Naples Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
One of the first things you learn when you get your driver’s license is that if you choose to own a car, you need to have auto insurance. This is especially important in Florida, where the state’s “no-fault” rules require you to seek coverage from your own insurance carrier before seeking compensation for a negligent driver following an accident. Of course, your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is often insufficient to pay the full measure of your losses, especially if you sustain a more serious injury.
The problem is that even when you can seek damages against a negligent driver, they may also lack sufficient insurance to cover your losses. Indeed, many drivers who cause accidents fail to maintain any insurance at all in spite of the legal mandate. In these cases your own carrier may still be responsible for providing you with uninsured and underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage. An experienced Naples uninsured motorist lawyer can advise you on this process. At the Pendas Law Firm, we represent accident victims looking for options when dealing with an accident caused by a driver who lacks proper insurance.
How Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Protects You in Florida
Florida law requires you to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) or “no-fault” coverage as part of your standard auto insurance policy. The state also requires your insurance company to offer you UM/UIM coverage as well. Legally, you do not have to purchase uninsured motorist coverage, but it is generally a good idea to do so. And if you choose to reject such coverage, you must do so explicitly in writing to the insurer.
The main benefits of UM/UIM coverage is that your insurance company will effectively be on the hook for any losses you suffer as the result of an accident with a negligent driver whose insurance is unable to provide you with full compensation. In some cases this means the negligent driver lacks any insurance at all. But more often, it means the driver’s policy limits are simply too low to account for all of your legal damages. Remember, while Florida requires you to carry insurance, it only specifies a minimum amount of coverage, and most of us tend to purchase only that minimum.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can also play a critical role in compensating you following a hit-and-run accident. If the negligent driver leaves the scene and is never identified by law enforcement–a common scenario–then your UM/UIM carrier can be held liable for your covered losses. In fact, uninsured motorist coverage even applies if you are injured as a pedestrian or bicyclist–you do not have to be in your car in order to receive benefits.
Contact The Pendas Law Firm Today
Anytime you are involved in an auto accident, it is important that you notify your insurance company as soon as possible in order to preserve your potential rights under your policy. You should also speak with a skilled Naples uninsured motorist lawyer who can represent you in dealing with the insurance company and taking other actions on your behalf with respect to seeking compensation. Contact the Pendas Law Firm today to schedule an initial consultation.
