FlaglerLive published an article in late February concerning the alarming amount of drivers in Florida who do not have car insurance. According to the article, over 12 percent of drivers throughout the US are not insured, a rate that doubles inside the state of Florida, where almost 25 percent of drivers are uninsured.
Why Does Florida Have So Many Uninsured Drivers?
According to FlaglerLive, many factors can lead to a driver foregoing car insurance, such as resenting that insurance is a requirement or not being able to get insurance because he or she is an undocumented immigrant who does not have a driver’s license. The main reason many Floridians don’t have car insurance, however, is poverty.
The FlaglerLive article cites Insurance Information Institute (III) statistics in making its point that many drivers in Florida simply cannot afford car insurance. According to the statistic cited, between 2010 and 2011, the costs for several household expenditures went up nationwide, including:
- Food (up 21 percent)
- Housing (up 29 percent)
- Healthcare (up 52 percent)
- Public transportation (up 29 percent)
- Car insurance (up 10 percent)
“[Auto insurance] can still be a difficult purchase for a low-income household,” said III Chief Actuary James Lynch. “States with higher rates of uninsured motorists tend to have less affordable insurance.”
Why Should I Still Talk to a Lawyer Even If the Other Driver Has Car Insurance?
As unfortunate as it is that so many drivers in Florida are getting behind the wheel without having car insurance, even if you are the victim of a wreck caused by a driver who does have auto insurance, you should still speak to an attorney afterwards. In the video below, injury lawyer Deborah Gander explains that insurance companies are businesses and like all businesses, they want to save money, even if it comes at the expense of accident victims. However, with the help of an attorney who handles car accident cases for a living, crash victims and their families may be able to improve their chances of holding those responsible for their injuries and suffering accountable.
Colson Hicks Eidson – Injury Attorneys