Across the United States, chances are roughly one in seven that a driver is uninsured, but here in Florida that number increases to one in four, according to a recent analysis.
This analysis by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), gives Florida the fifth highest ranking among states for uninsured motorists.
The estimated percentage of uninsured motorists declined four straight years before rising to 14.3 percent in 2008 and dropping to 13.8 percent in 2009. The economic downturn is thought to be a major factor in the brief increase.
“The leveling trend in the percentage of uninsured motorists is an unfortunate consequence of the economic downturn and illustrates how virtually everyone is affected by recent economic developments,” said Elizabeth A. Sprinkel, IRC senior vice president, in a press release. “Despite laws in many states requiring drivers to maintain insurance, about one in seven motorists remain uninsured. This forces responsible drivers who carry insurance to bear the burden of paying for injuries caused by drivers who carry no insurance at all.”
In a new study, Uninsured Motorists, 2011 Edition, IRC estimates the percentage of uninsured drivers countrywide and in individual states for 2008 and 2009. The IRC estimates are based on the ratio of uninsured motorist (UM) insurance claim frequency to bodily injury (BI) claim frequency.
UM claims are made by individuals who are injured in accidents caused by uninsured drivers. BI claims are made by individuals injured in accidents caused by insured drivers.
The magnitude of the uninsured motorist problem varies from state to state. In 2009, the five states with the highest uninsured driver estimates were Mississippi (28 percent), New Mexico (26 percent), Tennessee (24 percent), Oklahoma (24 percent), and Florida (24 percent).
The five states with the lowest uninsured driver estimates were Massachusetts (4.5 percent), Maine (4.5 percent), New York (5 percent), Pennsylvania (7 percent), and Vermont (7 percent).
In a previous report, the IRC anticipated a trend reversal in the countrywide estimate of the percentage of uninsured motorists, citing a strong historical relationship between the national unemployment rate and the national UM to BI ratio.
The strength of the historical relationship appears to have diminished slightly with the inclusion of more recent data. Several possible reasons for this are discussed in the report.
The IRC study examines data collected from nine insurers, representing approximately 50 percent of the private passenger auto insurance market in the U.S.
For more on car safety issues, see the library of articles by Daytona Beach car accident attorney.
