Fort Lauderdale Uninsured Motorists Coverage Lawyer
There are more vehicles on the roads than ever these days. According to IHS Automotive, there are 253 million in the U.S., meaning there is one car or truck for every 1.3 people. While fatalities have decreased since the 1970s, in part thanks to better crumple zone technology, seat belts, and airbags, there are still over 30,000 fatalities every year, as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, over 2.5 million victims of car accidents ended up in the emergency department in 2012. Out of those non-fatal injuries, 200,000 were hospitalized. Some of the most common types of injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord and spinal column (vertebrae) damage, ACL tears, severe abrasions, and fractured bones. These injuries can cost thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, days, weeks, months, and even years of time off work to recover. Contact our Fort Lauderdale uninsured motorist coverage lawyers today.
Sadly, according the the Department of Motor Vehicles, one in seven motorists does not have insurance, which puts all other road users at risk of debt from an auto accident. Furthermore, Florida only requires drivers to purchase $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability. This minimum of coverage does the other party no good to help with their injuries.
Uninsured or Underinsured Coverage
In terms of lost production and medical costs, auto crashes in the U.S cost $100 billion a year. The cost to the individual, although obviously much less monetarily, can be even more devastating, injuries aside. Because there are so many uninsured drivers operating their vehicles illegally and putting others at financial jeopardy, having extra coverage is more than just a good idea. Uninsured or underinsured coverage, referred to as UM coverage, covers you and the people that were injured in your vehicle. If the negligent party does not have liability insurance or does not have enough to cover your medical costs, UM coverage pays for your injuries. It pays for medical bills, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and funeral costs. UM coverage also covers all the members of your household as pedestrians as well, so if they get hit by an uninsured driver while walking to school or to work, UM will pay for their medical costs. The easiest way to think about UM coverage is as if you are purchasing liability coverage for every other road user in case they do not have coverage and do you or your family members harm.
If You Have Been Involved in a Fort Lauderdale Accident, Call Us Today
Our Fort Lauderdale uninsured & underinsured motorist lawyers can help you decide on the uninsured or underinsured or policy that fits your needs. UM coverage is a complicated type of insurance and one of our experienced lawyers that has dealt with UM coverage can make it a smooth and successful endeavor. The Pendas Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale is one of Florida’s most respected personal injury and uninsured motorists coverage law firms. Give us a call today and we can find the policy that you need to protect yourself and your family from uninsured and underinsured drivers; or, we can advocate on your behalf if you need assistance with filing a claim.