With the economy falling on hard times, many people are cutting expenditures in any way they can, including skimping on coverage for their car insurance˳ While it’s understandable that people must do what they can to put food on the table for their families and survive, many are making a horrible mistake – driving without auto insurance˳
Florida law states that if you operate a motor vehicle in the state, you must purchase automobile insurance˳ Florida’s minimum coverage of insurance is $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL)˳
Driving without auto insurance in the state of Florida is illegal˳ If you do not purchase auto insurance under the guidelines mentioned above, your drivers’ license can be revoked for up to three years˳
If the legal consequences of driving without auto insurance don’t compel you to purchase car insurance, then perhaps these recent car accident statistics, provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, will˳
In 2010 there were 17,480 traffic accidents in Hillsborough County, which encompasses Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, Fishhawk, Ruskin, and Sun City Center˳ In 2009, in the city of Tampa alone, there were 6,788 car accidents˳ Alcohol was involved in 7% of them (480)˳
In 2009, Pinellas County, which encompasses St˳ Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Palm Harbor, and the Gulf Beaches, had 13,669 accidents˳
The city of Tampa ranks third in statewide traffic accidents, behind Miami and Jacksonville˳ This makes car insurance rates in Tampa higher than other cities in Florida˳ It also puts you at a tremendous risk should you opt to drive without car insurance and then be involved in an accident˳ The scary thing is – one in seven people throughout the country don’t have car insurance˳ In some states, it’s even as high as one in four!
If you’re involved in a car accident and do not have auto insurance, the consequences can be devastating physically and financially˳ You’ll need repairs on your car, or possibly a new one, if your vehicle is beyond repair˳ You could require medical care to cover injuries˳ Injuries sustained in car accidents can be soft tissue injuries such as whiplash, to more severe ones such as a concussion or broken bones˳
If you’re hit by an uninsured motorist, it can be even worse˳ Considering auto insurance can be relatively cheap compared to the cost of actually purchasing a vehicle, there’s absolutely no reason anyone should be driving without it˳ Purchasing auto insurance may seem very precautionary and even unnecessary, but it will save you a lot of pain and suffering later on˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?Tampa-Bay-Car-Accident-Statistics—Proof-That-Everyone-Needs-Auto-Insurance&id=6616647
