5. Make sure you have adequate PIP insurance coverage. Under Florida law, PIP (Personal Injury Protection) is mandatory and pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages if you get into an auto accident, regardless of fault. Insurance agents or companies may attempt to sell PIP insurance with various deductibles.

Don’t pick a deductible. If you have a PIP deductible, it means you are paying out of pocket which can be very difficult if you don’t have health insurance or if you are out of work.

4. Purchase Medpay Coverage. Medpay covers the 20% of your medical bills from an accident that PIP insurance does not cover and will pay after the PIP is exhausted.

3. Purchase Stacked Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage and look into an Underinsured Motorist Umbrella. Under Florida Law, drivers do not have to have bodily injury limits. Therefore, if they cause devastating injuries in an accident, they may not have any insurance coverage to cover your medical injuries, bills, lost wages or pain that you suffer. Stacked Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage is something you may purchase from your insurance agent which would cover the wrongful driver’s acts and will pay for your damages. Umbrella Insurance Coverage is a way to get broad umbrella coverage and additional uninsured motorist benefits. The only way to insure that you will be protected if there is an accident is to have Stacked Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage for at fault drivers.

2. Do not text and drive. The statistics show that texting and driving is just as likely to cause an accident as drinking and driving.

1. Always wear your seat belt.

F. Scott Westheimer