Getting into a car accident in Florida is stressful enough, but finding out the other driver doesn’t have insurance. That’s a whole new level of frustrating. Unfortunately, it’s more common than you might think. Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country, and that can seriously complicate your recovery.
Isn’t Car Insurance Required in Florida?
Technically, yes. Florida law requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL). But—and here’s the twist—Florida doesn’t require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance. So even if someone has basic coverage, they might not have the kind that helps you when they’re at fault.
Worse, some drivers don’t carry any insurance at all, even though they’re legally supposed to. If that’s who hit you, things get tricky fast.
Your Options After an Uninsured Crash
First, your PIP coverage will still help with your medical expenses—up to $10,000, regardless of who caused the accident. But if your injuries are serious and the bills keep climbing (which they often do), you’ll need more than just basic no-fault coverage.
That’s where Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage comes in—if you added it to your policy. This type of insurance steps in when the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough (or any) coverage. It can cover:
- Medical bills beyond your PIP limits
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical needs
If you don’t have UM coverage, your only real option may be to sue the uninsured driver personally, which sounds good on paper, but if they don’t have insurance, they probably don’t have assets to collect from either.
Talk to an Attorney Before You Make Assumptions
It’s tempting to give up or assume you’ll never see a dime—but don’t. Attorney Kevin Sullivan has handled plenty of car accident cases in Florida where there was no obvious path to compensation at first. You’d be surprised how often there are still options.
If the other driver didn’t have insurance and you’re left wondering what now, call Attorney Kevin Sullivan at (813) 598-4868. Don’t leave your recovery up to chance—get the guidance you need.
This post was written by a professional at Kevin L. Sullivan II. Attorney Kevin L. Sullivan II is your personal injury attorney in Zephyrhills FL, and the best personal injury attorney near you for LeavenLaw. Kevin is proud to serve Florida accident victims that have been injured in auto accidents, motorcycle accident, slip and falls or have suffered any other type of injury caused by negligence. Kevin offers a FREE no-obligation consultation to discuss your claim. There are NO upfront fees or costs and if he does not collect for you, you do not owe him anything.
