If you own a motor vehicle, having insurance can help protect you from harms caused during an accident. But meeting Florida’s minimal standards alone does not come close to fully protecting you. Without uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (also known as “UM or UIM”), you risk having to pay a significant amount of money out of your own pocket in the event that you’re injured in a crash and the other driver is uninsured or does not have bodily injury liability coverage on their policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute, an alarming 20.4% of Florida drivers are uninsured altogether, and Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage While some may think they don’t need uninsured motorist coverage, it’s the best way to protect yourself from harm caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers. Hersh Kirtman Injury Law has the necessary experience to help you achieve a favorable outcome in your uninsured motorist claim.
It’s not easy for car accident victims to be made whole after a crash. Insurance companies and defense attorneys fight hard to limit the damages paid to victims. Our compassionate lawyers understand the legal strategies needed to handle every aspect of your claim. We work with you to gather the facts of your case in order to tell your story. With our unmatched dedication to personal service, advanced negotiation skills, and thorough understanding of the law you can rest assured you are in the right hands.
Minimum Insurance Requirements in Florida
If you own a vehicle with at least four wheels in Florida, state law requires a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance. You must also carry proof of this insurance with you when you drive. While you hope to never use this insurance, all drivers must carry the following minimum coverage:
- $10,000 of PIP insurance
- $10,000 of PDL insurance
PIP coverage covers costs like medical expenses and lost wages for those injured in an accident. This insurance is also called no-fault coverage because it pays out accident claims no matter who’s responsible. PDL insurance helps pay for any damage a driver causes to another person’s property.
Types of Uninsured Motorist Coverages
Florida drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability insurance that allows you to recover fair compensation when an at-fault driver injures you. Uninsured and underinsured drivers who drive negligently leave the injured parties without any source of financial recovery to pay for care and treatment related to the damages they suffered. This is why carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage is so important.
UM insurance protects you if you are injured in a crash caused by an uninsured driver or if your injuries were caused by a driver whose bodily injury liability coverage is less than the value of the damages caused to you. Types of uninsured motorist coverage in Florida include the following:
- Stacked: This type of coverage combines the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage limits for multiple vehicles and provides higher limits if you make a claim.
- Unstacked: This uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage cannot be combined across vehicles.
Unfortunately, even with this type of coverage, your insurance carrier may attempt to undermine your claim and lowball you. Hersh Kirtman Injury Law attorneys are all too familiar with these tactics and fiercely advocate for a fair resolution, whether by settlement or jury verdict.
How Can a Lawyer Help With Your Boca Raton Uninsured Motorist Accident Claim?
Many crash victims face headaches getting uninsured and underinsured claims paid despite having uninsured and underinsured coverage. Even though they pay the premiums for their uninsured/underinsured motorist policy, many insurers reject claims, often for no valid reason. If this happens to you, Hersh Kirtman Injury Law is here to help you pursue your claim for uninsured motorist benefits.
Our knowledgeable team can also help you maximize your recovery in an uninsured motorist claim. We have significant experience pursuing these claims and will put that experience to work to zealously advocate for you. We recognize it may be confusing to read your insurance policy and understand what it covers. Let us advise you on what coverages apply to your claim and how they work, and we’ll see to it that your claim is not barred by Florida’s four-year statute of limitations. This way, you can focus on recovering from the injuries you suffered.
Speak With a Skilled Boca Raton Uninsured Motorist Attorney at Hersh Kirtman Injury Law Today
Getting injured in a car accident is stressful, but it can be even more stressful if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance. Even if you get uninsured motorist coverage, insurance companies may act in bad faith and try to offer an unfair settlement or reject your claim. At Hersh Kirtman Injury Law, we hold insurers to their obligations and demand that they meet the duties they owe to their policyholders. Our legal team has the experience necessary to help you get your claim approved.
With our years of experience handling the most complex car accident claims, you can trust us to gather the necessary evidence of fault, know how best to present it to your insurer, and take the steps needed to hold your insurer responsible if it fails to meet its obligations. To learn more about how we can help you with your uninsured motorist accident claim, call us at (561) 208-3700 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
