How to protect yourself againt an uninsured motorist.
Being a personal injury lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, I have represented thousands of accident victims over the last 10 years. In the last few years, I have noticed that very few drivers carry automobile insurance. Maybe its because they are illegal. Maybe its because they can't get insurance because they have no valid license. Maybe they just can't afford it. All you can do is protect yourself.
In Florida, you must carry the required minimum of PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and PD (property damage) by law. PIP covers your own medical expenses if you are injured. PD covers any property damage you may cause to someone else's property if the accident was your fault. If you have PIP and PD, you are minimally legally insured. Full coverage car insurance includes: PIP, PD, BI, UM (uninsured motorist), COMP, and COLLISION.
What does this all mean? Well, assume you are hit by a driver who carries no insurance (uninsured motorist). Let say also that you carry the minimum required insurance. Who is going to pay for you car to be repaired? Who is going to pay for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, etc.? NOBODY IS GOING TO PAY YOU ANYTHING! YOU ARE UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE!
The reason is that the other driver didn't have PD to pay for your property damage. If you had purchased COLLISION - your insurance company would have paid for your car repairs. If you would have purchased UM, then your insurance company would have paid for your injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.
To make sure you are covered, look at it like a chess match. Get UM coverage in case the other driver does not have BI. Get COLLISION coverage in case the other driver doesn't have PD. If you carried UM and COLLISION, you would be fully protected from an uninsured motorist.
In Florida, you must carry the required minimum of PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and PD (property damage) by law. PIP covers your own medical expenses if you are injured. PD covers any property damage you may cause to someone else's property if the accident was your fault. If you have PIP and PD, you are minimally legally insured. Full coverage car insurance includes: PIP, PD, BI, UM (uninsured motorist), COMP, and COLLISION.
What does this all mean? Well, assume you are hit by a driver who carries no insurance (uninsured motorist). Let say also that you carry the minimum required insurance. Who is going to pay for you car to be repaired? Who is going to pay for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, etc.? NOBODY IS GOING TO PAY YOU ANYTHING! YOU ARE UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE!
The reason is that the other driver didn't have PD to pay for your property damage. If you had purchased COLLISION - your insurance company would have paid for your car repairs. If you would have purchased UM, then your insurance company would have paid for your injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.
To make sure you are covered, look at it like a chess match. Get UM coverage in case the other driver does not have BI. Get COLLISION coverage in case the other driver doesn't have PD. If you carried UM and COLLISION, you would be fully protected from an uninsured motorist.
Labels: car accident lawyer, uninsured motorist
posted by Christopher J. O'Toole, Esq. at
9:09 PM
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