Florida requires drivers to carry minimum insurance coverage, but those minimums are among the lowest in the nation — and they often leave accident victims significantly undercompensated after a serious crash.

Understanding what the minimums are, what they cover, and where they fall short is essential for every Florida driver.

Florida law requires all registered vehicle owners to carry:

That is it. Florida does not require bodily injury liability coverage for most drivers — a significant gap that leaves many accident victims without a source of compensation.

PIP pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages, up to a combined $10,000 limit.

Consider what a serious accident can cost:

• Emergency room visit: $3,000–$10,000
• Ambulance: $1,000–$3,000
• Surgery: $20,000–$100,000+
• Hospitalization (per day): $2,000–$5,000
• Physical therapy (per session): $100–$300

A single emergency room visit and a few days in the hospital can easily exhaust your $10,000 PIP limit. After that, you are on your own — unless you have health insurance, additional coverage, or a viable personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

Florida's decision not to require bodily injury liability coverage creates a serious problem for accident victims.

If you are injured by a driver who carries only the minimum required coverage (PIP and PDL), they have no bodily injury liability coverage to compensate you for your injuries. Your only options are:

1. Your own PIP coverage — limited to $10,000
2. Your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage — if you carry it
3. A personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver — but if they have no assets, collecting is difficult

This is why uninsured motorist coverage is so important in Florida.

Florida consistently ranks among the top states for uninsured drivers. Approximately 20% of Florida drivers have no insurance at all — and many more carry only the minimum PIP and PDL coverage with no BIL.

If you are hit by one of these drivers and do not carry UM coverage, you may have no practical way to recover compensation for your injuries beyond your $10,000 PIP limit.

Insurance professionals and personal injury attorneys consistently recommend Florida drivers carry more than the minimum:

• Minimum recommended: $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident
• Better: $250,000 per person / $500,000 per accident

This protects you if you cause an accident and injure someone.

• Minimum recommended: $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident
• Match your BIL limits for balanced protection

This protects you when you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

• Consider purchasing the optional $10,000 additional PIP coverage for a total of $20,000

• A personal umbrella policy provides an additional $1 million or more in liability coverage above your auto and homeowner's policies — often for less than $200 per year

Even when the at-fault driver carries BIL coverage, their limits may not be enough to cover your damages in a serious accident.

Example: You are seriously injured in an accident caused by a driver with $25,000 in BIL coverage. Your medical bills alone are $80,000. The driver's BIL pays $25,000 — leaving $55,000 uncovered.

Your options:

1. Your UM/UIM coverage — pays the difference up to your UIM limits
2. A personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver for the excess — but collecting may be difficult

This is why matching your UM/UIM limits to your BIL limits is important.

Do not assume you are out of options. An experienced personal injury attorney can:

• Identify all potentially liable parties (not just the driver — possibly an employer, vehicle owner, or property owner)
• Maximize your recovery from all available insurance sources
• Evaluate whether a personal injury lawsuit is worthwhile given the at-fault driver's assets
• Help you access your own UM/UIM coverage

Juan Cordero Lawyers handles Car Accident Lawyer Florida and insurance coverage disputes throughout Florida. If you were injured in an accident, call 305.525.8957 for a free consultation — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We serve clients in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Martin County, and across South Florida.