Florida is well-known for its booming population and busy roadways. However, about 20% of
drivers in Florida are uninsured. Thus, roughly 1 in 5 vehicles on the road could leave you
completely unprotected in a crash. If you are a Florida resident or planning to move to the state,
there is one type of auto insurance you should strongly consider adding to your policy:
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM) coverage.
UM insurance protects you if you are involved in an auto accident, you are not at fault, and the
at-fault driver either has no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover your damages. UM
insurance can help pay for a variety of damages including medical expenses, lost wages, pain
and suffering.
Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) typically
covers your first $10,000.00 in injuries, regardless of who caused the accident. However, serious
accidents often exceed that limit. Without UM coverage, you may be left with significant out-of-
pocket costs after exhausting your PIP insurance. Even a short hospital stay can cost tens of
thousands of dollars. UM coverage can be the safety net that ensures you are not stuck with
medical debt because someone else chose to drive without proper insurance.
Additionally, Florida does not require drivers to carry Bodily Injury Liability coverage. Bodily
Injury Liability covers you in an accident under the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Thus, if
another driver causes an accident and does not have Bodily Injury Liability insurance, your only
recourse could be your own UM policy.
Many drivers wonder how much UM coverage to purchase under their own policies. While the
right amount depends on your personal financial situation and risk tolerance, we recommend
purchasing as much UM coverage as you have in Bodily Injury Liability coverage. For example,
if your Bodily Injury Liability limits are $100,000.00 per person and $300,000.00 per accident,
aim for the same with your UM coverage. We also recommend purchasing stacked UM
insurance, as this allows the coverage limits from multiple insurance policies to be combined to
create more coverage.
While you cannot control whether other drivers carry insurance or how safely they drive, you can
protect yourself. Because insurance gaps are a common problem in Florida, UM coverage is not
just a smart idea — it is financial self-defense. Review your policy to see if you have UM
coverage. We are always happy to provide free consultation regarding your insurance needs.’
Patrick Cassady, ESQ.
