Is An Uninsured Motorist Policy Necessary In Florida?
Did you know that one out of every five drivers that you see on the highway or road does not carry the sufficient amount of coverage to compensate you if they are responsible for causing an accident in which you might suffer long term or devastating injuries? If you are about to renew or purchase an auto policy, this might be a good time to consider saying “yes” to Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. Uninsured motorist insurance is crucial to have, as Florida in 2019 leads the country with 26.7% underinsured / uninsured motorists on the road**.
Consider this for a moment: If you are in an auto accident with someone that has no auto insurance, and you do not have UM, what would you do to recover future medical expenses? As you can see, UM really is a necessity. Remember that your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) only pays the bills you have received for the extent of your injuries today. Future losses due or extending from an auto accident would not be covered. Future wage loss and non-economic damages like a disability resulting from said accident could really jeopardize the stability of your life, home, and family.
Do not expect the insurance companies to jump at the chance to sell you a UM policy because it obligates them to pay for the full extent of your losses. In many instances, the insurance companies will even discourage you from purchasing it. Oftentimes, injured parties that reject UM insurance on their own policies are often left with little or even no compensation.
Here is another thing to keep in mind- UM coverage pays for things like:
- medical bills
- loss of the future enjoyment of life
- lost wages and disability
- long term nursing care
- wheelchairs and medical devices
- pain & suffering
- death
In many cases, adding UM coverage to your auto policy may not increase your rates by an immense amount. Therefore, it is our opinion that all consumers should review their policies and coverage options at a minimum of every 6 months or when there is a life change. Remember, your financial situation and life changes over time and so should your insurance. Whether it is adding an additional vehicle or increasing your coverages, your insurance coverage should be something that is on your semi-annual to-do list. Overall, we encourage you to purchase as much UM coverage as you can reasonably afford.
**https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists