Getting into a car accident in Miami is stressful enough. Between crowded streets, heavy traffic, and drivers who don’t always follow traffic laws, you never know when another driver’s mistake might change your day, or your life. The real problem comes when the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t carry enough to cover your injuries.
In Florida, that’s a very real risk, since bodily injury liability coverage isn’t required. Without the right protection, you could be left with medical bills and lost wages far beyond what your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or health insurance will cover.
That’s why uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is one of the strongest protections you can carry. In Florida, UM also applies when the at-fault driver is underinsured, so it protects you in both uninsured and underinsured situations. For simplicity, this blog uses “UM coverage” to refer to both.
If you’re reviewing your policy or shopping for new coverage, you may be asking yourself, “Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Miami, Florida?” The sections below explain how UM coverage works under Florida law, when it applies, and why it’s often one of the most important add-ons to your auto policy in South Florida.
Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Explained
Florida follows a no-fault insurance system under Florida Statutes § 627.736, meaning drivers rely first on their own PIP coverage after an accident. PIP pays for medical care and lost wages up to a limit.
Florida’s PIP coverage is capped at $10,000, but in many cases, benefits are limited to $2,500 unless a qualified provider diagnoses an emergency medical condition. This restriction often leaves accident victims with major expenses far beyond what PIP will cover.
In addition to PIP, Florida also requires drivers to carry at least $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL) coverage, which pays for damage you cause to someone else’s property. However, there is no requirement that drivers carry bodily injury liability coverage.
That’s where UM coverage steps in. UM applies when the other driver has no insurance or when the other driver’s coverage is too low to cover your losses.
What UM Coverage Includes
In Florida, UM coverage pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and, in cases of serious or permanent injuries, non-economic damages like pain and suffering, when you’re injured in a car accident caused by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage.
It also covers long-term costs for catastrophic injuries and, in wrongful death cases, damages like funeral costs and loss of companionship, provided you prove the other driver’s negligence, as required by Florida Statutes § 627.727. The coverage is capped by your policy’s limits.
Florida insurers must offer UM coverage, but drivers can reject it in writing. Many drivers decline it to save on premiums, leaving them exposed after a crash. However, the statewide crash and uninsured driver statistics show just how serious that risk can be.
Why UM Coverage Is Critical
Florida continues to experience a high volume of serious motor vehicle crashes. Recent statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles statewide “By the Numbers” report recorded 381,210 reportable traffic crashes and 3,184 traffic-related fatalities across the state. Florida also has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the nation, with an estimated 20.4% lacking insurance.
These figures highlight how frequent and severe crashes can be throughout Florida. In urban areas like Miami, heavy traffic and dense roadways can make the risks even greater. Uninsured motorist coverage is particularly important in this context because of scenarios such as:
- Fatal car accidents, where families may need coverage for wrongful death claims.
- Head-on collisions at busy intersections, often leading to catastrophic or permanent injuries.
- Motorcycle accidents, which frequently involve severe injuries and drivers with insufficient insurance coverage.
- Hit-and-run crashes, where victims may be left without any insurance recourse.
Without UM coverage, victims often face overwhelming medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term financial strain, especially in cases involving traumatic injury or death. By carrying UM coverage, you protect yourself from having to rely solely on the other driver’s auto insurance policy.
UM coverage provides broader protection, but Florida law still requires you to prove the other driver was at fault before benefits can apply. That’s why negligence remains a key issue in UM claims.
Why Proving Negligence Still Matters
Although UM coverage comes from your own policy, Florida law requires that you first establish a legal right to damages from the at-fault driver before your insurer pays benefits (§ 627.727(1)). In other words, you still have to prove that the other driver was negligent.
Florida also follows a system of comparative negligence under § 768.81. If you were partially at fault for the traffic accident, your potential compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
To strengthen your UM claim and the value of your car accident case:
- Collect medical records documenting your treatment.
- Preserve evidence of property damage and the accident scene.
- Keep records of lost wages and employment history.
- Work with a lawyer for a car accident who knows how to establish legal duty, breach, and damages in motor vehicle accident cases.
Once negligence and damages are established, the next step is knowing what to expect from the UM claims process.
What to Expect When Filing a UM Claim
When you file a claim under UM coverage, you aren’t suing the other driver directly. Instead, you’re turning to your own auto insurance company. The process generally looks like this: seek medical care, notify your insurer, submit documentation, and wait for a payment decision. If your insurer delays, denies, or undervalues the claim, you may need to involve a lawyer for auto accident. In serious or catastrophic injury cases, litigation may be required to pursue the full value of your UM coverage.
After filing, most drivers want to know how much their claim could actually be worth if UM coverage applies.
How Much Is Your Case Worth With UM Coverage?
The value of a UM claim depends on the severity of your injuries and the impact on your life. Some factors that affect what a car accident case is worth include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering damages
- Whether the injury is permanent or catastrophic
In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may also be able to recover compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and other damages allowed under Florida law. Evaluating these damages helps determine whether your UM policy will step in to cover the losses that the at-fault driver’s insurance cannot.
Do You Need UM Coverage in Miami?
You are not legally required to purchase UM coverage in Florida, but declining it can leave you exposed. Auto accident victims who lack UM coverage often find that most car accident claims exceed the limits of PIP and the at fault driver’s coverage.
Given the risks on Miami’s roads, many injury victims discover too late that UM coverage could have protected them from overwhelming financial loss. By carrying UM, you give yourself an important safeguard when dealing with negligent drivers and insurance companies.
Injured by an Uninsured Driver in Miami? Get the Support You Need
A single crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver can leave you facing mounting bills and more questions than answers. At Ward Ruddock, we draw on more than 20 years of combined legal experience to guide individuals and families in Miami who are coping with serious injuries, lost wages, and long-term recovery.
Our team strategizes, negotiates, and, when necessary, litigates at trial to pursue the compensation you need after a crash. Whether your case involves a disputed UM claim with an uninsured or underinsured driver, catastrophic injury, or wrongful death, we know how to build the strongest path forward.
Your online search for a “PI attorney near me” brought you here, and you’re in the right place. Take the next step and call (305) 390-4259(305) 390-4259 or fill out our confidential online form today to schedule your FREE consultation. We’ll review your claim, explain your options, and take action to pursue the compensation Florida law allows.
Copyright © 2025. Ward Ruddock. All rights reserved.
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Ward Ruddock
4770 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 600
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 390-4259(305) 390-4259
https://wardruddock.com/
