A Lesson in Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Matters

Stuart FL:  According to the 2008 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, alcohol-related fatalities, crashes and injuries have decreased in the past few years, but Port St. Lucie resident Matthew Rudow wasn’t that lucky.   His car was violently struck on the driver’s side by an uninsured, drunk driver.  Rudow often thought about dropping his uninsured motorist coverage, but his accident taught him how important that coverage is.  

Stuart attorney Philip DeBerard hopes that other drivers can learn from Rudow’s experience and that it will encourage them to be sure they always have uninsured motorist coverage on their vehicles.

In the accident, Rudow suffered serious neck and back injuries that caused severe pain and headaches and left him unable to work any longer.  According to his physician, surgery will be required in the future and, due to the problematic location of his spinal disc herniation, he must travel to a specialty hospital.  Rudow’s has his life, but it has been changed forever.

Fortunately, Rudow made a smart decision and purchased Uninsured Motorist coverage on his own auto insurance policy. “Unfortunately, his own insurance company refused to fairly evaluate his claim, despite repeated efforts to negotiate on his behalf, and we had to take his case to trial to be heard by a jury,” DeBerard explains.  After a four-day trial, the jury awarded Rudow $342,700.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage was initiated in 1961, enabling consumers to obtain coverage insuring themselves against injuries caused by other drivers.  Florida law requires that insurance companies offer Uninsured Motorist coverage in equal limits to the amount of bodily injury coverage afforded under the policy, but the minor extra cost – and it is usually a very minor cost – is rejected by many drivers in order to save money on their insurance bill.  

In Rudow’s situation, Uninsured Motorist coverage will help pay for his future treatment.  “All drivers should contact their insurance agent and include Uninsured Motorist coverage on their auto policy to protect them against the uninsured drivers on the road,” attorney DeBerard recommends.

Driving Under the Influence is responsible for 41% of total traffic deaths in Florida!

                                       Florida Accident Statistics

*  Source:  Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Tips on How to Spot a Drunk Driver  

From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.flhsmv.gov/html/safety.html)

–         Turns with a wide radius.

–         Straddles the center of the road or lane marker.

–         Appears to be drunk (i.e., eye fixation, face close to windshield, drinking in the vehicle).

–         Almost strikes an object or other vehicle.

–         Drives slower than 10 mph below speed limit.

–         Stops without cause in a traffic lane.

–         Stops inappropriately (other than in the traffic lane).

–         Follows others too closely.

–         Weaves or zigzags across the road.

–         Drives on other than a designated roadway.

–         Swerves or abruptly turns away from a generally straight course.

–         Turns abruptly or illegally.

–         Drifts or moves in a straight-line at a slight angle to the roadway.

–         Brakes erratically.

–         Drives into opposing or crossing traffic.

–         Makes signals that are inconsistent with driving actions.

–         Has slow response to traffic signals, such as sudden stop or delayed start.

–         Drives with headlights off.