Uninsured Motorist / Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Florida
Insuring Your Vehicle
When you buy a car and insure it, an agent from any given Florida insurance company will mandatorily offer what is called Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist (“UM”) coverage. You, as the insurance seeker, may opt to choose this type of coverage or you may waive it by signing what is called a UM waiver. The purpose of this material is to inform you about the importance of UM coverage, specifically in the state of Florida.
Florida Is a No-Fault State
Florida is a no-fault state with regard to automobile accidents. This means that when an at-fault driver has produced injuries to an innocent party, that at-fault driver need not pay for the medical expenses that will be incurred by the innocent party.
There is however an exception to this no-fault policy. Automobile accidents can result in serious injuries. When severe injuries are obtained, such as a permanent injury, you may need more medical coverage than what your insurance provides. In a situation of severity, and if your policy has already covered all that it can, you may seek the at-fault party’s insurance for help. The problem with reaching out for benefits via the at-fault party’s insurance policy are that said at-fault party might not have any benefits available at all (an uninsured motorist), or the benefits available via his insurance might not be sufficient (an underinsured motorist).
UM Coverage May Protect You from Uninsured and/or Underinsured Motorists
In essence, UM coverage is for self-protection and you should take it into consideration when seeking automobile insurance in Florida. Many people who waive this type of coverage do so because their monthly premiums would be lower without it. Although paying the least amount monthly for your premiums is ideal, it is also very important to imagine the worse case scenario. It is absolutely better to be safe than sorry.
UNINSURED MOTORIST:
If you encounter yourself in a situation wherein you are rear-ended and sustain severe injuries, it is best to have this UM coverage as opposed to not having it. Your insurance company will take care of some of your medical expenses but what happens when your benefits have exhausted? The next step would be to seek benefits from the at-fault driver’s policy. However, what if this person’s policy has nothing available for you? Having opted for UM coverage when you were seeking for automobile insurance will save you from not having supplemental benefits via the uninsured driver.
UNDER-INSURED MOTORIST:
On another note, what if the at-fault driver did have supplemental benefits to help with your medical expenses? This would be ideal for your case because you would not worry about being left upside down with medical expenses. However, the other person’s benefits may not be sufficient. For instance, you may have an emergency hospital bill with a balance of $1,000.00 after your policy has covered all that it could and after you obtained all possible benefits from the at-fault driver’s policy. Having opted for UM coverage, it would kick in as support for whatever else need be paid.
Contact Our Accident Attorneys If You Have Any Questions
If legal guidance regarding automobile insurance is needed by you or someone you know because there has been an automobile accident, please contact our firm and we will gladly answer your questions at no cost. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, the accident attorneys of Madalon Law fight for the rights of the injured throughout the State of Florida.
