Florida Car Insurance 101: Accident Protection
Getting in an auto accident can not only cause physical harm and property damage, it can also be devastating financially. Florida auto owners are required by law to carry personal injury protection insurance and property damage liability insurance in the amount of $10,000 each, but many do and should carry greater amounts of insurance to protect themselves. Understanding how insurance claims work can be instrumental in a successful auto insurance claim or lawsuit after an accident.
Your Auto Insurance
Your auto insurance is designed to protect you in the event that you cause an accident and/or are responsible for another individual’s personal injury or property damage. Your automobile insurance will cover expenses within the policy limits if you injure or kill someone when driving your car or if someone files a lawsuit against you. Your coverage will also typically pay for any expenses of passengers in your vehicle when you are driving. Your personal insurance essentially protects you when you cause injury to another and incur significant expense, whether it be in medical expenses or property damage.
Other Drivers’ Auto Insurance
Why should you care what type of auto insurance other people have or if they even have it at all? Besides the fact that it is legally required for all drivers of registered vehicles in the state of Florida to carry auto insurance in the amounts prescribed above, insurance is necessary to protect yourself if you become injured by someone who does not carry insurance or sufficient insurance. Underinsured motorists are those with small amounts of coverage, often that minimally required by law. Uninsured motorists, on the other hand, are those that do not carry any auto insurance whatsoever.
If you are in an auto accident and injure someone else, your auto insurance policy is there to protect you from having to pay out large sums of money yourself. If you hit someone who does not have such insurance, it is unlikely that that individual would be able to afford to pay out all of your expenses without the assistance of insurance. For example, Consumer Reports estimates that medical treatment from a non-incapacitating injury from a car accident runs slightly under $25,000, and incapacitating injuries up to nearly $75,000. Without insurance, the person will be forced to pay that out of pocket, and when they do not or cannot, you will incur expenses taking them to court to try to get a remedy.
Uninsured motorist coverage is something that you can add to your insurance that will protect you in the event you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Your policy will pay up to a certain amount for those injuries caused by those who do not have sufficient insurance to cover your claims. Some jurisdictions will cover property damage and hit and run drivers. While Florida does not require uninsured motorist coverage, it is important to note that Florida has among the nation’s highest rate of uninsured drivers and that driving without this type of insurance may put you at serious financial risk.
Miami Auto Accident Attorneys
Being in a car accident is frightening. At Alan Goldfarb, P.A. our auto accident attorneys have the experience necessary to navigate even the most complex auto accident litigation cases. We will work with insurance companies to ensure you receive all of the compensation you are entitled to by law within the policy limits and help you have one less thing to worry about during this difficult time. Contact us at our Miami, Florida office today to learn more about how we can help you through your legal claim.
