Requirements for Florida Car Insurance

February 17, 2020

By Rudenberg & Glasser, P.A.

Auto insurance protects you if you or other people are injured or sustain other damages in the event of a car accident. Each state, including Florida, has its own laws regarding what type of insurance drivers are required to have.

What Are the Requirements?

At a minimum, Florida law requires drivers to have two types of coverage:

$10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

This type of no-fault protection covers expenses for the policyholder or their family members, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. However, it will over cover 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages.

$10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL)

This protection covers a policyholder for financial liability that occurs when the individual was the at-fault driver in an accident. It will cover damage to someone else’s property but not damage to the policyholder’s own vehicle or property.

What Coverage Should I Have?

$10,000 is the minimum and maximum PIP coverage amount that Florida drivers can choose. On the other hand, $10,000 is the minimum amount only for PDL.

This amount refers to the maximum an insurance company will pay for damage to another person’s property (in an accident where their own policyholder is responsible); it will also cover the policyholder’s legal defense if they are sued.

PDL helps protect a driver’s assets by covering the damage to the other vehicle. It is recommended that Florida drivers purchase enough PDL coverage to protect their assets so that they are not responsible for paying any amounts above the policy limit.

BI Coverage

Florida is only one of two states that does not require drivers to have any sort of Bodily Injury (BI) coverage. However, this type of coverage is a necessity in the event that a policyholder causes an accident and injures another person.

Without BI protection, the injured party can sue the at-fault driver and seek compensation through their available assets.

Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage

Because PIP and PDL are the only required coverages, many drivers do not have BI coverage. This means that, if a driver is hit by someone without BI protection or limited BI coverage, they may be left with little recourse. Underinsured/underinsured coverage can be added to a policy in the event of a situation like this.

While you hopefully won’t need to use it, adding additional coverages to your auto insurance can act as financial safety nets if you cannot afford to pay out of pocket for all accident-related expenses.

Injured in a Car Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, turn to the Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys at Rudenberg & Glasser. Oftentimes, receiving fair compensation from insurance companies means fighting a battle. We have made a name for ourselves as a formidable ally in the courtroom. We are ready to hear your story and relentlessly fight on your behalf.

Contact our firm at (954) 543-1788 to schedule your free consultation. You can also fill out our online contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

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Not Guilty, Acquitted at Trial Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon

Outcome: Client was alleged to have used his vehicle to strike victim, and there was video of the incident which could have been interpreted to actually show the crime. The state was offering significant prison time before trial. By meticulous planning and strategic cross-examination to expose the motives and fabrications by the alleged victim, and an eyewitness in support of the alleged victim, Rudenberg & Glasser convinced a jury to acquit the client and avoid a mandatory long prison sentence.
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Read more about this story on the Sun Sentinel.
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Felony DUI: Client was in an Accident and Left the Scene
Outcome: Rudenberg & Glasser filed a compelling motion to suppress evidence based on law enforcement's actions during the investigation. Rudenberg & Glasser were able to persuade the prosecutor prior to the motion to suppress hearing that the charge should be broken down from a felony to a misdemeanor and the client was offered probation instead of the previously sought prison sentence.
Final Injunction Hearing
Outcome: Client desperately needed to avoid a final injunction on his record. Rudenberg & Glasser defended him at the hearing and proved that the Petitioner was not in fear for her safety. The judge dismissed the injunction.
First-Degree Misdemeanor: Resisting Police Officer Without Violence
Outcome: Mr. Rudenberg presented evidence that the police officer’s version of events was not credible, and that accusations were made to justify excessive use of force by police officer. Jury returned a verdict of not guilty in less than five minutes.
First-Degree Misdemeanors: DUI & Possession of Cannabis
Outcome: Mr. Rudenberg won a motion arguing the DUI checkpoint was conducted in violation of the Fourth Amendment, and the Judge entered an order suppressing all evidence. Case was dropped by the State, and client avoided a mandatory conviction for DUI, as well as mandatory fines and license suspensions.
$250,000 Pre-Trial Personal Injury

Outcome: Client was injured by a malfunctioning door, requiring stitches and leaving a scar on client's knee. There were limited medical bills and no surgeries, but through extremely challenging and successful negotiations, Rudenberg & Glasser were able to secure a settlement of $250,000.

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