What Happens if I Get into an Accident with No Insurance?

In the State of Florida, car owners are required to carry car insurance, and if you are injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, the fact that you don’t carry the requisite insurance can seriously complicate your claim. Your lack of insurance, however, does not necessarily mean that you are barred from all compensation. Cases like yours are complicated and having an experienced Clearwater car accident attorney on your side is advised.

To Begin, You Don’t Have PIP Coverage

Because Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to car accidents, every car accident begins with each driver filing a claim through their own personal injury protection (PIP) policy. This is designed to expedite the process, and the basic coverage includes the following:

• 80 percent of the policyholder’s medical costs
• 60 percent of the policyholder’s lost income

Once the PIP coverage is exhausted, which is typically at $10,000, the injured motorist can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. Because you don’t have insurance, you are locked out of this coverage.

Moving Forward

If you have a strong car accident claim that includes all of the following:

• Damages – or losses – of over $10,000, which is a fairly low bar when it comes to the immense losses that are commonly associated with car accidents
• Clear proof of the other driver’s fault in the matter, which is predicated on strong evidence
• A verifiable assessment of your considerable physical, financial, and emotional losses

If you can tick each of these boxes, you can move forward by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver’s insurance provider, and with a savvy car accident attorney beside you, you’ll be far better prepared to forge a path toward fair compensation.

Your Car Accident Lawsuit

If you have a strong case – even if you don’t have insurance of your own – you can seek compensation for your full range of losses and will not be held to the parameters of a PIP claim – once that initial $10,000 in required coverage is exceeded. As such, you can pursue a case resolution that addresses all the following:

• Property damage to your car and to any property that is damaged within it
• Your complete medical costs, including those related to anticipated future medical needs
• Your lost income, including losses related to your future earning potential
• Your physical and emotional pain and suffering, which can be overwhelming

Barring a lawsuit, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider for the following forms of compensation (as applicable):

• If it’s carried, bodily injury coverage up to the at-fault driver’s policy limit – motorists in Florida are not required to carry this form of insurance
• Any coverage related to property damage to your vehicle carried by the at-fault driver
• Any rental car reimbursement coverage carried by the at-fault driver

You Need an Experienced Clearwater Car Accident Attorney on Your Side

The focused Clearwater car accident attorneys at Tragos, Sartes & Tragos recognize the immense challenges faced by accident victims who fail to carry car insurance, and we endeavor to do everything within our power to help. A lawsuit against the at-fault driver’s insurance provider may be a possibility, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 727-441-9030 to learn more today.