Protection For You and Those You Love
How do you protect yourself and your family against the injuries caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist? In Florida, we currently do not require a motorist to carry Bodily Injury Liability coverage in most circumstances. This would be the coverage you would look for to pay for your damages incurred due to injuries caused by the at-fault driver. If the driver that caused the collision did not purchase this coverage or did not purchase enough to pay for your accident-related damages, then one remedy is to sue them personally. However, this normally is a fruitless battle because unless they have attachable assets, you will just be spending money you can't afford, to sue them in an effort to get a judgment you will never collect. In other words, throwing good money at bad. However, if you purchase Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage under your policy of insurance, then this coverage will take the place of the coverage you need from the at-fault party and pay for your proven damages up to the limit you purchased. In our opinion, Uninsured Motorist coverage is the most important coverage you can purchase, as you can't assume that the at-fault driver will have the Bodily Injury Liability coverage you need to pay for your and your family members' injury damages.
Additionally, Uninsured Motorist coverage can act as a supplemental coverage as well in a situation where the at-fault driver has Bodily Injury Liability coverage, but it is insufficient to satisfy all of your damages. Uninsured Motorist coverage is then referred to as Underinsured Motorist coverage in this circumstance and will pay for those damages that the Bodily Injury Liability coverage could not fully satisfy.
Finally, you also have the option to purchase stacking, or non-stacking Uninsured Motorist coverage. We recommend that you buy the stacking form of Uninsured Motorist coverage. It allows you to combine the UM coverage on each individual vehicle in your household, with each of the vehicles that you own, that carry that coverage.
Oftentimes, our clients are reluctant to make a claim against their Uninsured Motorist coverage, as they are afraid their insurance company will drop them or raise their rates. Our response to this thought process is that you paid premiums to the insurance company so that you could have this added protection and benefit if you ever needed it, so claim it. If you never had the intention to use it, then don't waste your money and buy it. Furthermore, your insurance company has the option and right to sue the at-fault party personally to recover the money they have paid you under the Uninsured Motorist coverage. Thus, they can attempt to recover what they paid if they desire to do so.
Protect yourself and your family and buy as much Uninsured Motorist coverage as you can purchase and can afford. You are allowed to buy the same limits as you purchased in Bodily Injury Liability coverage. Don't leave home without it!
If you have any questions concerning Uninsured Motorist coverage or any other personal injury questions, please feel free to contact our office.
We are always here for you.
Chuck
