Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country, and being hit by one can leave you facing serious injuries with no clear path to compensation. Your own insurance policy may be your only source of recovery, and those claims are rarely as straightforward as they should be.
An uninsured motorist accident lawyer in St. Petersburg from Distasio Law Firm can step in to protect your rights and fight for what your claim is worth. At Distasio Law Firm, we know how insurance companies operate — including the ones that are supposed to be on your side.
We built our practice on the Distasio Personal Touch: responsive, hands-on representation from your own attorney, not a case manager or a call center. We are not a settlement mill, and we have the resources to push back when insurers offer less than your case deserves. Speak with a St. Petersburg car accident lawyer today at no cost.
How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Works in Florida
Florida does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, but insurers are required to offer it. If you purchased UM coverage, your own policy steps in to cover your injuries and losses when the at-fault driver has no insurance or when they cannot be identified, as in a hit and run.
UM coverage comes in two forms in Florida. Stacked coverage allows you to combine the limits across multiple vehicles on your policy, which can significantly increase the amount available to you. Non-stacked coverage applies only to the limits of the vehicle involved in the crash.
Understanding which type you carry and what your limits are is one of the first things our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer will examine when you come to us.
For a free legal consultation with a Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer serving St. Petersburg, call (813) 259 0022
Why Uninsured Motorist Claims are Contested
Your own insurance company has a financial interest in paying out as little as possible on a UM claim, even though you have been paying premiums for exactly this kind of protection. Carriers frequently dispute the severity of injuries, challenge the circumstances of the crash, or argue that your claimed damages exceed what the policy requires them to cover.
Common tactics insurers use to limit UM payouts include:
- Requesting recorded statements early in the process to capture inconsistencies
- Disputing the causal connection between the crash and your injuries
- Arguing that your injuries were pre-existing or unrelated to the accident
- Offering a low early settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known
- Delaying the claims process to pressure you into accepting less
Having our uninsured car accident lawyers involved from the beginning can help you fight back. We know these tactics, we anticipate them, and we build your case in a way that makes them harder to use against you.
St. Petersburg Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Near Me (813) 259 0022
Damages Available in an Uninsured Motorist Claim
The damages you can pursue through a UM claim mirror what you would seek in a standard liability claim against the at-fault driver. The difference is that you are making that claim against your own insurer rather than the negligent party directly. The range of recoverable losses is the same.
In a UM claim, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses related to your injuries
- Lost wages and any reduction in your future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering resulting from the crash and your recovery
- Emotional distress and the impact on your relationships and daily activities
- Permanent impairment or disability caused by your injuries
The specific damages available depend on your policy limits, the facts of your case, and the severity of your injuries. We review every element before any demand is submitted to your insurer.
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Why Distasio Law Firm Handles Uninsured Motorist Cases Differently
UM cases require an attorney who understands both personal injury law and insurance law and who is not intimidated by the prospect of litigating against a major carrier. Distasio Law Firm has been representing injury victims in Florida since 2006 and brings over 35 years of personal injury law experience to every case we take on.
Our lead attorney is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. We handle UM cases fully in-house, from the initial investigation through negotiation and, when necessary, trial. We do not refer these cases out, and we do not settle them cheaply just to move them off our desk.
When you work with us, you have direct access to your uninsured motorist accident attorney at every stage. We respond to your questions, keep you informed, and fight for a result that reflects the actual value of your claim.
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What to Do After Being Hit by an Uninsured Driver in St. Petersburg
The steps you take after a crash with an uninsured driver are critical to your ability to recover through your own UM policy. Certain missteps early on can give your insurer grounds to reduce or deny your claim.
After a crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver, you should:
- Call 911 and obtain a police report documenting the crash and confirming the other driver’s lack of insurance
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries do not seem serious at first
- Notify your own insurance company of the crash, but do not give a recorded statement before speaking with an attorney
- Document the scene with photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries
- Preserve any communications from the other driver or their insurer
Contacting an uninsured motorist accident lawyer in St. Petersburg as soon as possible gives us the best opportunity to protect your rights before the claims process moves in a direction that works against you.
Contact a St. Petersburg Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorney Today
Being hit by an uninsured driver does not have to leave you without a path to recovery. Florida law and your own policy may provide more protection than you realize. However, accessing that protection often requires a fight that you should not have to take on alone.
Contact Distasio Law Firm today for a free consultation with an uninsured motorist accident lawyer in St. Petersburg. We are available any time, any day of the week, and we will bring the full commitment of the Distasio Personal Touch to your case from the very first conversation.
Call or text (813) 259 0022 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form