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Automotive insurance helps lessen the financial loss and stress involved with a road accident. If all goes right, the process is simple: At the scene of the accident, the involved parties exchange insurance information, then their respective insurers analyze the situation and establish which party is at fault and how much needs to be paid out to whom. However, what happens when you’re involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance? This is where things can get complicated.
What Texas Law Says About Auto Insurance
In the state of Texas, all drivers are required by law to carry valid auto insurance. The insurance must include the following minimum coverages:
- $30,000 for each injured person
- $60,000 for injuries per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
This is known as 30/60/25 coverage—the cheapest and most basic policy available in the state. Drivers may elect to expand their coverage by purchasing a more expensive policy. Not everyone on the road carries valid coverage, however.
How Many Drivers Are Uninsured?
Your odds of becoming involved in an accident with an uninsured driver are considerably higher than you might think. In August 2013, the Dallas Morning News reported that 2.5 million Texas drivers did not have valid auto insurance. That’s around 14 percent of all drivers across the state.
How is this possible? Some people buy insurance only as long as necessary to register their vehicle, then they allow the policy to lapse. Others try to use fake insurance cards to avoid being fined for lack of coverage.
Why You May Wish to Buy Supplemental Insurance
The plague of uncovered drivers has led many Texans to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at additional cost. Buying this insurance is optional, but insurers are required to offer it under Texas law. This insurance can help you recover damages if you are victimized by the negligence of an uninsured driver.
How We Can Help with Your Uninsured Driver Case
Insurance companies aren’t really on your side; their primary mission is to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out. Having an experienced attorney on your side can significantly increase the odds that you’ll win a reasonable settlement. This is true even if you don’t have uninsured driver coverage. Drivers are always legally responsible for the accidents they cause, and their lack of insurance doesn’t necessarily indicate a lack of assets that can be seized.
Reach Out to an Uninsured Driving Accident Attorney in Houston, TX
Our board-certified personal injury lawyers, Jonathan S. Harris and Matthew D. Shaffer, have years of experience with uninsured driver cases, as well as the ins and outs of Texas law. Call us today for your free consultation.
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