Like other states, Florida legally requires drivers to carry liability insurance. Nevertheless, many drivers neglect to hold insurance, which can make handling accident cases even more difficult. If you’ve been injured in an accident with an uninsured driver, you need a Tampa car accident lawyer from Distasio Law Firm.
Our team has over 35 years of legal experience and extensive familiarity with car accident claims in Florida. Uninsured motorist claims can be difficult to pursue, but we can put our skills and knowledge to work for you.
Contact our offices today to discuss your case with an uninsured motorist accident lawyer in Tampa.
How a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Dealing with a normal car accident is bad enough, but an uninsured motorist accident can complicate things even further. Even though you’d be running a claim through your own insurance company, it will not be any easier to squeeze money out of them.
A Tampa personal injury lawyer can navigate the bureaucratic and legal hurdles while pursuing your insurance claim. We can investigate the scene for evidence, organize your medical documentation, and negotiate settlement offers with insurers. We can even represent you in a civil trial if necessary to recover your money.
Our team understands how difficult life can be after a severe accident. We are here to provide a hands-on approach that’s personalized for every client. We take the time to fully understand our clients’ cases, giving them the Distasio Personal Touch.
For a free legal consultation with a Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer serving Tampa, call (813) 259 0022
You Have No-Fault Benefits on Your Florida Auto Policy
The first thing to remember in an uninsured motorist accident is that you already have no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) benefits on your auto policy. Florida requires all drivers to carry no-fault PIP coverage that will pay for a portion of your medical bills and income replacement, regardless of who caused the accident.
The typical PIP coverage will pay 80% of your reasonable medical costs and 60% of your lost work income up to the policy limit. However, PIP coverage will not pay for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Tampa Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Near Me (813) 259 0022
You Can File an Uninsured Motorist Claim With Your Own Insurance Company
Florida laws only require you to carry at least $10,000 in PIP coverage, which is often not enough to pay for the losses associated with car accidents. If you exhaust your PIP coverage or have a severe injury, you normally would be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance coverage.
However, you can’t do this after an uninsured motorist for obvious reasons. Instead, you’ll need to rely on your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. UM insurance is additional coverage to your auto policy that will step in and pay when the at-fault party lacks insurance.
With a UM claim, your insurance company effectively takes on the role of the at-fault driver’s insurer. You’ll submit a claim, give them evidence, and a record of your losses. This kind of claim will also allow you to pursue damages for pain and suffering.
This may sound simple, but it puts your insurance company in an adversarial role to you. You’ll need to build a strong case to prove your injuries and losses, which a Tampa uninsured motorist accident lawyer can help with.
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Compensation You Can Recover in an Uninsured Motorist Claim
PIP coverage in Florida will pay for your medical bills and income replacement, but only up to the policy limit. By making a UM claim, an attorney from Distasio Law Firm can pursue compensation for a greater range of losses, including:
- Emergency medical bills and future necessary medical expenses
- Value of lost work income and other forms of employment compensation
- Differences in your pre- and post-injury lifetime expected earnings
- Out-of-pocket injury expenses (e.g., childcare, transportation, etc.)
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress
- Inconvenience from scarring or disfigurement
We are not a settlement mill and won’t compromise just to get a quick win. Our goal is to secure comprehensive compensation that fully accounts for your short and long-term losses.
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What Should I Do if I Don’t Have UM Insurance?
If you don’t have UM insurance, your options for financial recovery may be limited. You could file a personal injury lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver. But they may have difficulty paying damages if they don’t hold substantial assets. If the driver doesn’t pay for insurance, it’s unlikely they have deep pockets to pay for a lawsuit.
In other words, you need to weigh the potential of recovery against the cost and time commitment of filing a lawsuit. A personal injury lawyer can advise you on the course of action that makes the most sense for your situation.
Contact a Tampa Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Today
An accident with an uninsured driver can leave you uncertain of how to proceed and questioning your future. Distasio Law Firm can provide you with effective legal support to protect your interests and well-being.
Contact our offices online or call today to speak to a Tampa uninsured motorist accident lawyer.
Call or text (813) 259 0022 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form