Uninsured Drivers Make Florida a Risky State in Which to Drive
Florida has a higher rate of uninsured and underinsured drivers than many other states. The situation can leave injured people with nowhere to turn for help after a crash.
Uninsured/underinsured (UI/UIA) insurance can help cover costs when an uninsured, underinsured, or unidentifiable driver causes injuries in a crash. Yet many Florida drivers don’t carry this coverage – and unlike most states, Florida doesn’t require drivers to carry bodily injury coverage for accidents, either. When a crash occurs, those injured can be left struggling to pay bills with little help available.
Uninsured Driver Statistics in Florida
In 2022, approximately 15.9 percent of Florida drivers had no auto insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). This number is higher than the national average, which was 14 percent in 2022.
Other studies place the number even higher. An Insurance Research Council (IRC) study, for instance, estimated that 20.4 percent of Florida drivers are on the roads without insurance coverage – despite state requirements for minimum coverage.
Washington DC ranks highest in the US with 25.2 percent of its drivers uninsured, according to the III. New Mexico, Mississippi, and Tennessee also have estimated rates over 20 percent. At the other end of the scale, Wyoming has the lowest rate of uninsured drivers, at just 5.9 percent.
Florida saw a steep increase in the number of uninsured drivers between 2017 and 2019, a situation that persisted through the 2020 pandemic and into the present day. Other states also saw sharp increases in this period, including Michigan. However, these states have since passed laws that have lowered the number of uninsured drivers once again. Florida’s numbers remain high.
Underinsured Driver Statistics in Florida
An “uninsured” driver has no insurance coverage at all. An “underinsured” driver has insurance but may not have the right type of coverage or sufficient coverage to pay for an injured person’s needs after a crash. As medical costs continue to rise, insurance limits that were adequate just a few years ago may be too low to cover bills today.
The III estimates that nearly half of Florida’s drivers are uninsured or underinsured. Florida’s underinsurance problem is exacerbated by the fact that Florida has some of the lowest minimum insurance requirements in the United States – and these limits do not include third-party bodily injury liability coverage.
Uninsured and underinsured drivers contribute to the high costs of auto insurance in Florida, according to a Forbes Advisor study. Every driver who doesn’t buy insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage isn’t paying their full share into the insurance pool – but these drivers still receive benefits if they’re injured in a crash.
How Drivers Can Protect Themselves on the Road
Those involved in car accidents don’t get to pick who crashes into them. You cannot choose whether the driver who hits you has full coverage, the state minimum coverage, or no insurance coverage at all.
Drivers can, however, prepare for the risk that another driver will collide with them. They do so by purchasing uninsured/underinsured (UI/UIA) insurance coverage. This coverage helps pay your medical bills and other needs if you’re hit by a driver who has no insurance or whose insurance isn’t enough to meet your needs.
UI/UIA coverage can also help you if you’re hit by a hit-and-run driver. A driver who flees the scene after a crash doesn’t leave behind insurance information. You don’t know who the driver is or what coverage they have, so you can’t file a claim with their insurer. Instead, your own UI/UIA coverage steps in to help you.
But what if you’ve already suffered an accident and you have no UI/UIA coverage? In this case, it’s important to speak to an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer.
What To Do After An Accident
After an accident, seek medical help as soon as possible. If you can get contact information from others involved in the crash, it’s wise to do so.
In a hit-and-run accident, you may never see the vehicle that hit you. You won’t have an opportunity to get contact information and learn more about the driver’s insurance, if any. In these cases, it’s important to talk to an attorney as soon as you can. A lawyer can explain your options.
No matter what situation you face after a crash, talk to an experienced personal injury attorney. Attorney David W. Magann can help you understand your legal options and fight for your rights.