Driving without insurance in Florida is illegal and carries real consequences. If your coverage lapses, your insurer will notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). The agency will then send you a notice requesting proof of a new policy. Fail to respond in time, and your driver’s license and vehicle registration can both be suspended for up to three years. You will also owe a reinstatement fee before your driving privileges are restored.
Uninsured And Have Been In A Car Accident?
Contact an Attorney at Garvin Injury Law Today
The administrative penalties notwithstanding, being uninsured leaves you personally exposed to significant financial liability if you cause a car accident. Continue reading to learn more.
A Fort Myers car accident attorney will pursue financial compensation on your behalf after a collision.
Contact our firm online or call (239) 277-0005.
What Coverage Does Florida Law Require?
Florida law mandates that every registered vehicle carry two types of insurance. The first is Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which requires a minimum of $10,000 in coverage. PIP pays a portion of your medical bills and lost wages after an accident, regardless of fault. The second is Property Damage Liability (PDL), also set at a $10,000 minimum. PDL covers damage you cause to another person’s vehicle or property.
Your coverage must remain active for the entire time your vehicle is registered. That requirement applies even if you are not actively driving the car. If you cancel your policy without surrendering your registration and plates, the state will treat it as a lapse.
How the Penalties Increase With Each Offense
The consequences grow steeper with repeat violations. For a first offense, you will owe a $150 reinstatement fee in addition to having your license and registration suspended. If your coverage lapses a second time within three years, that fee jumps to $250. A third or subsequent lapse within the same three-year window raises the fee to $500.
In each case, the suspension can last up to three years unless you obtain a qualifying policy and submit proof to the FLHSMV. You may avoid the reinstatement fee entirely if you can show that your new coverage started before the suspension took effect.
How Being Uninsured Can Harm Your Auto Accident Claim in Florida
The penalties from the state are only part of the problem. If you cause an accident while uninsured, you become personally responsible for the other party’s damages. That means their medical bills and repair costs could come directly out of your pocket.
Being uninsured also creates serious problems if you are the one who gets hurt. Without PIP coverage, you lose access to benefits that would otherwise help pay for your medical bills and lost wages right away. You also lose the safety net of your own uninsured motorist policy if the driver who hit you has no coverage either.
On top of that, Florida requires you to prove an exception to its no-fault rules applies for pain and suffering and other non-economic damages. One such exception is if you’ve sustained a “serious injury” as defined by state law, but there are others as well.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
If you were involved in a car accident in Florida while uninsured, or if an uninsured driver hit you, consulting with an uninsured motorist attorney in Fort Myers is an important first step. We will do all we can to maximize the value of your claim and ensure you are made whole again as best as possible.
Call Garvin Injury Law today for a free consultation to get started at (239) 277-0005