Injured bicyclist learns the importance of uninsured/underinsured motor vehicle coverage.

On a beautiful afternoon in November, 2010, Mr. A left work early in Daytona Beach, FL in order to order to get some exercise by riding his bicycle. While riding in Ormond Beach, a motor vehicle ran a stop sign and hit Mr. A, throwing him violently onto the street. Mr. A was taken to a local hospital for treatment of shoulder, neck, hip and knee injuries.

While hospitalized, Mr. A became increasingly worried over mounting medical bills and lost wages due to his inability to work. Mr. A decided to contact Johnson & Gilbert, P.A. for assistance with his case. Upon investigation, it was determined that the driver who struck him had a $10,000 bodily injury policy. This policy was clearly inadequate given the severity of Mr. A's injuries. However, Mr. A had purchased an unisured/underinsured motorist policy (know as a UM policy) on his own vehicle. As such, in addition to the $10,000 in bodily injury coverage by the at-fault party, Mr. A also had the limits of his own UM policy to pursue damages as a result of his permanent injuries sustained due to the negligence of another.

It is estimated that nearly 40% of Florida's drivers do not carry bodily injury policies on their vehicles. This is a frightening statistic given Florida's dangerous highways. Therefore, the importance of obtaining UM coverage for your vehicle cannot be overstated. In many cases, it may be the only coverage available to you if you are injured by the negligence of another driver. If you are uncertain of the types of coverage you have, contact Johnson & Gilbert, P.A. for a free consult at 1-800-556-8890. We will be happy to go over you vehicle's insurance policy with you.

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