Uninsured Motorist Coverage
 

Opinions on need for this? Would our Medicare health insurance coverage (HMO or PPO) cover these expenses? What expenses would be covered other than medical care?

Have always had it but rising rates are getting crazy. Thanks

Uninsured motorist insurance (UM) is mandatory in many states, but not in Florida. I have never purchased it since moving to Florida. Some people will disagree, but, in my opinion, it is mostly redundant with your health insurance. You can sue your insurance company for "pain and suffering" using UM, but, unless you have millions in coverage, you will probably have trouble hiring a lawyer, and you will not end up with a large settlement. I think it is a good way to save a few hundred dollars by rejecting UM. My opinion.

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"If you are injured in a car accident as a result of another driver who does not have bodily injury liability coverage, your uninsured motorist coverage will compensate you for the costs of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and wrongful death"

So if the person doesn't have that coverage, can't I just sue that person?

I agree. I've NEVER had uninsured motorist coverage on my vehicles as long as I've lived in Florida (about 21 years). I have good health/hospitalization coverage that would cover that REGARDLESS the cause of the illness or injury.

And, since I'm retired, I have no need for "loss of income" coverage either because my income will keep coming in as long as I'm breathing.

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Well, yes, you COULD, but in about 99% of the cases, it would be a waste of time and money. You can't get something that someone doesn't have. No insurance generally means "no money and no assets."

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Yes, you can. But most people already have health insurance to cover their medical expenses, no wages if they are retired, and collision insurance to repair any damage to their vehicle. The only thing left is pain and suffering. So, if you have $100K in UM insurance, do you think your insurance company is going to just mail you a check for $100K without you having to hire a lawyer to sue them? And the lawyer will collect 40+ percent of any settlement, if they win.

Your health insurance won't cover your passengers. The liability portion of your auto insurance would probably cover them, but would they have to sue to get it?

Uninsured motorist insurance provides no personal liability coverage for you. The uninsured motorist is liable for any damages if they cause an accident. It is possible that UM insurance would cover a passenger's medical bills. But, personally, I don't feel responsible for my passengers medical bills for an accident that I didn't cause. To me, passengers should have health insurance like I do. If I cause an accident, I have plenty of personal liability coverage to pay for it. But, why should I pay for liability coverage for an uninsured driver and medical insurance for a passenger who chooses to not buy it? My opinion, and I know that some people will disagree.

Why do you not ask your insurance agent? All you get here are opinions and in the case of a claim, if they are wrong will leave you dealing with the results of your choice.

You are wrong thinking you can’t sue an insurance company or the driver that caused the accident or even your passengers can sue you for driving while getting into an accident. Why do you think ambulance chasers like Morgan & Morgan and many other lawyers are in business?
If a friend gets drunk at a party I’m hosting and he gets in an accident on the way home, you can get sued.
This is also the reason to get umbrella insurance so you are covered no matter what happens. You hope you never have to use it but when you do, you will be glad you have it

Why assume I didn't? Won't I always be dealing with results of my choice? And is there a right or wrong? Will an agent give an unbiased opinion on something they are selling? Not sure where you are coming from really....

The person who can’t afford insurance probably doesn’t have money to make it worth while to sue.

LOL. In my experience, many insurance agents try to upsell auto coverage, slanting what they say, and do not explain things clearly. As a result, guess what happens many times? Ker-ching — buy the coverage and more commission to the agent. (And no lawsuit against the agent.)

To learn about this topic, it’s better to read about it on websites of several Florida lawyers who do not receive insurance commissions. Here is one:
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida: The Truth About Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Lawyers make money by suing insurance companies for non-payment of claims, i.e.uninsured motorist claims by drivers who have that coverage but were denied the claim. So there is a bias there also.