By Christopher Dyer, Partner at Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Injury Attorneys · Member, The Florida Bar · Last updated September 19, 2026
Hit by a driver with no insurance, or not enough? Here is the reassuring part: in Florida, many drivers carry uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage that pays for their own injuries in exactly this situation. Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability, so this comes up more than people expect. What you do next helps you tap the right coverage.
Why this happens so often in Florida
Florida requires PIP and property damage coverage, but it does not require bodily injury liability coverage. That means the driver who hit you may have no coverage to pay for your injuries, or far too little. UM/UIM coverage (Fla. Stat. § 627.727) is what fills that gap, and it can even help if the at-fault driver fled the scene.
1. Report and document the crash
Call the police and get a crash report, photograph the scene and the other vehicle if it is there, and collect witness information. A police report matters even more when the other driver is uninsured or leaves.
2. Use your own coverage, carefully
Your PIP (Fla. Stat. § 627.736) pays first, and your UM/UIM coverage may pay for injuries beyond that. A UM/UIM claim is against your own insurer, which still means being careful: you can decline a recorded statement and speak with an attorney before you give one. Fault can be shared under comparative negligence (Fla. Stat. § 768.81).
Next Steps After an Uninsured Driver Accident in Wesley Chapel
Get medical care within the 14-day window and keep records.
Check your policy for UM/UIM coverage, or ask an attorney to review it.
Be cautious about recorded statements, even to your own insurer.
Talk to a local attorney about pursuing a UM/UIM claim.
Frequently asked questions
What is UM/UIM coverage? Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is optional coverage on your own auto policy that pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. Florida law addresses it at Fla. Stat. § 627.727.
Does UM coverage help in a hit-and-run? Often yes. UM coverage can apply when the at-fault driver flees and cannot be identified. Report the crash to police promptly.
Do I still have to be careful with my own insurance company? Yes. A UM/UIM claim is still adversarial in practice. You can decline an immediate recorded statement and talk to an attorney first.
Talk to a real attorney, free
If you or someone you love was hurt by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Wesley Chapel or anywhere in Pasco County, we are ready to help. Get a free case evaluation: no pressure, no obligation, and no fee unless we win your case. (Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)
About the author
Christopher Dyer is a partner at Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Injury Attorneys and a member of The Florida Bar. The firm has more than 20 years of experience and has recovered over $100 million for injured clients across West Central Florida.
This article is general information about Florida law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different. Talk to an attorney about your specific situation.
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