The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website states that all licensed drivers with registered vehicles have motor vehicle insurance. Anyone who does not have coverage is considered an uninsured driver and could face penalties if they are discovered by the police. This is to ensure that all parties have coverage in the event of a car accident. The minimum insurance coverage that is required by law in Florida is as follows:

• Bodily injury liability of $10,000 per person
• Bodily injury liability of $20,000 per crash
• Property damage of $10,000 per crash
• Personal injury protection of $10,000 per person, per crash

While motor vehicle insurance is a mandatory requirement and it is illegal to drive a car without the minimum insurance coverage outlined above, there are still many drivers in Florida who are either underinsured or have no insurance at all. According to the Insurance Research Council, 26.7% of drivers in Florida are uninsured. In fact, Florida is among the top 10 states that have the highest number of uninsured drivers.

It is evident that there are quite a few drivers on the roads in Florida who are uninsured. If you get into an accident with a driver who does not have any liability coverage, you can face a significant challenge recovering the damages that you may incur because of that accident. This is especially more complex since Florida is a no-fault state, which means that your options for claiming compensation are quite limited. In most cases, when there is a car accident, the insurance companies pay for the damages. But if a driver has no insurance coverage, things can become fairly complex. A Florida car accident lawyer would be able to help you understand how to deal with such a situation and what measures to take to recover your losses.

How Can I Seek Compensation from an Uninsured Driver After a Florida Car Accident?

In the event that you have been in a car accident in Middleburg, Florida and the other driver is uninsured, you should contact an auto accident attorney immediately. Do not think that just because the other driver has no insurance that you cannot recover any money. You still have certain options which include:

File a Claim with Your Insurance Company

Florida follows a no-fault approach when it comes to car accidents, which means that if you are in an auto accident, you can file a claim with your insurance company. If the costs are not that high and if you have the minimum mandatory coverage, you will be compensated. For cases where the injured driver does not have adequate insurance or if the insurance company denies their claim for some reason, there is a second option, which is to seek damages from the other driver directly.

Seek Damages from the Other Driver

This may seem simple in theory but in reality, seeking damages from the other driver, especially one who did not even have basic insurance coverage, may not be as easy as you think. You can file a lawsuit against the driver in case you have suffered significant and permanent injuries.

What Can I Do to Protect Myself in the Future?

Since it is obvious that many drivers in Florida do not have the minimum required insurance, it is a good idea to protect yourself against uninsured motorists. You can do so by ensuring that your insurance policy has additional uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, and collision coverage. The uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage will kick in if you are in a Florida car accident with a driver who is not covered by an insurer. Collision coverage will help you get compensation for any damage to your vehicle in case of an accident. This additional coverage is not required by law but could be helpful in case you ever get into a car accident in Middleburg, FL, with an uninsured driver.

The law may require every driver to be insured, but statistics show that there are people out there who still drive without insurance, either because they cannot afford ir or because they choose not to. Overall, it is always a good idea to protect yourself before you get into a situation which becomes difficult to handle.

Consult with a Car Accident Attorney in Middleburg, Florida

If you have been involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver and are unsure as to how you can receive compensation for the damages you have incurred, you can speak to our Middleburg car accident attorney at John Fagan Accident Lawyers. Our car accident attorneys have dealt with numerous car accident cases and will be able to give you complete information about your options and how you can deal with the insurance companies to recover your damages. Reach out to us today and schedule a free consultation. Our legal team will be happy to assist you and will ensure that you get the best possible legal representation.