FLORIDA — Did you know, one 2009 study says Florida has the highest rate of uninsured motorists in the country?
Another, from 2015 , says 1 in 4 motorists are uninsured in Florida.
So, how can you protect yourself? We reached out to Tampa Bay area attorney Chris Donegan about ways to do that.
"If you get hit by somebody and they don't have insurance coverage then what do you do? Hopefully you have uninsured or underinsured motorists coverage so that way you have money to pay for your medical bills," explains Donegan.
He says having uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Florida but is key to protecting yourself if you're in an accident.
"If you're in financial issues and can't afford it instead of paying $25,000 bodily injury policy with 0 UM you might be better off paying for a $10,000 bodily injury and a $10,000 of UM. Just run the rates w/multiple insurance companies and you can usually get something that fits your needs," says Donegan.
If you don't have uninsured motorist coverage and are in an accident with someone who is not insured, your personal injury protection (PIP) will only cover about 80% of your medical bills, up to $10,000.
Your health insurance could pay for some of your medical bills but a lot of times that is not guaranteed.
Donegan suggests you go over your insurance coverage every so often to make sure you have the maximum coverage you can afford.
