The Importance of Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist insurance covers medical bills and property damage if you’re in an accident with someone that doesn’t have insurance or has too little coverage. The coverage is especially important in Florida. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the state ranks 3rd for the number of uninsured drivers at 20.4 percent as of 2019.

PIP and PDL

Uninsured motorist coverage is optional in Florida. The state does require every vehicle that’s registered to be covered by $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL). Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning each driver’s insurance pays for injuries and property damage if they’re involved in an accident. However, there may be extenuating circumstances.

Insufficient Coverage

The cost of medical care and vehicle repair services have risen significantly since 2019. The minimal coverage amounts may be far from sufficient to cover medical bills or repair a vehicle. Many individuals that carry the minimum insurance requirements are woefully underinsured. These drivers can find themselves paying out of pocket for medical bills and repairs that exceed their coverage limit. They can also be sued if they’re at fault for expenses exceeding their basic coverage amount.

Potential for Disaster

Many individuals can find themselves a defendant in a lawsuit including commercial truck drivers, ride-share drivers, and manufacturers of defective parts that contributed to an accident. Other potential defendants include bars that overserve alcohol to a customer and governmental agencies that haven’t maintained roads and other infrastructure.

Weighing the Benefits

Individuals will save money over the short-term by carrying minimum insurance requirements. It can be an attractive option as insurance costs continue to increase. However, the trade-off is insufficient coverage to pay for medical bills and vehicle repairs when a driver needs it most. Uninsured motorist insurance protects drivers and their families from out-of-pocket expenses and expensive litigation.

For more information about how The Sena Group can help you with any

of your insurance needs, please contact us at 561-391-4661.

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The Sena Group
6501 Congress Ave., Ste. 100
Boca Raton, FL 33487