UM/UIM vs. Bodily Injury Coverage in Florida

What Bodily Injury liability coverage generally means

Bodily Injury liability coverage, usually shortened to BI, is coverage that generally responds to claims made against the insured person for injuries to someone else. In broad terms, it looks outward: it exists because of what the insured may owe another person, subject to the policy's terms and limits.

In Florida, BI is not part of the no-fault Personal Injury Protection framework. PIP and BI are separate coverages with separate purposes, so a policy that includes one does not automatically include the other, and neither one describes what the other covers.

• BI generally concerns liability to another person, not the policyholder's own losses.
• Whether a policy includes BI, and at what limits, depends entirely on that policy.
• The insurer applies the policy language and the facts; a website cannot.

What Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage generally means

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, commonly written as UM or UIM, is described in section 627.727 of the Florida Statutes. In general terms, it is coverage that can come into play when the at-fault driver is uninsured, or when that driver's available liability coverage is less than what is needed for the injuries claimed.

Because UM/UIM looks toward the insured person's own policy rather than another driver's, people sometimes describe it as coverage they buy for themselves. The statute also addresses topics such as how the coverage is offered, how it may be rejected in writing, and how limits relate to other coverages — which is why the statute itself is the place to read the details.

• UM/UIM is described by statute, and the specifics live in section 627.727.
• It is generally connected to the fault of another driver and that driver's coverage.
• Whether it was purchased, rejected or limited is a question about the policy file.

Who each coverage is generally aimed at

One plain way people summarize the difference is directional. BI generally faces outward toward a person the insured may have injured. UM/UIM generally faces inward, toward people covered under the policy, when someone else was at fault and their coverage is absent or insufficient.

That summary is a starting point for reading a policy, not a rule about any claim. Definitions of who is an insured, what vehicles are covered, and how limits apply are written in the policy and in the statute, and they control.

Illustrative, clearly hypothetical scenarios

The following are invented examples used only to show why the two terms are not interchangeable. They are not case results, not predictions, and not statements about coverage in any real situation.

• Hypothetical: a driver is found at fault for a crash and the injured person makes a claim against that driver. This is the kind of claim people associate with BI liability coverage.
• Hypothetical: the at-fault driver turns out to have no auto liability insurance at all. This is the situation people associate with the "uninsured" part of UM.
• Hypothetical: the at-fault driver has liability coverage, but the injured person's claimed losses exceed those limits. This is the situation people associate with the "underinsured" part of UIM.
• Hypothetical: an injured passenger is trying to figure out which policies might be relevant at all. In real life the answer depends on the policies, the vehicles and the facts, and only the insurers can decide.

Limits and exclusions always depend on the policy

Every discussion of UM/UIM and BI eventually returns to the same point: coverage is defined by the policy, read together with Florida law. Limits, stacking or non-stacking language, named-driver provisions, definitions of covered vehicles, resident-relative language and exclusions all vary between policies and between insurers.

For that reason this guide does not suggest amounts, does not say what coverage a person should have, and does not attempt to interpret any policy. Those are decisions and determinations for the policyholder, the insurer, and — where appropriate — a licensed insurance professional or attorney reviewing the actual documents.

• Two policies with the same coverage name can read very differently.
• Rejections and elections signed at purchase can matter years later.
• Exclusions are as important as limits and are equally policy-specific.

How to locate the coverage declarations

Most questions start with a single document: the declarations page. It lists the coverages on the policy, the limits and the covered vehicles, and it is the practical starting point before anyone can discuss what may or may not apply.

• Check the insurer's online portal or app for the current declarations page.
• Look through email for the policy renewal or purchase confirmation.
• Ask the insurer or the agent of record for a copy of the declarations page and the full policy.
• Look for coverage lines labeled with terms such as bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist.
• Keep any signed forms about accepting or rejecting coverages, if they were provided.
• Note the policy number, the effective dates and the named insureds.

Questions people bring to an insurer or an attorney

• Which coverages are listed on the declarations page, and what are the stated limits?
• Is there any uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on the policy, and how is it described?
• Was uninsured motorist coverage ever rejected or reduced in writing on this policy?
• How does the policy define who is an insured and which vehicles are covered?
• Which exclusions in the policy could be relevant to the situation being discussed?
• What documentation does the insurer want, and by when?
• How does the policy describe the relationship between its coverages and other available coverages?

What this guide does not do

• It does not say that any coverage exists, applies or is payable.
• It does not interpret policy language or resolve disputes about it.
• It does not recommend coverage types, limits or amounts to buy.
• It does not give financial advice or individual legal advice.
• It does not predict any outcome, timeline or value.

Common questions about UM/UIM and BI in Florida

Official sources referenced on this page

• Florida Statute 627.727 — Motor vehicle insurance; uninsured and underinsured vehicle coverage
• Florida Department of Financial Services — Personal automobile insurance overview

Want someone to look at the actual documents?

If you would like a licensed attorney to review the paperwork in your own situation, you can reach the office in English or Spanish. There is no obligation, and sending a message does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Related pages

• Guide: What to Do After a Car Accident in Tampa
• Guide: Florida PIP and the 14-Day Rule
• All resources
• Tampa Car Accident Lawyer
• Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer
• EJ | LAW home
• Leer esta guía en español