We frequently hear from people who have been injured in an auto accident at no fault of their own and wish to pursue legal action against the at-fault party. However, once we dig a little deeper, it’s common to find the driver who caused accident carries little-to-no insurance. Therefore, we may only be able to cover part of their medical bills. Likewise, if there is no coverage, it is difficult to make any recovery for the person. This situation is all too familiar and begs the question, “Do I really need uninsured motorist coverage?”
What is Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM or UIM) is additional coverage you may add on to your auto insurance policy. While it is not required by law, UM protects you in the event you are injured in an auto accident through no fault of your own, and the other driver does not carry adequate coverage. Furthermore, the State of Florida does not require drivers to purchase Bodily Injury Coverage, or BI, which pays for severe or permanent injuries which result from an accident that is not their fault. Unfortunately, surprisingly few people have BI and UM coverage.
Why Should I Purchase UM?
Last week, our blog explained how Florida is considered to have the worst drivers in the nation. Not only that, our state is also the second-most uninsured state in the entire United States! If you have UM, you may be able to make a claim against your own policy to help pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, disability, and some other costs accrued as a result of the accident.
In short, the answer is YES, you should buy uninsured motorist coverage. We don’t work for insurance companies; we simply want you to be protected in the event an uninsured motorist causes your accident. Of course, UM costs a little extra each month and it’s not required by law, but you will certainly be glad you have it in the unfortunate event you need it.
