A property manager in Winter Garden is merging onto the 408 when she clips a motorcycle. The rider spends two weeks in the hospital and months out of work. Her policy carries the Florida minimum, which has no bodily injury liability, and the rider’s attorney sends a letter asking about her house, her savings and her wages.
Most auto claims are fender benders that the policy handles without much trouble. The ones that hurt are the claims where the policy was set up for a different situation than the one that happened. The scenarios below are illustrative examples of common patterns, not descriptions of specific claims.
A Serious Injury and No Bodily Injury Coverage
Florida doesn’t require bodily injury liability on most policies, so many drivers carry only personal injury protection and property damage liability. When one of them causes a serious injury, there’s no coverage for the other person’s medical bills beyond their own PIP, and nothing to pay for a defense. The injured person can pursue the driver personally. This is the largest gap in Florida auto insurance, and the cheapest one to close, as we explain in Florida’s auto insurance requirements. A personal umbrella policy adds another layer above it.
Hit by a Driver With Nothing
The mirror image is just as common. A driver stopped at a light is rear-ended by someone carrying no bodily injury coverage, and after PIP runs out there’s no one to pay for surgery, therapy and lost income. Uninsured motorist coverage is what responds, and drivers who rejected it or bought it at low limits find out at the worst moment. Our article on uninsured motorist coverage in Florida explains stacked and non-stacked options.
The Car That Floods
Storm surge and street flooding total cars in Florida every hurricane season, often cars that were parked and never driven into water. Comprehensive coverage pays for flood and wind damage to a vehicle, but only if the policy has it. Owners who dropped comprehensive on a paid-off car to save money, or who carry liability only, absorb the full loss. Moving cars to higher ground before a storm helps, and some carriers won’t add comprehensive once a storm watch is issued.
The Driver Nobody Listed
A teenager who just got a license, an adult child who moved back home, a boyfriend who uses the car every day. When an unlisted household driver causes an accident, carriers often dispute or limit the claim, and sometimes cancel the policy afterward. Adding household drivers costs money, but it’s far less than a claim fight. We cover the teen side in adding a teen driver to your Florida auto policy.
Driving for an App
A driver delivering food or carrying rideshare passengers on a personal policy causes a crash while the app is on. Personal policies commonly exclude that use, and the app company’s coverage may be limited or secondary during parts of the trip. The result is a disputed claim and often a canceled policy. A rideshare or delivery endorsement, disclosed up front, prevents most of it, as we explain in rideshare and delivery driving on a personal auto policy.
The Work Truck on a Personal Policy
A contractor’s pickup, titled personally and insured on the family policy, is in an accident while a helper is driving it to a job site with a trailer of equipment. The personal carrier questions whether business use was disclosed, the tools in the bed aren’t covered by any auto policy, and the injured driver names the business too. Our article on pickup truck insurance in Florida explains where the line between personal and commercial falls.
The Lapse That Turns Into a Suspension
Some of the most expensive auto problems aren’t accidents at all. A missed payment cancels the policy, the state is notified, and the driver’s license and registration are suspended. If an accident happens during the gap, there’s no coverage, and the driver may be required to carry an SR-22 or FR-44 filing afterward, which raises the price for years. We explain those filings in SR-22 and FR-44 filings in Florida.
Expensive Repairs on Newer Cars
A cracked windshield or a minor bumper hit on a newer car can mean replacing and recalibrating cameras and sensors, which turns a small claim into a large one. Drivers with high deductibles chosen years ago on an older car sometimes discover they’re paying most of it themselves. Our article on driver-assist technology and your Florida auto insurance covers glass and repair costs.
Worth Confirming
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You carry bodily injury liability at limits that protect what you own
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Uninsured motorist coverage is on the policy at meaningful limits
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Comprehensive is in place on any car you couldn’t afford to replace
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Every household driver is listed
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App driving and business use are disclosed
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Payments are set up so the policy can’t lapse
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Deductibles fit what repairs on your current car actually cost
Talk to Prestige Insurance Group
Most of the claims above come from a policy that no longer fits how the car is used. We review auto coverage alongside our clients’ home, umbrella and business policies, so the gaps get found before the claim does.
Call the office nearest you. Se habla español.
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Orlando: 407-993-2331
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Miami: 305-969-8776
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Stuart: 772-247-3788
Related Resources
The scenarios described here are illustrative examples of common loss patterns and are not descriptions of specific claims. General information only, not legal advice. Coverage depends on the policy in force and the facts of the loss. Prestige Insurance Group, Florida agency license L057894.
