The Benefits of Having Car Insurance

The major benefits of having car insurance include being able to access timely compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repairs in the event of an auto accident.

Summary

• Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability insurance in case of a car accident.
• PIP covers your own medical bills and lost wages up to a certain limit, while PDL reimburses another driver if you damaged their vehicle in an accident that was your fault.
• Florida drivers can protect themselves by carrying uninsured motorist insurance to cover their expenses if a driver without insurance hits them.

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On average, Floridians pay $3,183 a year for car insurance. This is roughly 37% more than the national annual coverage. This can be contributed to the fact that Florida is the third most dangerous state to drive in, with an average of 1,000 car accidents a day.

With Florida’s accident rate being so high, it is important to have proper car insurance and protection.

Car insurance can prove to be beneficial in different ways. It can help protect you from the cost of repairs and medical expenses, and it may officer financial protection. However, the level of protection you receive is dependent on the type of insurance you have.

If your auto accident insurance isn’t enough to cover your bills after a reckless driver hit your car, you may be eligible for other avenues of compensation. The car accident attorneys of Jones Law Group can help you determine if a personal injury claim would be appropriate for your situation.

Set up a free consultation with us by calling (727) 571-1333 or using our online contact form.

Types of Car Insurance

There are 6 main types of car insurance, but only two of them are required in Florida.

1. Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

In Florida, Personal Injury Protection Insurance covers medical costs, lost wages, and death benefits. PIP Insurance will pay up to $10,000 following your claim. It is important to note that in Florida, PIP insurance only covers 80% of your medical costs.

However, if your injury is not considered an emergency, your insurance will only distribute $2,500 in benefits. Additionally, it may prove beneficial for one also to have comprehensive medical insurance.

2. Property Damage Liability

On the flip side, Property Damage Liability protects you if you are found at fault for damaging the vehicle of another party in an accident. In a scenario like that, the injured party would tap into your Property Damage Liability insurance.

The benefits would to go toward the cost of their vehicle repairs, a rental car while they wait for the car to be fixed, or a replacement vehicle for a totaled car.

The other types of car insurance can be beneficial depending on what level of coverage you are seeking.

3. Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive insurance protects your vehicle from damages caused by a non-collision accident. This includes theft, vandalism, windshield damage, and other damages caused by weather incidents.

To clarify, comprehensive insurance is not the same as full coverage insurance, as it does not protect your vehicle from collisions.

4. Collision Insurance

Collision insurance covers repairs or replacements needed to fix your vehicle after accidents involving stationary objects like telephone poles or guardrails. This insurance also covers accidents with stationary vehicles or accidents involving a parked vehicle.

Floridians can purchase collision insurance to cover cars, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles.

5. Bodily Injury Liability

Basically, Bodily Injury Liability insurance covers the same things as Personal Injury Protection, just for the other injured parties. It covers medical expenses, compensation for lost wages, emergency aid, and more.

One of the benefits of having car insurance that includes Bodily Injury Liability is that BIL protects your assets if you are responsible for an accident where other parties were injured or killed

6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Unfortunately, roughly 1 in 4 drivers in the state of Florida do not have insurance. This could potentially leave you without coverage for your damages. Uninsured Motorist Coverage can help pay for medical expenses or damages caused by a driver who is uninsured.

An underinsured driver is someone who has car insurance but whose level of coverage is not high enough to cover others’ injuries and damages as a result of an accident they cause. In the event of an accident, Underinsured Motorist Coverage may help to cover damages that the underinsured motorist’s insurance doesn’t.

The Cost of Driving Without Car Insurance

Even if you aren’t the cause of your car accident, you may still incur some costs associated with driving while uninsured. Penalties for driving without the required insurance in Florida can range from a $150 reinstatement fee to a $500 reinstatement fee.

As a result, the state may suspend your driver’s license, license plate, and/or registration. To avoid these fees, make sure that you have active car insurance when driving. We know insurance is expensive, but so are the fines for not carrying it.

Contact Jones Law Group Today About Meeting With a Car Accident Lawyer

Here at Jones Law Group, we understand that Florida car insurance can be expensive. It can also be difficult choosing an insurance plan that suits your needs. Regardless of your level of insurance coverage, we’re here to help you get the compensation that you deserve.

Our experienced team of attorneys works hard to ensure our clients receive fair compensation for their car accident damages. Additionally, our firm has a long track record of success in similar cases. 

For more information or to schedule a free case evaluation, don’t hesitate to use our online contact form, or please contact us by calling us at (727) 571-1333.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does car insurance work in a no-fault state like Florida?

In a no-fault state, injured car accident victims rely on their own mandatory PIP coverage as a first line of defense against accident-related expenses. That means you would need to file a claim with your own insurance company first, before seeking compensation elsewhere. 

If you still have considerable outstanding bills due to your car accident injuries, your next step would be to see if you qualify for compensation through a personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company.

At minimum, you’ll need to show that the other driver acted negligently and that this caused the car accident where you suffered your injuries. A Florida personal injury attorney can help you navigate using insurance after a car accident to ensure that the insurance company offers you a fair settlement.

What can I do if the driver who hit me is uninsured or underinsured?

If you carry Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage, you can access that policy to go towards the costs associated with medical care, taking time away from work due to the accident, and repairing damage to your vehicle. 

How soon do I have to see a doctor for my car accident injuries to remain eligible for PIP insurance coverage?

Florida insurance law stipulates that accident victims have 14 days following the collision to seek medical attention. This helps solidify the causal relationship between the car accident and your injuries. If you don’t see a doctor by this deadline, you could lose your ability to recover compensation through your PIP policy.

What qualifies as negligence in a Florida car accident claim?

In general terms, negligence in a car accident claim refers to a driver’s careless actions that resulted in a crash. Examples of negligence could include drunk driving, texting while driving, speeding, aggressive driving, reckless lane changes, and more. 

Drivers owe one another a duty of care, and these actions are in violation of that obligation. Drivers who don’t uphold their duty by acting negligently behind the wheel can be liable for the damages of road users who are injured as a consequence of their behavior.