Insurance

This article focuses on recent legislative changes and judicial interpretations in the area of automobile insurance. Amendments to the Financial Responsibility Laws of Florida have, inter alia, lowered the requisite amount of insurance coverage, shifted the primary insurance burden from the automobile lessor to the lessee's insurer, and disallowed joinder of the liability carrier as a party to the litigation. Florida's no-fault statute has undergone its most severe changes to date. The authors note that the amendments are intended to limit victims' rights to recover damages from tortfeasors, the size of awards that victims may recover, and the number of fraudulent claims.

Uninsured motorist coverage has been limited by the elimination of stacking, but broadened by including underinsured motorists within its provisions. Attention is also given to developments in medical malpractice insurance and the new statutory mandate for readable insurance policies.