Car accidents on Florida’s streets and highways are a constant occurrence. There are roughly 250,000 car accidents in Florida every year, and these accidents cause roughly 200,000 injuries and over 2,000 deaths every year
According to both the Florida Insurance Council and the Insurance Research Council, nearly one in four drivers in Florida is uninsured. Imagine this scenario: the accident has occurred and it was caused by the other driver. Then you find out that the other driver, the one who caused the accident, does not have auto insurance. You wonder what will happen with your claim and whether you will receive any compensation for your injuries.
Florida is a No-Fault State
Florida is a “no-fault” state. This means that after an accident, your own insurance, rather than the insurance of any other drivers, will cover and pay for your medical bills if you are injured in the accident and your lost wages if you are unable to work due to your injuries, up to a total of $10,000. In other words, even though the other driver may be at fault in having caused the accident, your own insurance, and not the other driver’s insurance, will initially pay for your injuries.
Please note that you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident in order to receive reimbursement for your medical expenses, and your compensation will be limited to $2,500 unless you had an “emergency medical condition.”
Serious Injuries
If you had serious injuries that required more than $10,000 in medical treatment and expenses, you are permitted to sue the other driver only if you have experienced one of the following:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function;
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability;
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement; or
- Death
We discuss these types of cases more thoroughly here.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Your insurer may also provide you with uninsured motorist coverage, designed just for this scenario involving the driver who caused the accident and has no insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage also provides coverage when the other driver flees after the accident. Uninsured motorist coverage provides you with reimbursement for medical expenses when the other driver who caused the accident has no auto insurance or does not have sufficient coverage (meaning, your medical expenses are greater than the other driver’s policy limits).
Call Us Now
Do not despair if the other driver does not have insurance. If you have been injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver in Florida, you should call us immediately. The attorneys at Reed & Reed have the experience needed to fully represent you and navigate the legal intricacies of an uninsured motorist case. From our office in Brandon, we help clients in Tampa, New Tampa, Plant City, East Hillsborough County and throughout the state of Florida. Contact Reed & Reed for a free consultation.
