Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida?
Insurance coverage can seem like a labyrinth of legal jargon that’s impossible to decode. When it comes to your motor vehicle insurance, a few helpful tips will come in handy, especially while driving in Florida. One of the most common questions in regards to car insurance is, “Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Florida?” Just as the question implies, this type of advice could vary from state to state.
In Florida, having uninsured motorist coverage, or “UM,” is a good idea because there are as many as 19% of motorists who drive uninsured, making this one of the highest percentages in the country. Since this is the case, it’s better to be safe and invest in UM otherwise you could be looking at more issues down the road.
Many motorists still wonder if UM is necessary when they already have “no fault” insurance (or, “PIP”) and the answer is: yes. While no fault insurance is mandatory, there are limits on how much monetarily this will cover you and the term “no fault” is rather ambiguous as well. There are many different types of accidents and no fault insurance can’t possibly cover all of the various types of situations you could find yourself in as a motorist.
UM keeps you covered on all fronts and will help to back up your claims because it ends up essentially “doubling” what your eligible for after an accident since you technically have “two vehicles” insured. Often times you can also become eligible for higher limits after purchasing UM as well, be sure to inquire more about this with your insurance provider.
It’s especially good to have since the state does not require that motorists carry bodily injury coverage. On the other side, if you so choose to not get UM, you will no longer be eligible to receive compensation for non-economic damages such as lifelong disability, and pain and suffering, as well as future medical expenses, and lost wages. To cover all your bases in Florida, it’s highly suggested that you invest in UM and keep yourself and your loved ones in the best possible position to make a full recovery should you get into an accident.
