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Uninsured / Underinsured Motorists Call it another example of Murphy’s Law. You pay your insurance premiums timely your whole life, and you’re a safe driver. Yet, the first accident you’re involved in is with – of all people -an uninsured motorist! Well, you would actually be surprised at the number of times that situation occurs across West Palm Beach, Florida and the country each and every day. If we really thought about it, isn’t it logical that those same irresponsible motorists who are at fault in many accidents are also irresponsible when it comes to being insured? Unfortunately, the number of uninsured motorists is staggering. According to Elizabeth Sprinkel, senior vice president of the Independent Research Council (the IRC), "despite laws in many states requiring drivers to maintain insurance, about one in seven motorists remain uninsured. This means that responsible drivers who carry insurance must bear the burden of paying for injuries caused by drivers who carry no insurance at all." According to the latest IRC statistics, approximately 20% of all Florida drivers are uninsured. Therefore, there is a fairly high chance that if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, it may be with an uninsured, or underinsured motorist. If you’re wondering why there is such a high percentage of drivers who are either uninsured or underinsured, the answer might surprise you... Florida law does not require anyone to buy uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Keep in mind, it is probably the most important auto insurance to have – especially in South Florida. In Florida, you are only required to carry “PIP” or personal injury protection insurance. Minimum mandatory PIP only covers up to $10,000. It pays 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages. Typically, your PIP will be exhausted before you leave the emergency room. Even though most states require drivers to purchase insurance, many motorists simply cannot afford the premiums for adequate insurance. Some just ignore the requirement to carry insurance. In the case of underinsured motorists, many drivers try to get by with the bare minimum of insurance coverage allowable under the law, which, more often than not, is not sufficient to cover all damages resulting from an accident.
So, what can you do to protect yourself? First, always carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. All insurance companies, including yours, offer some form of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This is a voluntary form of insurance designed to pay for any bodily injury losses you suffered which were the result of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage also applies to hit and run accidents with drivers who leave the scene and cannot be located. Make sure you ask your insurance agent for “stacked” coverage. Stacked coverage will protect you when you drive someone else's car, ride a bike, or travel on foot. Second, it is always best to consult an attorney who is experienced in these types of claims. They can best advise you as to what you are entitled to recover. After all, the financial impact can be devastating – medical bills, including hospitalizations, surgery, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, can add up quickly. However, not all injuries are equal. Factors including severity of injury, permanency of injury, and work related injuries all determine the amount of recovery.
As a board certified criminal lawyer, I represents clients charged
with serious federal and state criminal offenses, like felonies and
DUI, before federal criminal courts and state criminal courts in
West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boca
Raton, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Stuart, Martin County, Fort
Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando,
Tallahassee, Key Largo, Key West, and all state criminal courts in
Florida and all federal criminal courts throughout the United States
of America. |
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