How Much Auto Insurance Do I Need in Florida?
When you register a four-wheel vehicle in Florida (i.e., a car or truck), you need to present the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) with proof of insurance. Indeed, if you have been a driver for any length of time, you likely know that you are required to carry a minimum amount of insurance to legally drive on Florida roads. This is especially important due to Florida’s status as a “no-fault” state when it comes to car accidents.
Florida’s Minimum Insurance Requirements
Florida law actually requires you to purchase two types of auto insurance: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL). PIP insurance pays you, and other insured members of your household, for up to 80 percent of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses. This is the “no-fault” portion of your policy, as PIP coverage applies regardless of who was responsible for your accident.
In contrast, PDL coverage pays for any damage that you cause to someone else’s property. For example, if you rear end someone else’s car, your PDL coverage would pay for any damage to the other driver’s vehicle. But that driver would have to turn to their own PIP coverage to pay for their medical bills and lost income.
Currently, Florida requires you carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage as well as $10,000 in PDL coverage. In other words, if you are injured in an accident, your PIP coverage would pay for 80 percent of your medical bills up to the $10,000 limit. Similarly, your insurer would only be responsible for up to $10,000 in property damage to someone else’s vehicle.
Consider Additional Coverage
You can purchase more than the minimum amounts of PIP and PDL coverage. And given that Florida is one of the highest-risk states for auto accidents, it is often a good idea to purchase such higher amounts when you can afford to do so. Keep in mind, if you are injured in an accident, there is a good chance that $10,000 will not be enough to cover even a fraction of your medical bills.
You should also consider purchasing additional forms of coverage that are not mandated by state law. For example, there is Bodily Injury (BI) coverage. This provides fault-based coverage in the event you are found legally responsible for an accident. While no-fault benefits cover most Florida car accidents, in cases where the victim dies or suffers a “serious injury,” they can step outside of the no-fault system and sue the at-fault driver directly. This is where BI coverage would kick in.
Other common forms of additional coverage include underinsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, and comprehensive and collision coverage.
Contact a Pasco County Car Accident Attorney
Even with auto insurance, you may still run into a number of legal issues following a motor vehicle accident where you can benefit from experienced legal counsel. Pasco County car accident lawyer Wendy Doyle-Palumbo, Esq. is here to help. Call her office today at (727) 233-2134 to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in Hudson, New Port Richie, and Pasco County.