What To Do If You’re Hit By An Uninsured Driver
Posted on: May 26, 2025You already know what to do after a car accident: call the police, exchange insurance information, file a claim. But what if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
Unfortunately, that scenario is more common than most people realize. According to the Insurance Research Council, about 15% of drivers are uninsured. In Florida, those numbers are even higher—roughly 1 in 5 drivers are uninsured and nearly 4 in 10 are underinsured.
That means even if the other driver has insurance, it might not be enough to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, or property damage after a crash.
If you’ve just been hit by an uninsured driver, you’re probably feeling confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed. You still have injuries to treat. A car to fix. Time off work to deal with. But suddenly, your path to compensation seems unclear—and the clock is ticking.
So what happens now? What are your options? And how can you protect yourself from paying out of pocket for someone else’s mistake?
Let’s walk through what happens after an accident with an uninsured driver—and how you can recover what you’re owed.
What Happens If an Uninsured Driver Hits You?
Being involved in an accident is stressful enough—but learning the other driver doesn’t have insurance adds a whole new layer of frustration.
Florida is a no-fault state, which means that regardless of who caused the crash, your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) will help cover a portion of your medical bills and lost wages. But there’s a catch: PIP only covers 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages, and it’s capped at $10,000. For many accident victims, that’s not nearly enough.
Wondering if you have a case? Take our quiz to find out.
If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver, you might feel like you’ve run out of options. But even without their insurance, there are still ways to pay for damages after a crash.
Here are your main options:
- Use your PIP coverage. Florida drivers are required to carry Personal Injury Protection, which can help with immediate medical care and income loss—but only up to the $10,000 limit.
- File a claim under your own collision coverage. If you have collision coverage as part of your auto insurance policy, it can help cover damage to your vehicle, regardless of fault.
- Use uninsured motorist coverage (UM). If you opted in for this optional—but highly recommended—coverage, it can help fill the gaps left by the other driver’s lack of liability insurance. Unfortunately, if you didn’t already have uninsured motorist coverage in place at the time of the accident, you won’t be able to add it retroactively.
- File a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. In theory, you can sue the other driver. But if they don’t have insurance, they may not have assets either, which makes it difficult (if not impossible) to recover any meaningful compensation.
Trying to navigate this on your own is tough—especially when you’re also trying to recover from injuries. The truth is, accident victims in these situations often get discouraged or settle for far less than they deserve simply because they don’t know what’s available to them.
That’s why it’s so important to understand uninsured motorist coverage—what it is, how it works, and why it might be your best safety net when the other driver has nothing.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is a type of insurance that protects you when another driver doesn’t have car insurance—or doesn’t have enough of it to cover your damages. In Florida, where many drivers are uninsured or underinsured, this coverage can be a lifesaver.
UM coverage can help pay for:
- Your injuries
- Lost wages
- And in many cases if the injury is permanent, pain and suffering
While UM is optional in Florida, many drivers actually have it without realizing—especially if they didn’t reject it in writing when they purchased their policy.
To find out if you have UM coverage, look at your auto insurance declarations page for the terms “UM” or “Uninsured Motorist.” If you’re unsure, contact your insurance agent.
If you don’t have UM coverage, now is the time to consider adding it—before the next auto accident puts you in a difficult spot.
Why You Should Contact an Attorney
Even if you have uninsured motorist coverage, the process isn’t always straightforward. Insurance companies are often quick to minimize payouts or delay claims—yes, even when you’re their customer. That’s where an uninsured motorist accident lawyer can step in.
- Calculate the full value of your claim including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Negotiate with your insurance company and push back if they offer less than your claim is worth.
- Gather evidence and build your case so you’re not left proving your injuries or damages alone.
- Handle the legal paperwork and deadlines while you focus on your recovery.
At Beers & Gordon, we’ve helped thousands of clients who thought they had no options left. Without an attorney, most people don’t even know what kind of compensation they’re entitled to—or how to get it. You shouldn’t have to fight for fair treatment while also healing from a crash. Let us do the heavy lifting.
Get the Compensation and Clarity You Deserve
Getting hit by an uninsured driver can leave you feeling frustrated, confused, and unsure where to turn. But you still have options—and with the right help, you can protect your finances, your future, and your peace of mind.
At Beers & Gordon, we’ve helped countless Florida drivers recover compensation after an uninsured motorist accident. We know how to work with your insurance, uncover every available option, and fight for what you’re truly owed.
Don’t leave money on the table. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your coverage, and make sure you don’t have to fight this battle alone.
Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska in 1997, and two years later began working at a firm in Orlando handling insurance defense matters on cases involving vehicle accidents, negligence, product liability, and more. He established Beers & Gordon P.A. with David Beers in 2009 to represent the rights of people injured because of negligence. He is a member of the invitation-only National Trial Lawyers organization and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
