Ocala Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
Driving is a gamble. You can only control how safely you drive, and no matter how defensively you operate your vehicle, there is always the chance that a careless, reckless, distracted, or drunk driver will plow into you. Driving is a gamble in another way as well. More than one out of four Florida drivers have no insurance, meaning that if they cause a collision they are leaving the injured party with no way to collect compensation. Even more drivers have just the minimum policy, which in Florida is just Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance that covers $10,000 in property damage liability and nothing in bodily injury coverage for those who they injure, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. While you might have health insurance, that only goes so far in a serious crash. Another measure of protection that you should seriously consider is an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy. The Ocala uninsured motorist lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm can help you navigate this complex matter.
How Does Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Work?
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM coverage) kicks in when the negligent party does not have auto insurance, or when their insurance policy is not substantial enough to cover all of your damages. While you could sue the individual directly and take their assets, this is generally a poor option to take considering that they probably do not have considerable assets in the first place, otherwise they would have been heavily insured. As such, a UM policy will allow you to seek compensation from your own insurance company for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more. You can purchase a UM policy that will cover up to $500,000 in bodily injury, or up to $1 million in bodily injury on an umbrella policy according to statute 627.727.
Why Is My Own Insurance Not Enough?
Many people believe that as long as they have auto insurance and health insurance themselves, they will be taken care of financially if they get in a wreck caused by another motorist. This thinking is flawed in a few ways. First of all, if you get in a crash caused by another party, your own auto insurance will only cover damages to your car, not your hospital bills or lost wages. Secondly, while your health insurance will cover some of your medical expenses, you will be left with your deductible, which can be very high depending on your policy, as well as copays and everything that your insurance does not cover. For example, if a victim suffers a serious spinal or brain injury—both costly and life-altering—most people’s health insurance plans would still leave them with tens of thousands of dollars in expenses to cover themselves. Lastly, your own insurance will not cover lost wages, pain and suffering, or emotional distress. Pain and suffering and lost wages often end up being some of the largest pieces of the pie when it comes to personal injury compensation.
Call an Ocala Uninsured Motorist Coverage Lawyer Today
The Ocala uninsured motorist coverage lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm can discuss with you the right policy to purchase, help you get reimbursed by your own uninsured/underinsured policy, and help you file a lawsuit against the negligent party who caused the crash. Call today at 1-844-200-0000 to schedule a free consultation.
