What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage—and Why You Might Need It More Than You Think
You follow the rules. You pay for insurance. You drive carefully. But what happens when the other driver—the one who causes the crash—doesn’t have insurance at all? Or not enough to cover your medical bills and losses?
This is where Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)—and its close cousin, Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)—comes in. And at Pezon Law, we’ve seen firsthand how critical this coverage can be, especially for clients in South Florida.
Because while many drivers do what’s right, not everyone does. And when you’re hurt, doing things right shouldn’t leave you with the burden.
The Reality: Many Drivers in Florida Don’t Have Insurance
Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country. According to recent statistics, over 20% of Florida drivers are on the road without liability insurance.
And here’s something many clients don’t realize:
Florida doesn’t require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance.
That means if someone hits you and causes serious injuries, they might have:
No coverage for your medical bills
No protection for your lost wages or pain and suffering
No assets to go after in a lawsuit
Without UM coverage, you could be stuck paying for someone else’s mistake—even if the accident wasn’t your fault.
What Is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage?
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage helps you when the other driver has no insurance.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage helps when the other driver’s policy isn’t enough to cover your full damages.
UM/UIM coverage can help pay for:
Medical expenses
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Future treatment costs
Wrongful death claims (for surviving family members)
It’s optional coverage in Florida, but one we strongly recommend every driver carry—and understand.
How Does It Work in a Claim?
Here’s a simple example:
Let’s say you’re rear-ended by a driver in Miami who has no bodily injury insurance. You suffer $50,000 in medical bills and wage loss.
If you have $100,000 in UM coverage, your own insurance can cover the full amount—even though the other driver had nothing.
If the at-fault driver only had $10,000 in liability coverage and you have $100,000 in UIM, your carrier may pay up to the remaining $90,000—once the at-fault driver’s policy is exhausted.
But remember: insurance companies don’t offer this easily. That’s where legal guidance comes in.
How Pezon Law Helps with UM/UIM Claims
Many clients assume that since they’re dealing with their own insurance, things will go smoothly. But in reality, UM/UIM claims are often met with:
Delays and denials
Low settlement offers
Blame-shifting from your own insurance adjuster
At Pezon Law, we help you:
Understand the full extent of your coverage
Build a case that proves your damages and entitlement
Handle all communication with insurance carriers
Pursue the compensation you rightfully deserve
Because even when you’re dealing with “your” company—you need someone on your side.
You Can’t Control Other Drivers—But You Can Protect Yourself
Injury accidents are stressful enough. Don’t leave your financial recovery to chance, or to a driver who failed to carry the coverage the law barely requires.
At Pezon Law, we help clients understand and navigate every part of their case—including the policies they paid for, but didn’t know they’d need.
📞 Contact us today to review your options and let’s make sure your next step is your strongest one.
