After well over a decade of battling, a Miami-Dade jury awarded a Florida couple $14.5 million from a 2004 car crash involving motorists driving without insurance. The couple, David and Carrie Zucker, claimed that Geico, their own auto insurance company, owed them compensation because the other drivers involved in the crash were either uninsured or underinsured motorists. Geico denied their claim and David Zucker was left with spinal, as well as other injuries, after the collision, without any way of paying for his recovery.
The Collision
The collision happened back in 2004 on Interstate 95, where Miguel Gonzalez’s vehicle collided with an 18-wheel oil tank truck. The impact of the collision lurched Gonzalez’s vehicle into the lane that the Zuckers were driving in and hit their car, causing damages to the car and Mr. Zucker’s serious injuries. Unfortunately, the Zuckers are still on the edge of their seats, despite the $14.5 million jury-awarded compensation, because Geico can appeal the decision and put them through several more months of financial duress while dealing with Mr. Zucker’s medical issues.
Uninsured Motorists are Not Following Florida Law
According to the Insurance Information Institute, Florida was the second highest state in the U.S. for uninsured motorists in 2012. Florida reflected a 23.8 percent uninsured motorist count, right behind Oklahoma, which was the state with the highest percent of uninsured motorists, at 25.9 percent. According to Florida law, however, it is illegal to drive without auto insurance.
Do You Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Insurance policies can be confusing, and while most drivers think that paying an insurance premium every month protects them from problems like the Zuckers are fighting in court, the truth is: most motorists only want to pay the minimum amount for insurance. If you are paying the minimum amount and only carry the basic requirements for insurance in Florida, you may not have uninsured motorist coverage. You should check with your insurance agency to find out what your policy covers and make the necessary changes to protect yourself in the case of uninsured motorists.
Contact Our Firm For Help
If a motorist in Tampa Bay has caused an accident in which you suffered injuries and they did not have an active Florida auto insurance policy, your pain and damage should still be compensated. Contact an experienced Tampa Bay uninsured motorist lawyer who will take on your auto insurance agency and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our firm today for help with your case. We provide free consultations to people who are injured in uninsured motorist accidents.