In its Uninsured Motorists study released in April, the Insurance Research Council (IRC) noted 24 percent of Florida drivers do not carry car insurance. Florida is one of the five states with the highest number of uninsured drivers. Across the United States, the IRC says roughly one in seven drivers are uninsured. The IRC believes that the economic downturn is a major factor in drivers opting not to carry auto insurance.
In Florida in 2009, there were 235,778 crashes across the state — or an average of 646 accidents every day, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Among those Florida car accidents, 197,214 injuries and 2,563 fatalities were reported; 22,743 of those injuries were deemed incapacitating.
According to the CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the economic costs for car accidents across the United States are staggering:
- The cost of direct medical care from car crashes totaled $17 billion.
- In a period of one year, the cost of productivity losses and medical care related to injuries sustained from motor vehicle crashes exceeded $99 billion.
- The costs of non-fatal and fatal crash-related injuries in a period of one year totaled $70 billion (71 percent of total costs) for individuals riding in motor vehicles.
Without insurance, an injured motorist may be liable for all expenses associated with his or her medical care and property damage. Also, another injured motorist may be able to file a civil lawsuit in order to recover money for damages and injuries sustained against an uninsured motorist.
With the high number of accidents in Florida, the risk an uninsured motorist takes each time he or she gets behind the wheel is not worth the financial devastation an accident could cause.
The insurance laws in Florida are complicated, and there are safeguards in place to protect those with insurance. However, dealing with insurance companies can be difficult. Using an experienced Florida car accident attorney may improve your chances of securing the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
Contact an Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyer
The Florida law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, represents victims of car accidents and automobile crashes in Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Okeechobee, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and Palm Beach. If character traits such as integrity, dedication and compassion are what you seek in an accident lawyer, call Philip DeBerard. Choosing the right accident lawyer does make a difference.
Call 1-800-299-8878 to speak with a knowledgeable Florida car accident attorney or fill out our online contact form.
