What to Do When You’ve Been Hit by an Uninsured Driver
Any car accident is scary. You’re driving along
when — BOOM! — your car crumples. Whether or not you suffer injuries, you will
likely be shaken up by this type of collision.
When the at-fault driver doesn’t have car
insurance, however, your feelings of fear may quickly turn to despair. How are
you going to get your car fixed? Who
will pay for your medical treatment?
It is normal to feel this way after an
accident, especially when you find out that the other driver is uninsured
(which you may only learn after the accident). Fortunately, there are options
for recovering even if you have been hit by an uninsured driver. Although the
situation is less than ideal, a Miami car accident attorney can help you decide
how to proceed.
Are Florida Drivers Required to Purchase Car Insurance?
Under Florida law, all drivers of motor
vehicles must maintain a minimum
level of car insurance. To purchase and
maintain a Florida license plate and registration, a driver must have $10,000
in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability
(PDL). As long as you have a valid Florida license plate, you must have at
least this much insurance coverage.
PIP is also known as Florida no-fault car insurance.
In essence, it covers your own damages — regardless of who is at fault for the
accident — up to the limits of your policy. It will also cover other members of
your household and certain passengers. PDL covers damage that you may cause to
others’ property in an accident involving a motor vehicle.
Florida law, incredibly enough, does not require drivers to purchase bodily
injury liability insurance. This type of coverage pays for injury or death to
others caused by car accidents.
Florida has the highest percentage of uninsured
drivers in the country. According to a 2017 report from the Insurance Research
Council, 26.7% of Florida drivers
do not have car insurance. Drivers can have their drivers’ license, license
plate and registration plate suspended for up to 3 years if they fail to keep
insurance.
If you are involved in an accident with an
uninsured driver, there are steps that can be taken in an attempt to recover
for your losses. While it may be more challenging than seeking compensation
from a fully insured driver, a skilled lawyer can work with you to assist you
in the legal process.
How to Obtain Compensation After Being Hit by an Uninsured
Driver in Florida
Because Florida is a no-fault state, the first
place that you will have to look after an accident is your own insurance
policy. Your PIP coverage may be sufficient to pay for any medical treatment
that you need from the crash. However, in many cases, PIP will simply not be
enough to pay for your medical expenses or other damages.
One option is to sue the uninsured driver. You
can file a lawsuit against him or her, and if you win, you may be able to
recover damages from their assets. Unfortunately, many uninsured drivers don’t
have insurance because they cannot afford it — which usually means that it will
be difficult to collect a judgment against them.
However, if the uninsured driver has a job,
then the judge may order him or her to pay you a small amount each month in
damages. If he or she has any assets, you may be able to place a lien on the
assets or otherwise get at them to be compensated for your damages.
As an alternative, you can look to your own
insurance for a recovery. Uninsured motorist coverage is an option for Florida
motorists. It offers payment to policyholders who are in an accident with an
uninsured driver.
While uninsured motorist coverage is not
mandatory in Florida, it is an incredibly smart idea to purchase this added
coverage. Given the high percentage of Florida drivers without car insurance,
it is generally worth spending the extra money to protect yourself.
Underinsured motorist coverage will also
help to cover the difference between your total damages and the at-fault
driver’s (minimal) insurance coverage.
Importantly, uninsured motorist coverage can only be purchased if you have Bodily
Injury Liability coverage and cannot exceed your Bodily Injury ILiability
limits. If you only maintain the
standard minimum $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL coverage, then you cannot purchase
uninsured motorist coverage. Be sure to
talk to your insurance agent about your options when making coverage decisions.
Even though you will be making a claim against
your own insurance company if you file an uninsured motorist claim, it may
still be a challenging process. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses,
and rarely want to offer settlements for a high dollar amount. Be sure to
consult with an experienced Miami car accident lawyer who has experience with
uninsured motorist claims before signing any paperwork offered by your
insurance company.
Work with a Personal Injury Attorney in Miami
People who drive without car insurance put
everyone at risk — yet more than a quarter of all Florida drivers engage in
this behavior. If you have been hit by an uninsured driver, you may think that
you are out of luck when it comes to getting money for your damages. However,
there may be ways to be compensated, from your own PIP insurance to a lawsuit
against the driver to an uninsured motorist policy.
The law firm of Kaire & Heffernan is
devoted to advocating for victims of all types of accidents — including those
drivers who have been hit by motorists without insurance. We offer free initial
consultations, provide services in both Spanish and English, and never charge a
fee unless we recover money for you. Contact our office today at 305-372-0123 or
online to schedule an
appointment with a personal
injury attorney in Miami.