Shopping for a new car can be one of the most exciting ventures you may ever engage in (and this will probably occur more than once in your lifetime), but extremely exhausting too. While finances are one aspect of the experience—along with choosing a vehicle that is suitable for your needs, safe for a family with small children if that is the case, efficient on gas, and more—the haggling can be stressful. And once insurance enters the picture, you may start to wonder why you got involved in the first place, whether you are dealing with an insurance agent face to face, online, or over the phone.

In Florida, car insurance is required for any vehicle with four wheels. Upon purchasing a vehicle, you must have $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability. PIP covers you if there is an accident resulting in physical injury, and your children too if they are in the car, as well as other members of your household who may be riding along. If you do have other passengers who are injured who do not own a vehicle, or reside with a relative who owns a vehicle, and obviously do not have PIP insurance, they may be covered also. Bodily injury liability (BIL) will pay for injuries and even pay for an attorney if you were to be sued due to alleged negligence on your part in an accident.

Uninsured motorist insurance is not required for you as a resident of Florida and the owner of a car, however it is highly recommended; after all, insurance is all about risk protection—and there are far too many people driving today without insurance, unfortunately. This coverage will protect you if you are hit by another motorist who—as the name of the coverage would imply—is not covered. While uninsured motorist coverage does not include any payments for property damage, it does cover medical bills, lost wages, and even long-term payment like nursing care, wheelchairs and other medical devices, and more, including the possibility of including coverage for a wrongful death claim. In Florida, over 26 percent of motorists may not be covered. That is an alarming statistic, in comparison to other states like Maine, with only around 4.6 percent of motorists driving around uninsured. Upon purchasing insurance, the key is to be informed about the requirements, but also what is best for you in terms of protecting your health and your property. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to and make changes to your policy later upon further consideration.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of others, contact the attorneys at Heintz & Becker. We’ve helped victims from Bradenton, Sarasota, and all over Florida get compensation for their damages and medical expenses after accidents. Call us for a free consultation now at 941-748-2916 or contact us online. We are here to help!

All blogs are written on behalf of Heintz & Becker for informational purposes. These articles should not, however, be considered legal advice, or in any way responsible for creating an attorney/client relationship.