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Has anyone told you not to get uninsured motorist coverage on an automobile insurance policy? It is advice that I will convince you is dead wrong by the end of this article. Florida requires that drivers maintain automobile insurance in the amount of $10,000.00 in PIP coverage and $10,000.00 in property damage coverage. That is […]
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Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847
Get educated on the Florida's personal injury laws and more.
Has anyone told you not to get uninsured motorist coverage on an automobile insurance policy? It is advice that I will convince you is dead wrong by the end of this article. Florida requires that drivers maintain automobile insurance in the amount of $10,000.00 in PIP coverage and $10,000.00 in property damage coverage. That is it. If you are thinking what if someone gets hurt in the accident, the answer is there is no insurance to pay for their injuries. Now imagine that you are driving down 4th Street in St. Pete and as you cross 38th Avenue, a man with the insurance coverage I just described runs the red light and t-bones your car on the driver’s side door. You suffer cuts, bruises, a broken collar bone and a concussion. You are transported to the hospital where you are held overnight for treatment and observation. What is the likely outcome?
First, it is very likely that your bills from the hospital, alone, will exceed $25,000.00. The PIP coverage on your policy will pay 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages up to a maximum amount of $10,000.00. The at-fault driver’s insurance will not pay for any of your medical bills. Remember he did not purchase bodily injury coverage on his policy. Likewise, it will not pay for pain and suffering or lost wages. Using my example, PIP will pay out $10,000.00, but you will be left holding the bag for the remaining money owed for your medical treatment. Even if you have good health insurance, this bill can quickly run into the thousands of dollars. Without good health insurance, it can force hardworking people into bankruptcy through no fault of their own. This is the result if you rejected the uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage on your policy.
If you purchased the uninsured motorist coverage, then your medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages will be paid up the amount of the policy. Your uninsured motorist policy or UM policy will also kick in if the at-fault driver has insurance but is underinsured. At that point, your UM policy will pay the difference between the amount paid by the at-fault driver and your damages, up to the policy limits.
The big decision is how much automobile coverage should I purchase? I recommend maintaining coverage in an amount at least equal to your assets. Dave Ramsey recommends a policy of at least $500,000.00, regardless of your assets. If you maintain that level of insurance for your bodily injury policy that will care for the injuries suffered by others, you should maintain the same for yourself and purchase UM coverage in the same amount. Contrary to popular opinion, adding uninsured motorist coverage to your policy is not an extravagance and will not break the bank.
Have you been injured in a car or motorcycle accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney at Jones Law Group today. Your consultation is free and we will drive to meet you anywhere convenient for you.
If you have been involved in motorcycle or car accident, you should immediately call Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Pete, FL 33707
The Florida crash report (HSMV 90010S) is where every injury case starts, but it’s also the most confusing document most crash victims will ever try to read. This guide breaks down Long Form vs. Short Form, how to get your report from the FLHSMV Crash Portal, the 60-day confidentiality rule under § 316.066(2)(b), and what every section actually tells you — including the contributing cause codes, injury classifications, and narrative details that decide how your claim gets built.
Summary When most people think about truck accidents caused by large trucks, they usually picture semi-trucks that weigh 80,000 pounds. But there are many kinds of large trucks, and they can all result in devastating accidents leading to catastrophic injuries – and worse. The following is a look at some of these trucks and information […]
Tens of thousands of motorcycle accidents take place in the U.S. every year. When riders are severely hurt, they often panic because their medical bills just keep piling up. Since they can’t work, they have no idea how they’ll make it financially. This is why one of the most important things anyone can do after […]
By: Heath C. Murphy + – Personal Injury Car and motorcycle accidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. Many traumatic brain injuries go unreported by the injured person. Many of these injured people are displaying personality changes that are only noticed by the family and close friends of the accident victim. Unfortunately […]
The first 48 hours after a Florida slip and fall shape the entire case. Report the fall, photograph the hazard before it’s cleaned up, get witness contacts, see a doctor the same day, and do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. This guide walks through the 10 steps that protect your claim, the mistakes that sink cases, and why Florida’s notice rule under § 768.0755 sinks more slip and fall cases than the injury itself.
Summary: A traumatic brain injury can be one of the worst injuries anyone can experience, potentially altering a victim’s life forever. About 2.5 million people suffer one each year, with 80,000 victims suffering permanent debilitation. There are many causes of traumatic brain injuries. We outline five of the most common below. If someone else’s negligence […]
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Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847
Jones Law Group is a dedicated personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL, serving the Tampa Bay area since 2006. Our experienced attorneys specialize in car accidents, slip and fall cases, employment law disputes, construction law issues, and overtime wage claims, fighting for maximum compensation on a contingency fee basis. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847
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