Your Car Insurance May Not Cover Your Florida Accident

There’s one bill you pay each much without fail. You also make sure the payment is in on time. We’re talking about your Florida car insurance, and this is one of those things you never want to leave home without. 

However, even if you never miss a payment, there’s still no absolute guarantee your car insurance will cover the damages sustained in an accident. There are some potential factors impacting Florida car insurance coverage that may apply to your accident.

Florida Car Insurance Laws

Before we get into the potential factors that can impact your car insurance coverage it helps to know the state’s minimum requirements. Florida requires all drivers with vehicles registered in the state to at least carry the minimum requirements. What are Florida’s minimum auto insurance requirements?

• $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) per accident
• $10,000 in property damage liability per accident

Florida is also a no-fault insurance state and this can impact your accident coverage. If you’re only carrying the state’s minimum insurance requirements, it means you only have liability coverage for property damage. Your insurance should cover the damage to the other driver’s vehicle if you’re responsible for the accident, but it doesn’t take care of your property.

If you want your insurance to cover your property damage, you’ll need to upgrade to a full coverage policy. Yes, the premiums are higher for full coverage but they’re also less expensive than paying for your vehicle repairs out of your pocket. What about PIP coverage?

PIP (personal injury protection) insurance covers your injuries and those of any passengers in your vehicle. The policy does have a cap and this also affects your coverage. PIP pays out for medical expenses and lost wages either up to the policy’s cap or 80% of your damages, whichever comes first. 

So, this means at least 20% of your medical expenses aren’t covered by your insurance. Increasing your policy cap can help resolve the issue, but it also results in higher monthly premiums.

Additional Factors That Can Impact Insurance Coverage

Along with policy caps and the type of insurance you’re carrying, a few other factors may potentially impact coverage.

Permissive Vehicle Use

Most auto insurance policies allow for permissive vehicle use, which is a fancy way of saying another driver behind the wheel of your vehicle is covered as long as you give them permission.

If the other driver doesn’t have permission to drive your vehicle, your insurance probably isn’t going to cover the damage. Instead, the non-allowed driver may be facing theft charges. 

Before you let someone else drive your vehicle, make sure they have a valid driver’s license. This is a condition of coverage for permissive vehicle use. You should also take a second and read through your policy. Some insurance providers only cover the policyholder.

Excluded Drivers

Your policy probably isn’t going to list excluded drivers by name but it will give an outline on who’s covered while driving your vehicle. 

Excluded drivers typically included anyone who isn’t carrying a valid driver’s license—not only are they not covered by your insurance but it’s also illegal to drive without a license in Florida. Both you and the non-licensed driver may face charges ranging from misdemeanors to criminal offenses for operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Excluded drivers can also include anyone with multiple points on their driver’s license. You typically receive a point for every traffic ticket you receive. Insurance companies often view individuals with multiple points on their records as high-risk drivers. If they’re not named on your policy, your insurance may not pay out if an accident occurs.

Before you let someone drive off in your car, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance agent to see if they’re covered.

What Happens If Your Insurance Doesn’t Cover an Accident?

Insurance companies have the right to refuse coverage if you violate the terms of your policy, and this can be anything from letting an unlicensed driver behind the wheel to handing your keys to someone who’s intoxicated. Your insurance probably isn’t going to cover an accident if you allow someone to drive your car while drunk.

However, sometimes insurance companies don’t have a valid reason to refuse coverage. Thankfully, you may not be stuck paying for damages out of your bank account. An experienced accident attorney can help you navigate the often complex insurance process, even if your provider initially refuses to settle your claim. Don’t get stuck paying for expenses that should be covered by your insurance.