The real question should be the “need” of uninsured motorist coverage versus “should” you have uninsured motorist coverage is a question asked by many. Before deciding on whether you should purchase uninsured motorist coverage, there are steps you should take before making that decision. While adding this coverage may add more your monthly insurance premium, it is a decision that will not only impact your bank account but may potentially affect your life in the event of an accident.
First, you will have to determine whether this coverage is mandatory in your state. The minimum requirements differ from state to state. It all depends on the state requirements and what the policy holder selects and can afford. In addition, uninsured motorist premium varies from state to state.
Unfortunately, in the State of Florida, it is not mandatory for you to purchase uninsured motorist coverage on your policy. The policy holder may reject this coverage. However, it is highly recommended.
Second, you will also need to understand what is covered under a full coverage as well as uninsured motorist coverage before making your determination.
What is covered under a “full coverage policy”.
Although full coverage sounds like your fully protected, it only covers the bare minimum required by Florida Law. In Florida, a full coverage policy covers $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages if you are injured in an accident and $10,000 Property Damage Liability, which covers the cost of repairing or replacing property damage you have incurred while you were driving. These requirements are much lower than other states. Do you think these benefits will get you far in the event of a horrific accident? The simple answer is “no”. It is not uncommon to see medical bills soar into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for significant accidents that involve surgeries for the injured parties. Since Florida is a “no fault” state, the insurance company pays for theses damages up to $10,000.00 regardless of fault.
What is covered under the uninsured motorist insurance coverage,
Having Uninsured motorist coverage pays for medical bills for injuries you or your passengers suffer for both present and future. You may also be reimbursed for lost wages, disability, long term nursing care, wheel chair and medical devices, future loss of earning potential, pain and suffering and other damages you may incur as a result of the accident.
As an example, let’s say you are driving your motor vehicle and a driver slams into the rear of your vehicle. This type of accident plays out across the country every day. Unfortunately, in many of these cases, the at fault driver does not have enough insurance coverage to cover all the damages. Now you can be stuck baring the extensive medical bills and any other costs you may incur. If your policy contains UM coverage, you will be able to obtain the excess compensation for your injuries and additional costs.
Who is covered un the uninsured motorist policy.
- The named insured;
- Family members whether in the insured’s vehicle or as a passenger in another person’s car who do not have their own policy;
- The named Insured as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by another vehicle.
Understanding how uninsured motorist coverage operates.
If you get hit by another car, you will want their insurance to pay for your property damage and injuries, right? What if they do not have coverage, or not enough coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage functions much like bodily injury automobile coverage. UM coverage provides insurance coverage to an insured who gets into an accident with an uninsured and/or underinsured.
If you do not have uninsured coverage, you can be at risk for great financial and emotional burden. In some cases, you may have to reach in your own pocket to pay for damages incurred in an accident. Uninsured motorist insurance provides coverage when a driver is involved in a motor vehicle accident with a vehicle who either does not carry insurance or inadequate and/or insufficient insurance coverage.
Understanding the risks of not having an auto accident.
Even with the high number of accidents in Florida, you may still think this will not happen to you and that you are a safe driver. With this reasoning and avoidance of wanting to bare the expense of paying a higher premium for an insurance policy. In Florida, we have a high statistic of automobile accidents. In 2018 there were 397,812 motor vehicle accidents reported. Many of those accidents have resulted in severe injuries including but not limited to fatalities. Unfortunately, you are not behind the wheel of the other vehicle and cannot control their actions. In the event you are ever in an auto accident whether alone or with your loved ones, you will want to make sure you have appropriate coverage for the injuries and any other expenses incurred.
Florida and uninsured drivers.
There are thousands of Floridian drivers driving without or with not enough insurance coverage. According to online statistics approximately 23 percent of Floridians are driving without insurance. What does this mean for you? What if you get into an accident with one of these drivers? You are at a higher risk of getting into a financial and emotional burden and may be very difficult for you to recover compensation.
Saying “yes” to uninsured motorist coverage.
Although it may not be required to have uninsured motorist coverage you may want to consider having this coverage if your policy does not include it already. This is due to the high number of accidents in Florida. The high occurrence of accidents in this State only translates to higher odds of you having an accident yourself, regardless of how safe you drive. As a responsible vehicle owner, you will want to make sure you and your family are protected. Whether they are in any vehicle, at any time, or anywhere. Having uninsured motorist coverage on your vehicle will provide you with peace of mind in the unfortunate event you run into a situation where there is lack of adequate insurance coverage.
