What is Uninsured Motorist Insurance and Bodily Injury Insurance?

Summary

Bodily injury insurance pays you for your injuries caused by the at-fault driver. This type of insurance is paid from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Uninsured motorist insurance pays you if the driver does not have enough insurance.

What is bodily injury insurance in Florida?

Bodily injury insurance (BI) is liability coverage. If you were hurt by another driver, that driver is liable for your injuries. The at-fault driver’s bodily injury insurance will pay money damages for:

  • Medical Bills
  • Lost wages
  • Loss in future earnings
  • Pain
  • Suffering
  • Inconvenience
  • Loss of Enjoyment of life

Bodily injury insurance can also pay for your spouse’s loss of consortium.

What is uninsured motorist (UM) insurance in Florida?

If the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover your claim, you can get additional money through your uninsured motorist coverage (UM).

Uninsured motorist insurance pays for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other expenses if you are injured in an accident by an uninsured or underinsured driver. If your injury claim exhausts the at-fault driver’s bodily injury insurance, then your UM insurance can pay money damages for the following:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Loss in future earnings
  • Pain
  • Suffering
  • Inconvenience
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life

When you purchase UM insurance, it is as if you bought extra bodily injury insurance for the person that hurt you. UM insurance can also pay for your spouse’s loss of consortium.

Your PIP coverage and health insurance may pay for some of your medical bills and lost wages after a car accident. However, uninsured motorist coverage is the only insurance you can buy that will pay for your pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of future earning capacity.

Is uninsured motorist insurance worth it in Florida?

Uninsured motorist coverage is certainly worth it if you live in Florida. According to the Insurance Information Institute, Florida has one of the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in the United States.

1 in 5 drivers in Florida are uninsured

How much does uninsured motorist insurance cost in Florida?

The cost of UM coverage in Florida varies depending on your insurance company, your driving record, and the amount of coverage you choose. However, UM coverage is typically very affordable. In fact, it may only add a few dollars to your monthly premium.

Conclusion

Bodily injury and uninsured motorist insurance are two important types of car insurance that can help protect you in a car accident in Florida. However, the two coverages protect you in different ways. It is important to have both BI insurance and UM insurance in order to properly protect yourself and your family.