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Florida has a staggering 23.4% of drivers on the road without insurance, according to a recent study. This means nearly a quarter of drivers in the state are uninsured.
Driving in Florida without insurance is not only a personal risk, but it also puts others on the road in danger. In 2019, there were over 350,000 crashes in the state, and an estimated 14% of those crashes involved an uninsured driver.
The high rate of uninsured drivers in Florida is a significant concern for all drivers, as it can lead to increased insurance costs and a greater risk of being involved in a serious accident.
Florida's Uninsured Drivers
Florida's high rate of uninsured drivers is a significant concern. The state's 26.7% rate far exceeds the national average of 13%. This is alarming, as it puts not only the uninsured drivers themselves at risk, but also other drivers on the road.
One of the states that rivals Florida's high rate is Mississippi, with 23.7% of its drivers uninsured. New Mexico and Michigan also have high rates, with 20.8% and 20.3% respectively. Tennessee rounds out the top four, with 20% of its drivers uninsured.
These states, along with Florida, have a significant problem with uninsured drivers. It's essential for drivers to have insurance to protect themselves and others in the event of an accident.
Here are the top 5 states with the highest rates of uninsured drivers:
- Florida: 26.7%
- Mississippi: 23.7%
- New Mexico: 20.8%
- Michigan: 20.3%
- Tennessee: 20%
On the other hand, some states have much lower rates of uninsured drivers. Maine, New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina are among the states with the lowest rates.
What If I Get in an Accident with a Minimally Insured Driver?
In Florida, you're more likely to get in an accident with an uninsured driver than you think. According to recent statistics, 1 in 5 drivers in Florida are uninsured.
If you're involved in an accident with a minimally insured driver, you may be left with a hefty bill for repairs. In fact, Florida law requires a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.
You'll need to file a claim with your own insurance company to cover the costs. However, if you're underinsured, you may be stuck with a significant portion of the bill.
Florida's no-fault insurance law means you'll need to turn to your own insurance company for help, regardless of who was at fault in the accident. This can be a hassle, but it's the law.
Even if the other driver has some insurance, it may not be enough to cover the full cost of repairs. This is especially true if the accident was serious or resulted in significant property damage.
In Florida, you can also sue the other driver for damages, but this can be a lengthy and costly process.
Insurance and Financial Responsibility
In the United States, nearly three-quarters of drivers have some form of uninsured motorist coverage, which is essential for covering losses in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Uninsured motorist coverage can be separated into bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage, with 74% of drivers having the former and 59% having the latter. The coverage period for auto insurance policies varies, with nearly three-quarters being six months long and nearly a third being annual.
In fact, 27% of drivers have a 12-month policy, while 73% have a 6-month policy. This highlights the importance of understanding the specifics of your auto insurance policy to ensure you're adequately protected in case of an accident.
State Auto Financial Limits
State auto financial limits vary significantly from state to state. In Alaska, for example, the minimum liability limits are 50/100/25.
In California, low-income drivers can opt for lower policy limits of 10/20/3 through the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan. This is a unique option not available in other states.
In some states, like Michigan, the minimum liability limits are significantly higher, at 250/500/10. This is only available with state director approval.
In many states, including Alabama, Georgia, and Indiana, the minimum liability limits are 25/50/25.
In Oregon, the minimum liability limits are 25/50/20. This is the same as in Nevada and Wyoming.
Some states, like New Jersey, offer a basic policy with lower limits of 10/10/5. However, this policy does not include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Here's a list of the minimum liability limits by state:
Coverage Limits
Coverage limits are a crucial aspect of insurance policies, determining how much an insurance company will pay in the event of a claim. In the United States, these limits vary by state, but most require a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability coverage.
In Florida, the minimum insurance required covers only $10,000 of personal injury protection coverage, which is woefully inadequate for most accidents. This is why it's essential to have adequate coverage limits to protect yourself and your loved ones.
The most common liability limits for uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, which 27 percent of respondents in a recent survey have. This is a good starting point, but it's essential to consider your individual needs and circumstances when determining your coverage limits.
A recent survey found that one-third of respondents have $25,000 limits for property damage coverage, which is a plurality but not a majority. This suggests that many people are still underinsured, leaving them vulnerable in the event of an accident.
Here are some common coverage limits for uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage:
Remember, it's always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to coverage limits. It's essential to carefully review your policy and adjust your coverage limits as needed to ensure you're adequately protected in the event of an accident.
Cost
Adding uninsured motorist coverage to your car insurance policy is a relatively inexpensive way to protect yourself from financial losses caused by accidents with drivers who don't have insurance.
The median price of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is just $50 a year, and property damage coverage is even less at $38 annually.
You can get away with paying a median price of $90 a year for uninsured liability coverage, which includes both bodily injury and property damage coverage.
Here's a breakdown of the median prices for uninsured motorist coverage:
Insured drivers paid about $16 billion in coverage for uninsured motorists in the latest data from the Insurance Research Council, up from $13 billion in 2016.
How It Works
If you're involved in an accident with someone who doesn't have insurance, uninsured motorist coverage can help reimburse your losses.
This type of coverage is designed to protect you in case you're hit by someone who doesn't have insurance or enough insurance to cover the costs of the accident.
You can have this coverage bundled with underinsured motorist coverage, or they can be separate policies.
Sometimes, the at-fault driver may not have enough insurance to cover the full extent of the damages, which is where underinsured motorist coverage comes in.
Motorist Coverage
Motorist coverage is a crucial aspect of insurance and financial responsibility. Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in many states, and nearly three-quarters of drivers in the U.S. have it.
The survey shows that 74% of respondents have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, while 59% have uninsured motorist property damage coverage. A significant number of drivers, 26%, don't carry either of these coverages.
The coverage period for auto insurance policies varies, with nearly three-quarters being six months long and nearly a third being annual. A 12-month policy is selected by 27% of respondents, while 73% opt for a 6-month policy.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage exists to reimburse you for your bodily injury and property damage losses from an accident caused by someone who drove without insurance or lacked limits high enough to cover your losses completely.
Here's a breakdown of the estimated percentage of uninsured motorists in the U.S. from 2017 to 2022:
Note: The percentage of uninsured drivers, as measured by the ratio of uninsured motorists (UM) claims to bodily injury (BI) claim frequencies.
Sources
- https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists
- https://www.autoinsurance.com/research/uninsured-motorists/
- https://www.newsweek.com/uninsured-drivers-soar-florida-insurance-crisis-deepens-1874628
- https://bakerlegalteam.com/did-you-know-florida-has-highest-rate-of-uninsured-drivers/
- https://www.trialpro.com/law-blog/why-are-there-so-many-uninsured-drivers-in-florida/
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