Legal Website Blog for Personal Injury Law Firm - Auto Insurance

BLOG: Goldberg Noone Abraham

TITLE: “INSURANCE”

Auto Insurance: Are You Adequately Covered?

With the complicated language and confusing coverage information found in most auto insurance policies, it’s easy to assume you are carrying the amount of coverage you really need. But many times in our law practice of automobile, motorcycle, boating and truck accident injury cases, we discover that a vast number of drivers have an incorrect understanding of exactly how much coverage they carry. Many drivers believe that they carry “full coverage”, when in fact they are often underinsured.

There are many drivers on Florida roads that either choose to drive without any insurance coverage, cannot afford insurance or are inadequately covered. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage is designed to protect you if you are injured in an accident caused by someone not carrying any, or adequate, coverage. If the other driver has no liability coverage, your Uninsured Motorist policy will kick in. If the other driver has an inadequate liability policy to cover your injuries in the event of an accident, your Underinsured coverage will pay compensation for your injuries. Although they are two separate types of coverage, Florida has enacted insurance regulations in which both types are offered under the term “Uninsured Motorist” coverage. However, just because you carry Uninsured Motorist coverage in your policy, some policies may not pay for your injuries if you have settled with the at-fault motorist’s insurance company prior to getting his permission. There are so many variances and nuances to automobile insurance policies, and consulting an experienced attorney if you’ve been involved in an accident is a wise move. We strongly urge motorists to make sure they carry adequate Uninsured Motorist coverage, and to know the differences between “stackable” and “non-stackable” policy limitations.

Florida has been a "no-fault" state since the 1970's. This means each driver must insure himself or herself for their own auto accident related medical treatments and lost wages. This is called Personal Injury Protection, (PIP), and Medical Payments, (MP), coverage. An often-misunderstood aspect of Florida insurance law is that the state required minimum coverage calls for only Property Damage (to repair someone's property when you are at fault) and PIP (to pay 80% of your medical expenses and 60% of your lost wages). Florida does not require drivers to purchase Bodily Injury Liability coverage, which is coverage that would pay for bodily injury to the other party when you are at fault. Although No-Fault insurance coverage is designed so that your insurance company will pay if you are injured, no matter who is at fault, there are limitations. You must prove certain circumstances, or “thresholds”. These include a significant disability, loss of a significant bodily function, severe disfigurement, or death.

PIP coverage limits are traditionally $10,000.00, but other limits and deductibles are available when you purchase your policy. If you’ve been injured in an accident, being acutely aware of the costs of your medical treatment is imperative in order to make certain you are not incurring more medical costs than will be covered by your policy. If you are unable to work after your accident, it is also possible to designate that your PIP coverage be applied to your lost wages, as opposed to your medical expenses. Based on the length of time you may be unable to work and the degree to which you require medical treatment, these decisions can greatly affect your quality of life, and consulting an attorney with a comprehensive knowledge of insurance laws can prove to be vital.

The attorneys of Goldberg Noone Abraham can provide a no-obligation consultation to review the specific details of your case, and are experts in resolving disputes with insurance providers. If you have been injured and have questions, contact us at 239-461-5908, or visit our website at www.goldberg-law.com.