A study conducted by the website WalletHub ranked Florida dead last among all 50 states and the District of Columbia for the financial risk to drivers after they have been involved in a car accident.
If you are a motorist in Florida, you need to understand why accidents are so financially risky for accident victims and learn what you can do to help protect your legal rights and interests.
Read more: The Deadliest Roads In Florida
Why Florida Is the Worst State for Car Accident Victims
The WalletHub study looked at the percentage of uninsured and underinsured drivers in a state along with each state’s auto insurance liability minimum and other auto insurance requirements to determine how a driver involved in an accident might financially fare.
WalletHub ranked Florida last, finding that 23.8 percent of motorists in the state lack auto liability insurance. Florida also has the U.S.’s lowest auto insurance liability coverage minimums. In Florida, a driver is only required to carry coverage of:
- Bodily injury liability coverage of $10,000 per person/$20,000 per occurrence
- Property damage liability coverage of $10,000 per occurrence
However, unlike some other states, Florida is a no-fault insurance system, requiring drivers to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection coverage.
As a result, WalletHub’s editors concluded that a driver responsible for causing a car accident will either have insufficient insurance coverage or no insurance coverage at all to pay for an accident victim’s injuries and damages. WalletHub also noted that requiring higher insurance minimums would accordingly lead to higher insurance premiums, meaning that likely more drivers in Florida would fail to secure insurance coverage.
Read more: FAQ: Uninsured And Underinsured Motorist Accidents In Florida
What to Do If You’ve Been in a Car Crash in Florida
Regardless of whether or how much insurance coverage an at-fault driver may have, there are steps you should take to help protect your legal rights, interests, and options following a car accident, including:
- Calling 911 or local police and having a police accident report prepared
- Taking photographs or video of the accident scene, damage to the vehicles, lighting/weather/traffic conditions at the time of the accident, and any visible injuries you suffered
- Seeking medical attention either from paramedics at the scene, at the emergency room, or by scheduling an exam with your physician (even if you don’t think you were injured in the accident)
- Reporting your accident to your insurance company, even if you don’t believe you were at fault for the crash
- Talking to a car accident attorney about your accident and learning more about your legal options for seeking compensation for your injuries and damages
Even if the driver who was at fault for your crash doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance coverage to pay for all your damages, you may be able to pursue compensation through other means, such as personal injury protection coverage under your own policy for medical expenses, or filing a claim under your policy for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for damages that you’ve incurred that the at-fault driver hasn’t compensated you for.
Read more: How Long Will It Take To Settle My Car Accident Case?
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured because of car accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Pompano Beach, Coconut Creek, and throughout Florida. Call (754) 226-1747 or email us to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2211 Davie Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312, as well as offices in Pembroke Pines, Weston, Coconut Creek, Plantation, and Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.