What Is Considered Full Coverage Auto Insurance in Florida?

What is considered full coverage auto insurance in Florida?

When it comes to your liability protection, full coverage has a different meaning. Full coverage means that you have a policy that offers the minimum protection under Florida law.

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Considering that over half of the people driving in Florida have either no coverage or bare minimum coverage, what auto insurance policy you choose can have serious implications in the event that you are in a car accident.

Thinking about the possibility of an accident totaling your vehicle or severe injuries is unpleasant. We assume that a devastating car accident will not happen to us.

Making an informed decision about your auto insurance policy is important. It can give you peace of mind knowing that you have adequate coverage to protect yourself, your family, and your car.

The traffic in Florida already makes driving stressful enough, but our guide to full auto coverage in the state will educate you on how to make sure that you have adequate coverage that gives you some protection against the many uninsured and underinsured motorists on Florida's roadways.

At the Weinstein Legal Team, we are experts in litigating insurance claims, and we work tirelessly to get compensation for our clients. We understand how challenging it can be to understand your auto insurance policy, and we want to inform Floridians about their policy coverage so that they can identify limitations and acquire additional coverage if needed. Weinstein Legal offers free auto insurance coverage consultations that include a review of your policy along with recommendations for additional coverage.

What Is Required for Full Coverage Auto Insurance in Florida?

Full coverage" or the bare minimum auto insurance requirements by law in Florida includes:

  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) of no less than $10,000
  • Property Damage Liability (PDL) of no less than $10,000

Personal Injury Protection

All Florida drivers are required to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection. This insurance is also called "no fault" insurance due to the fact that it covers accident-related costs regardless of who is at fault. It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and a few other limited expenses after an auto accident.

There are percentage limits on how much of these expenses your insurance will pay. For medical bills, they pay no more than 80%. You can purchase additional coverage called medical payments coverage which covers the remaining 20% of medical expenses. You are required to seek medical treatment within the 14 days following the accident to qualify for personal injury protection benefits. For lost wages due to an accident injury, they will pay up to 60%.

Your children or other members of your household can take advantage of personal injury protection even if they are not riding in your car. Other passengers in your car may be eligible in certain circumstances.

Property Damage Liability

The purpose of property damage liability insurance is to cover any property damages caused by your car in the event of an accident. For this coverage, it does matter who is at-fault. Florida requires every driver to carry at least $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Drivers most commonly need this coverage when their vehicle strikes objects like trees, buildings, homes, fences, streetlights, poles, or other property.

What Is Full Coverage Insurance in Florida?

Do not assume that full coverage means that you are "fully covered" if you get in an auto accident. True full coverage, meaning that you have sufficient insurance coverage for your needs, goes beyond the state-mandated minimum coverage detailed above.

You do not want to wait until an accident occurs to figure out that the minimum coverage does not cover all the damages you incur. Getting a more extensive policy is a smart decision that lets you rest assured that you are protected from a catastrophic car accident.

What No-Fault Insurance Covers

No-fault, also known as personal injury protection ("PIP") coverage also addresses some additional liabilities.

If you are injured by a vehicle as a pedestrian or cyclist, PIP will cover it.

Your family members who do not have policies of their own are covered by no-fault insurance. For example, if a family member is injured while riding in another person's car, you are covered.

In the event of a bad car accident, the costs can add up quickly, so the $10,000 for both PIP and PDL may not go far. Speak to an experienced personal injury attorney today to find out what other coverages may be available to you.

Full Coverage Insurance Limitations

Why is full coverage auto insurance not truly "full coverage"?

The costs of vehicle damage and medical bills are high. If you have ever had to pay medical expenses or collision repair bills, you know how expensive they can be.

If you are a safe driver, you may think that you have nothing to worry about, but even if you do not cause a collision, you could end up with a pile of bills that are financially devastating.

There are limitations to this coverage, which could have serious implications for your future. Knowing those limitations can help you make an informed decision about your auto insurance coverage.

It Does Not Pay for Your Car Repairs.

Drivers may be surprised to learn that the minimum state-mandated coverage will not pay for the policy holder's car repairs after a crash. In limited circumstances, it will pay for damages to other drivers' vehicles.

It Does Not Pay to Replace a Stolen Car.

Another surprising limitation of this coverage is that it will not replace your car in the event it is stolen. The cost of purchasing a replacement car will fall entirely to the policyholder.

These are just a few of the exclusions that you may not be aware of.

Additional Coverage

You may be thinking that the minimum coverage required by law is inadequate for the needs of you and your family. Purchasing additional coverage is a good way to protect your car and family from the worst. Additional coverage includes:

  • Bodily Injury Liability
  • Comprehensive
  • Collision
  • Towing and labor
  • Rental car coverage
  • Medical Payments coverage

Going through each type of coverage and considering your auto insurance needs is a good idea. We recommend that you consider adding coverage for the following:

Collision

The majority of crashes and accidents are covered by this insurance policy. It covers crashes with stationary objects as well as vehicle collisions. An accident is included under this policy if:

  • You collide with another car or another car hits your parked car
  • You hit a stationary object (street sign, mailbox, etc.)
  • You crash into a ditch
  • You flip your car
  • Another driver hits your car and flees the scene, provided it is not already covered by your uninsured motorist coverage

Bodily Injury Liability

If you or a member of your household injure someone else in a crash, this policy will cover the victim's medical expenses. It will also cover any bodily injuries caused to others by drivers you permit to use your car. The policy will set limits on the coverage. Additionally, they will provide you with legal representation in the event that you are sued after an accident.

Uninsured/Underinsured

In the event of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, this policy will help with any losses you, members of your household, or permitted drivers of your car incur.

This coverage is helpful if you get in an accident that is the fault of the uninsured/underinsured driver and will help make up for their insufficient coverage. It also can provide coverage if you are injured as a pedestrian due to an uninsured/underinsured driver.

What If I Have Already Been the Victim of An Accident in Florida?

If you were injured in an accident caused by another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your expenses like medical bills, repairs to damaged property, and other auto accident expenses. You can estimate your potential compensation with our personal injury settlement calculator.

It is in your best interest to pursue an injury claim right away. You only have four years to pursue a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver and only five years to pursue a claim or lawsuit against your uninsured/underinsured motorist policy due to Florida's statute of limitations.

The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be to track down crucial evidence for your case. You do not want to miss out on the compensation you are entitled to because you delayed contacting an auto accident attorney.

At the Weinstein Legal Team, we are experienced in accident and injury claims, and we will pursue aggressively your claim to ensure that you can focus on healing. Contact our experienced personal injury lawyer in Florida as soon as possible to get the legal protection you deserve.

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