Automobile Insurance in Florida

Written on June 09, 2011. Posted in Blog

Automobile Insurance in Florida

In the state of Florida, it is mandatory to have auto insurance, but there are many types of coverages.

One of the most frequent questions people ask me is: "Edgar, I just bought a car and I have been told to buy auto insurance, but I am not sure if it is necessary to buy insurance and what type of coverage I would need. Is it true that I have to have auto insurance?"

The answer is definitely YES because in the state of Florida it is mandatory to have your vehicle insured. Of course, there are many types of auto insurance.

Knowing how your insurance policy works can help you recover the loss you encounter when you are involved in an auto accident.  Your best defense is to make sure you are insured properly.

Florida requires the following:

  1. Personal Injury Protection (PIP): PIP coverage pays for 80% of the medical bills qualified as necessary;  60% for loss wages;  100% for replacement services; for example, child care, home or garden maintenance, as well as $5,000 for death benefits.  PIP was created to help Floridians reduced the need to litigate for compensation caused by an auto accident.
  2. Property Damage Liability (PDL): PDL pays for the damages to the car and possessions of the other party in an accident in which it is determined that you were at fault.

We recommend the following:

  1. Bodily Injury (BI) Liability Coverage:  BI pays for the bodily injury or death in an accident in which it is determined that you were at fault.
  2. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM) Coverage: UM pays for bodily injury caused to you, members of your family, or any other occupant in your covered vehicle, when it is determined that the other driver was at fault.
  3. Medical Payment Coverage: Medical Payment pays for medical expenses up to your policy’s limit incurred by the insured because of bodily injury caused by an accident.  It also covers the amount exceeding the PIP’s limit up to the benefit’s limit for medical treatments.
  4. Collision Coverage: Collision pays for the repairs or replacement of your vehicle if you collide with another vehicle or object. Collision losses are paid regardless of who is at fault.
  5. Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive pays for loss or damage to your covered vehicle caused by any event other than a collision; for example, a fire, theft, windstorm, vandalism, or flooding.

What if you own a motorcycle?

Insurance companies do not provide PIP coverage to owners of motorcycles.  However, you might be able to buy any other type of coverage including medical payment coverage.

What should I do if I am involved in an accident:

  1. First of all, stop. Never leave the scene of an accident because this constitutes a major crime in the state of Florida;
  2. Leave your vehicle in the same place. Do not move your vehicle before the police gets there.  Call the police so that there will be a written report of the accident;
  3. Preserve all evidence and identify all possible witnesses;
  4. Do not forget to exchange information with the other person;

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