Search Posted in Uninsured Motorist
Auto insurance exists to protect you financially when something goes wrong on the road. But in Florida, the minimum coverage the law requires may leave you far more exposed than you realize.
After more than 35 years handling car accident cases in Tampa, Jeff Murphy has seen what happens when drivers assume they’re covered and find out too late that they’re not. Understanding what your policy actually does (and what it doesn’t) can make an enormous difference after a serious crash.
What is the minimum car insurance required in florida?
Florida law requires two types of coverage to register and drive a vehicle:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Minimum $10,000. This covers a portion of your own medical bills after an accident, regardless of who caused it. It does not cover injuries you cause to others.
- Property Damage Liability: Minimum $10,000. This pays for damage you cause to another person’s vehicle or property.
That’s it. Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage, meaning there is no legal requirement to have insurance that pays for injuries you cause to another person. Many Tampa drivers don’t know this until they need it.
What is a fully comprehensive car insurance
Over decades of practice, Jeff Murphy has had hundreds of clients describe themselves as “fully insured.” In many of those cases, they weren’t. They had the legal minimum — which in Florida means coverage for property damage and some of their own medical bills, but nothing to compensate the person they injured.
If you cause a serious accident and only carry minimum coverage, the injured party may have no insurance to claim against. They may be forced to pursue you personally for damages. And if you’re on the other side, i.e. injured by someone with minimal or no coverage, you may have no clear path to compensation at all.
can you sue an insured driver in Florida?
Florida consistently ranks among the worst states in the country for uninsured drivers. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is the single most important optional coverage a Florida driver can carry. It steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance, or not enough to cover your losses.
Here’s how it works:
- If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your UM coverage pays for your injuries up to your policy limit.
- If the at-fault driver is underinsured, your UIM coverage pays the gap between their limit and your actual damages.
- UM coverage also applies to hit-and-run accidents where the other driver is never identified.
- Coverage extends to your spouse and resident relatives — not just you.
Florida law requires insurance companies to offer UM/UIM coverage. If you decline it, you must do so in writing. Many people decline without understanding what they’re giving up. Say you’re seriously injured by a driver who carries only $25,000 in bodily injury liability. Your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering total $200,000. Without UM/UIM coverage, you’re left with a $175,000 gap and likely no meaningful way to recover it from the at-fault driver personally. With adequate UM/UIM coverage, your own insurance fills that gap.
What to Review on Your Current Policy
If you haven’t looked closely at your auto policy recently, these are the key items to check.
- Do you have bodily injury liability coverage? Florida doesn’t require it, but without it you’re personally exposed if you cause an accident.
- Do you have UM/UIM coverage? And if so, is the limit high enough to cover a serious injury?
- Is your PIP limit adequate? The $10,000 minimum covers only a fraction of costs after a serious accident.
- Are your family members covered? UM/UIM typically extends to resident relatives, but confirm this with your insurer.
Already in an Accident? contact jeff murphy law for help
If you’ve been injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Tampa, don’t assume there’s nothing to recover. Your own UM/UIM coverage may apply. The at-fault driver may have assets worth pursuing. And in some cases, other parties, such as employers, vehicle owners, property managers, may share liability. Jeff Murphy Law handles car accident cases throughout Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa Bay. Jeff reviews every case personally and answers calls 24/7. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
Call Jeff Murphy Law any time — day or night. A free case evaluation costs you nothing, and knowing where you stand costs you even less.
