SW Florida Drivers Make Sure You’re Not Driving Underinsured
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Uninsured and underinsured drivers are a big issue throughout the United States. While driving with insurance is the law in all 50 states, the national average of uninsured drivers on the road is around 13%. Florida, however, has a much higher percentage – 20.4%, the sixth highest in the US. This means that while you’re driving down a southwest Florida highway, 2 out of every 10 drivers on the road may be driving without any insurance at all. Along with uninsured drivers are underinsured drivers. Just having a policy sometimes isn’t enough. If your policy doesn’t cover what needs to be covered, you may be left in a predicament if you’re the cause of an accident on the road.
Know What’s Covered
If you are insured, it’s important to know just what your coverage means and what coverages you’re paying for. This creates a clearer picture of your coverage and makes sure you’re not driving underinsured without knowing it.
The declaration page, or the first page of your policy, should outline:
• The insurance company
• Your name and address
• Policy number
• Renewal date of coverage
• List of all covered drivers
• Vehicle details
• All kinds of coverages your policy holds as well as their coverage limits
• Your deductibles
• Premiums
• Any endorsements or optional coverages you have as part of your policy
Going over this information regularly and checking to make sure everything is correct, and coverage is where you’d like it to be, is important to making sure you’re not driving underinsured.
What To Do If You’re In An Accident With An Uninsured Driver
With such a high rate of uninsured drivers in southwest Florida, the risk of being in an accident with one is very real. If the uninsured driver is the cause of an accident leading to severe injury, you may be wondering what options you have. Your PIP policy will cover a portion of your injuries, but what if the cost exceeds your coverage amount? In accidents with an uninsured driver, there are a few avenues to take:
• Personal Injury Protection – Your PIP coverage, or personal injury protection, is mandatory under Florida law. Southwest Florida drivers who have been in an accident with an uninsured driver will use their PIP coverage first. This will cover 80% of reasonable medical coverage related to the accident up to a certain amount, 60% of lost wages, and up to $5,000 in death benefits. In some instances, this may cover all injuries sustained in an accident, but in others the cost may way exceed what PIP is able to handle.
• Opt for uninsured motorist coverage – Uninsured motorist coverage is optional, but it’s never a bad idea to have in southwest Florida. While it won’t help after an accident has already occurred, it’s an excellent way to prepare in the event it does occur. Uninsured motorist coverage kicks in after you’ve reached your PIP maximum.
• Pursue a lawsuit – After an accident with an uninsured motorist has occurred, the most likely path to go down is pursuing a lawsuit for any damages PIP coverage cannot cover. If it can be proven that the uninsured driver was at fault for the accident, a lawsuit allows the driver to pursue compensation for those damages left over after PIP has covered its limit. To pursue a lawsuit, it’s always the best course of action to seek the assistance of a skilled and experienced auto accident lawyer in southwest Florida.