If an uninsured driver hits you in Tampa, can you still get compensation?

Posted By Nadine Diaz

If a driver without insurance hits you in Tampa, you may have to pay out of pocket for car repairs and medical bills—unless you have this insurance coverage.

Car accidents happen everyday in Tampa. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that about 20% of these accidents involve uninsured drives. A recent study found that approximately 1 out of 5 drivers in Florida do not have car insurance.

In this article, our Tampa car accident attorneys discuss the grim reality of Florida’s high rate of uninsured drivers. Plus, they provide a few legal options that you can take if you are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.

What to do if an uninsured driver hits you in Tampa

If an uninsured driver hits you in Tampa, you have a few options. First, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. However, if the driver doesn’t have insurance, you likely won’t be able to recover any compensation. This is because most drivers who do not carry insurance do so because they are struggling financially.

Second, you can file a claim with your own insurance company. Florida is a no-fault state, which means you must first go through your own insurance to cover accident-related expenses. In Florida, all drivers must carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PD/PDL).  This means your insurance covers up to $10,000 in your medical bills and up to $10,000 in car repairs. However, if your bills exceed this amount, your insurance company does not have to pay.

Third, you can use your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to pay for your medical bills and car repairs. But there’s a catch: you must have this coverage on your insurance policy before your accident.

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Why you need uninsured motorist coverage on your insurance policy

One of the only ways you can protect yourself from uninsured drivers in Tampa is to add uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to your insurance policy. This type of coverage is exactly how it sounds. If you are hit by an uninsured driver and sustain serious injuries and vehicle damage, your insurance will pay for all of your expenses if you have UM coverage.

Our Tampa car accident attorneys recommend that everyone add UM coverage to your insurance policy. And if you already have UM coverage, we recommend you increase the policy limit. You can add or increase this type of coverage for just a few dollars per month, and the protection it affords is invaluable.

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Injured in a car accident in Tampa caused by an uninsured driver?

Call (813) 437-5523 now

If you are injured in a car accident in Tampa caused by an uninsured driver, contact the experienced Tampa car accident attorneys at Darrigo & Diaz right away. We will investigate your case and help you understand your legal options.

We offer free consultations and you do not have to pay anything unless we win your case.

Call (813) 437-5523 now to schedule your complimentary meeting with our experienced Tampa Bay accident attorneys.