Here's another Great Reason to Carry Adequate Auto Accident Insurance in the Tampa Bay, Florida Area

Have you ever heard of the Florida Financial Responsibility Law? A lot of people in the Tampa Bay area haven't, but it is a legality you should be aware of. Mainly, Florida Financial Responsibility carries significant consequences for people who cause accidents, especially for negligent drivers who do not carry sufficient auto accident insurance.

Let's back up a bit to explain Florida Financial Responsibility. The Bureau of Financial Responsibility, which is part of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, is focused on making sure every driver carries full liability coverage. Full liability coverage is defined as a minimum of:

• Bodily injury liability—$10,000 per person, $20,000 per crash
• Property damage liability—$10,000 per crash
• Personal injury protection—$10,000 per person per crash

If you are at fault in an auto accident in the Tampa Bay area (or anywhere else in Florida) and you do not have the above insurance coverage, Florida Financial Responsibility can take action to make sure you personally pay back the injured party for property losses and medical bills.

What action can the Bureau of Financial Responsibility take? Once the injured party has filed a judgment against you, The Bureau of Financial Responsibility has the authority to suspend your driver's license, auto tag, and registration for a period of 20 years, or until you pay back the judgment.

That's right—if you are responsible for an auto accident with property damage and/or injuries and you do not have sufficient insurance, you can lose your license for up to 20 years while you pay the losses back.

On the flip side of the coin, if you have sustained losses in an accident, the Bureau of Financial Responsibility can enforce its authority to help you recover some or all of your losses from the at-fault driver. For more information, call the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Customer Service Center, at (850) 617-2000 or go to www.flhsmv.gov.

Tampa auto accidents lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. may also be able to show you various ways to recover from the financial devastation of an auto accident. Please contact our law firm for a free assessment of your case. We believe all drivers should be held responsible for their actions behind the wheel whether they are here in Tampa or in surrounding communities such as Valrico, New Port Richey, St Petersburg, Tampa, Apollo Beach, Brandon, Sun City Center, Clearwater, Pasco, Polk, and Citrus.