How Does Car Insurance Work in Florida?

Car insurance in Florida shouldn’t be a secret. Insurance companies tend to use complicated language to describe the types of car insurance you need to be fully protected. Florida has specific requirements and policy minimums for drivers who are looking to purchase car insurance. But the first thing we should address is Florida being a No-Fault state and identifying what that means when it comes to Florida Car Insurance.

No-Fault State & Florida Car Insurance

No-Fault states have a particular type of required car insurance for all drivers, called Personal Injury Protection insurance. PIP is coverage that all drivers receive through their policies without needing the fault to be determined in a car accident. This coverage is only for injuries and not any type of property damage. If you decide to drive in other states, you would be able to use your PIP coverage if you are involved in a vehicle accident.

Paired with PIP coverage is property damage liability coverage which pays for damages done to another person’s property. The minimum required coverage is $10,000 for PDL, and all vehicles registered must be insured with PIP and PDL insurance.

PIP only covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000, which is usually not enough when treating your Florida car accident injuries. Not only does PIP cover yourself, but it also covers your children and other members of your household. It’s clear to see that the $10,000 can get spread very thin if you and your family are involved in a Florida car accident. That is why it is super important to have other types of insurance to help with compensation.

Especially if you find yourself a victim in a Florida car accident, you deserve compensation from the driver who is at fault. A Florida car accident lawyer will be able to help you receive the compensation you deserve to pay for all injuries and damages you experience.

Florida Insurance Laws & Car Accidents

Florida Statute 316.065

• The driver of a vehicle involved in a car accident resulting in injury or death of any persons or damage to any vehicle/property of at least $500 must contact the police.
  • Violating this will result in a noncriminal traffic infraction and be punishable as a nonmoving violation.

Florida Statute 627.7275

• A motor vehicle insurance policy providing PIP must also include Property Damage Liability for the vehicle to be registered correctly.

Florida Statute 324.022

• Bodily Injury insurance is required for drivers who are deemed ‘high risk’ drivers.
• Minimum requirements for this policy for these drivers are $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage.
• These individuals are labeled as ‘high risk’ drivers because of their crash, speeding, or DUI record.

How Much Car Insurance Coverage is Necessary?

Aside from Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability policies, Florida also recommends drivers to carry Bodily Injury Liability insurance, Uninsured Motorist coverage, Collision, and Comprehensive coverage.

Bodily Injury minimum coverage amount is $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident. BI protects you if you are deemed at fault for a vehicle accident, as it covers costs if multiple people are injured. If the roles were reversed, the at-fault driver with BI would be responsible for paying for your injuries with their BI policy amounts. But what happens if they do not have any type of insurance coverage?

Uninsured Motorist coverage is recommended as it protects you as a car accident victim, and the at-fault driver has no insurance coverage. Yes, you will have your PIP policy, but that only goes so far. Florida car accident lawyers recommend you protect yourself with UM just in case you are involved in a severe car accident and your injuries outweigh PIP coverage.

Uninsured Motorist coverage is a policy that will provide you will peace of mind when driving. Our Florida car accident lawyers can help you claim compensation from that policy if the at-fault driver has no coverage to pay for your damages. If you want to be better covered for your injuries, it would be a good rule of thumb to get a higher coverage amount than your PIP coverage.

Collision and Comprehensive coverage are other Florida car insurance policies that are recommended to have just in case as they do not pertain to vehicle accidents! Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by colliding with an object. Those objects can be a mailbox, a telephone pole, or even a pothole. This coverage doesn’t directly pay for the costs to repair your vehicle; it reimburses you after the fact but only for the costs and not the deductible.

Comprehensive coverage covers vehicle damages caused by disasters. Disasters such as fire, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, car theft, fallen trees or tree branches, and a broken windshield. Typically, if you finance a car, you may be required to get both of these insurance coverages.