already Cover Me?
Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage provides certain benefits after a covered auto accident, regardless of who caused it.
However, PIP has limitations. It generally pays 80% of eligible medical expenses and 60% of eligible lost wages, subject to applicable requirements and limits.
UM coverage serves a different purpose. It may provide additional compensation for covered bodily injury damages caused by an uninsured or underinsured at-fault driver.
Having PIP does not mean you have the same protection as uninsured motorist coverage.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Florida?
No. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional in Florida.
Insurance companies issuing qualifying auto policies with bodily injury liability coverage must offer UM coverage, but you can reject it or select lower limits in writing.
There are also two types of UM coverage available in Florida: stacked and non-stacked. The differences can affect your available limits and how coverage applies, particularly if you own multiple vehicles.
Understanding those differences is important when selecting your coverage.
Should You Carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
While UM coverage is optional, it's worth considering because you cannot control how much insurance another driver carries.
A serious accident can result in medical expenses, time away from work, and financial consequences that extend well beyond the limits of a basic auto policy.
At Arrington Insurance, we can review your current auto policy, explain your uninsured motorist coverage options, and help you understand the protection you're purchasing.
Have questions about your auto insurance? Contact Arrington Insurance to review your coverage and explore your options.