Florida’s Minimum Insurance Requirements Are Dangerously Low
Under Fla. Stat. § 324.021 and Fla. Stat. § 627.736, Florida only requires drivers to carry:
– $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and
– $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL).
Bodily Injury Liability (BI) coverage is not required to legally operate a vehicle in Florida. This means a reckless or negligent driver can legally cause a crash that severely injures you and still carry no insurance for your injuries. If they carry only minimal coverage (e.g., $10,000 or $25,000), it’s usually nowhere near enough to cover hospital bills, surgery, lost income, or long-term disability.
How UM/UIM Coverage Protects You
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage steps in if you’re hit by a driver who:
– Has no insurance, or
– Commits a hit and run and cannot be identified.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage helps when the at-fault driver has some insurance, but not enough to pay for your total losses.
UM/UIM can help pay for:
– Medical bills beyond PIP limits,
– Lost income or profits,
– Future loss of earning capacity,
– Pain and suffering,
– Long-term disability care.
Florida Law on UM/UIM Coverage
UM coverage is governed by Fla. Stat. § 627.727, which includes:
– UM coverage must be offered equal to the limits of any bodily injury coverage purchased.
– Policyholders must reject UM coverage in writing for it to be excluded from a policy.
– Stacking is permitted unless the insured waives it.
Example: If you carry $100,000 per person in UM coverage on two vehicles with stacked coverage, you have up to $200,000 available in coverage.
Real-World Scenario: Why UM/UIM Is Essential
Imagine you’re a business owner, commuting on I-95. You’re rear-ended by a driver with no insurance. You suffer a spinal injury requiring surgery and months off work.
– No BI coverage from the at-fault driver = $0 recovery from their insurer.
– Your PIP covers only $10,000 of initial treatment.
– But you have $250,000 in stacked UM coverage.
– Your own policy now provides the only path to financial recovery—including wage loss, lost business revenue, and future medical costs.
Without UM, you’d be financially devastated.
How Much UM Coverage Should You Carry?
We recommend:
– At least $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident in stacked UM/UIM coverage, or
– Higher limits if you have substantial income, are self-employed, or support a family.
The cost of UM/UIM is generally modest compared to the protection it provides—especially in serious injury or wrongful death cases.
How Abrams Justice Uses UM/UIM to Win for Our Clients
We thoroughly evaluate every case for potential UM/UIM recovery and are skilled at:
– Triggering early coverage disclosures.
– Overcoming bad faith denials of UM claims under Fla. Stat. § 624.155,
– Filing civil remedy notices and leveraging litigation to unlock full policy limits.
In many cases, UM/UIM coverage is the only way to make an injury victim whole after a crash in Florida.
Conclusion: Protect Yourself Before a Crash Happens
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Check your auto insurance policy today. If you don’t see UM or UIM listed—or if your coverage is too low—contact your insurer immediately to add it.
At Abrams Justice, we’ve seen the devastating consequences of Florida’s weak insurance laws. That’s why we always educate our clients—and aggressively pursue UM/UIM coverage when it matters most.
Call us today if you or someone you love was injured in a crash. We will review your case, your insurance policies, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.