WHAT AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE IS REQUIRED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA
February 26, 2010 @ 08:03 PM — by SEO Admin
Victims of negligent drivers may not have the protection they think. While a negligent driver will likely have sufficient insurance coverage to pay for whatever property damage they cause, with limited exception, Florida has no legal requirement that they carry Bodily Injury Liability Coverage (BI). BI is insurance that will compensate victims for injuries caused by a negligent driver. In essence, Florida’s insurance laws currently place more value on the automobile than the person operating it.
In Florida, automobile operators must carry only two types of insurance coverage. First, they must carry a minimum of $10,000 of Property Damage Liability Coverage (PDL). PDL affords protection to victims of negligent drivers for any damages caused to their automobiles or other personal property. Secondly, all automobiles registered and licensed in the State of Florida, must carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP). PIP affords benefits to the named insured, relatives residing in the same household, persons operating the insured motor vehicle, passengers in such motor vehicle, and other persons struck by such motor vehicle and suffering bodily injury while not an occupant of a self-propelled vehicle, for loss sustained by any such person as a result of bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle. These benefits will normally pay 80% of any reasonable medical expenses incurred as a result of such loss, as well as 60% of any lost wages, up to a combined limit of $10,000. These benefits are afforded regardless of fault and are often referred to as no-fault insurance.
Although victims of negligent drivers will normally have their own PIP benefits available for necessary medical treatment, often such coverage is wholly insufficient, especially in catastrophic cases. Additionally, PIP does not provide benefits for pain and suffering, mental anguish and other non-economic losses that often accompany automobile related injuries. Absent BI, victims are often left with mounting medical bills and insufficient compensation for the losses they have suffered.
Florida is in the minority of states that do not require BI. In fact, the Florida Department of Financial Services, in its’ Consumer Guide to Automobile Insurance, provides that Florida law prohibits insurance agents and companies from requiring you to buy such coverage, notwithstanding that it can provide added protection from risk. The only exceptions to this rule can be found in Florida’s Financial Responsibility Law. Those that have had their license revoked for being a Habitual Traffic Offender or any other serious offense necessitating revocation, and/or have had their license suspended for excessive points or been at fault in an accident involving personal injuries, must carry a minimum of $10,000 in BI for any one person and $20,000 for two or more persons . A person who has had their license revoked for DUI must carry $100,000 in BI for any one person and $300,000 in BI for two or more persons.
In Florida, automobile operators must carry only two types of insurance coverage. First, they must carry a minimum of $10,000 of Property Damage Liability Coverage (PDL). PDL affords protection to victims of negligent drivers for any damages caused to their automobiles or other personal property. Secondly, all automobiles registered and licensed in the State of Florida, must carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP). PIP affords benefits to the named insured, relatives residing in the same household, persons operating the insured motor vehicle, passengers in such motor vehicle, and other persons struck by such motor vehicle and suffering bodily injury while not an occupant of a self-propelled vehicle, for loss sustained by any such person as a result of bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle. These benefits will normally pay 80% of any reasonable medical expenses incurred as a result of such loss, as well as 60% of any lost wages, up to a combined limit of $10,000. These benefits are afforded regardless of fault and are often referred to as no-fault insurance.
Although victims of negligent drivers will normally have their own PIP benefits available for necessary medical treatment, often such coverage is wholly insufficient, especially in catastrophic cases. Additionally, PIP does not provide benefits for pain and suffering, mental anguish and other non-economic losses that often accompany automobile related injuries. Absent BI, victims are often left with mounting medical bills and insufficient compensation for the losses they have suffered.
Florida is in the minority of states that do not require BI. In fact, the Florida Department of Financial Services, in its’ Consumer Guide to Automobile Insurance, provides that Florida law prohibits insurance agents and companies from requiring you to buy such coverage, notwithstanding that it can provide added protection from risk. The only exceptions to this rule can be found in Florida’s Financial Responsibility Law. Those that have had their license revoked for being a Habitual Traffic Offender or any other serious offense necessitating revocation, and/or have had their license suspended for excessive points or been at fault in an accident involving personal injuries, must carry a minimum of $10,000 in BI for any one person and $20,000 for two or more persons . A person who has had their license revoked for DUI must carry $100,000 in BI for any one person and $300,000 in BI for two or more persons.