The estimated percentage of uninsured motorists trended down in2010, 2011, and 2012, according to a new study from the InsuranceResearch Council (IRC). According to the study, titledUninsured Motorists, 2014 Edition, 14.9% of driverswere uninsured in 2003. IRC's most recent findings show that numberhas fallen to 12.6%.

In the study, the IRC estimates the percentage of uninsureddrivers nationally and in individual states, based on a ratio ofinsurance claims made by individuals who were injured by uninsureddrivers to claims made by those who were injured by insureddrivers.

Nationally, the number of uninsured drivers peaked at 29.9million in 2009 and moderately declined to 29.7 million in 2012.Statewide, the numbers varied. The states with the highest totaluninsured drivers were California with 4.1 million; Florida with3.2 million; and Texas with 1.6 million. The states with thehighest estimated percentages of uninsured motorists areOklahoma (26%), Florida (24%), and Mississippi (23%).

Discounting fatalities and total permanent disability claims,the IRC estimates that $2.6 billion was paid in the U.S. in 2012for uninsured motorists claims. Despite the declining trend inuninsured rates over the last decade, the total claim paymentamount is up 75% over the last 10 years and translated to $14 perinsured individual in 2012.

See the infographic below for moreinformation. (Click to enlarge.)