Understanding the Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, one of the most important things to find out is the insurance information from the other driver. You can ask the other driver for this information, but the preferred approach is to call the police, who will issue a crash report and gather this information for those involved in the crash. What do you do though when the driver who hit you either does not have any insurance coverage or is underinsured, meaning they do not have enough coverage to fully compensate you for your losses? It is helpful to understand the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as it relates to your ability to get fair compensation for your personal injury claim. 

The legal team at Hersh Kirtman Injury Law is dedicated to providing legal counsel to victims who have been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Our team of legal professionals can ensure you understand the difference between uninsured and underinsured coverage and how you can still collect the compensation you are owed. 

What Is the Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured Driver Coverage?

If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, you would typically file a claim with the at-fault driver’s car insurance company to obtain the fair compensation you are owed for your losses. However, if the driver who hit you does not have car insurance, you would not have a way to recover funds for your losses from any insurance company for that driver and you may not be able to recover funds at all for the crash. Similarly,  even if a driver has some coverage, the coverage may be minimal and not enough to cover the full extent of damages and losses, including medical bills or property damage, you may have suffered. That is why it is important to consider uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. 

These two types of additional motorist coverage can help allow you to recover compensation following a crash where you have been injured, even if the at-fault driver or vehicle owner is uninsured or underinsured. 

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

This type of motorist coverage protects drivers and certain occupants if they are involved in an accident with another driver who does not carry any liability insurance.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

While many states define underinsured motorists differently, typically, and here in Florida, an underinsured driver is a driver who does not carry enough insurance to cover all of the damages they caused in a crash. 

In Florida, unlike some other states, if a driver has uninsured motorist coverage, they will also have underinsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage provides additional compensation to accident victims when they are involved in an accident with an at-fault driver whose liability limits are too low to cover the full extent of their losses. The at-fault driver’s insurance will typically pay for all damages up to their auto insurance policy limits. The underinsured motorist coverage will then cover the excess amount up to the limits you select, depending on the extent of your injuries and damages. 

Having uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is very important. It may be the most important coverage you can have, because many people on Florida’s roadways have no or limited insurance coverage. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is the only way to protect yourself and your loved ones in the case of a crash involving an at-fault party who does not have or does not have enough insurance.  

Pursue a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim With Hersh Kirtman Injury Law

Being injured in a motor vehicle accident can be overwhelming. This stress is only multiplied when the driver who hit you is uninsured or underinsured. To ensure that you get fair compensation for your injuries and losses, our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you navigate an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, should you have that coverage. 

At Hersh Kirtman Injury Law, we provide clients with the representation and service they need to help pursue their motor vehicle accident claims. To schedule a free case evaluation with one of our personal injury lawyers, contact us today by filling out our contact form or giving us a call at (561) 208-3700.