Driving on the streets of America is a privilege. As such, the state of Florida can institute safety rules that drivers must follow in order to enjoy the privilege of driving, including speed limits, a minimum age, and licensing and insurance requirements.
For citizens of Florida to legally operate a vehicle on state, county or city roads, drivers must carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage. This requirement applies to drivers who live in Florida for a minimum (not necessarily consecutive) of 90 or more days within a 365-day period.
The required insurance is intended to cover the cost of damage caused to other people, vehicles or property in the event of an accident. Minimally, Florida drivers must carry at least $10,000 for bodily injury liability for one person, $20,000 for bodily injury liability for two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage liability. In addition, the state requires drivers to purchase a No-Fault policy to cover damage to person and property in the event that the other driver is uninsured; minimums for no-fault coverage are $10,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage.
Not all drivers, however, purchase insurance. The Insurance Research Council (IRC) estimates that approximately 14 percent of American drivers are uninsured. However, the IRC estimates that a much higher 24 percent of Florida drivers are uninsured, which ranks Florida fifth in terms of states with the highest percentage of uninsured drivers.
With a high percentage of Floridians driving without insurance and many more only carrying policies that cover the minimum requirements, insurance may not cover all of the medical, rehabilitation or long-term care bills for injuries that result from an accident. After an accident it is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you explore all avenues of compensation for your injuries.
Posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, August 31, 2011.
