Tampa Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
If you get injured in a car crash that another driver caused, they should cover all of your damages, right? Well, sadly this is often not the case. Victims are regularly left with large medical bills and unpaid wages due to the fact that many Florida drivers do not have insurance policies with sufficient bodily injury coverage, or personal assets worth pursuing in a lawsuit. If you were injured in a traffic collision, you need to work with an attorney who will look at every possible avenue to maximize your compensation. This includes UM insurance. The Tampa uninsured motorist lawyer at The Matassini Law Firm, P.A. will leave no stone unturned.
Minimum Insurance Required for Drivers in Florida
Unlike most states, Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance. All one needs to legally operate a motor vehicle is a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL). This only covers the policyholder, not the victim they injure. 15.9 percent, or roughly one out of six Florida drivers, have no insurance at all.
Why Florida’s System of Personal Injury Protection is Flawed
The idea behind PIP insurance is that if everyone has it, they will not need to sue each other in the event of a traffic collision. However, this logic is deeply out of date, because $10,000 in personal bodily injury insurance only scratches the surface of a truly serious injury, which could easily cost well over $100,000 in medical expenses alone. Florida’s PIP law was created in 1971, when $10,000 had the purchasing power of nearly $80,000 in today’s money. However, even if the limits were raised, PIP still does not cover an injured driver’s other damages, such as lost earning capacity due to disability, pain and suffering, and loss of joy of life. To recover these damages, a victim must file a personal injury claim with the at-fault party.
How Does My UM Policy Work?
If you have a traditional auto insurance policy, you likely have UM insurance (uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance). This policy can be used in the event that you get in a wreck caused by a driver without insurance, or who is minimally insured and has little to no bodily injury coverage. If you are not at fault in causing the crash, you can seek compensation from your own UM policy for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Call a Tampa Uninsured Motorist Lawyer Today
Just because you are seeking compensation from your own insurance company does not mean you will get what you are asking for. Injured traffic victims are routinely denied by their own insurance company, or offered a lower amount than their UM policy limits. For this reason, you need to work with a Tampa uninsured motorist attorney, who will ensure that you receive maximum compensation from all parties, including your own UM policy. Call The Matassini Law Firm, P.A. at 813-217-5715 to schedule a free consultation.
