Any car accident is stressful, but it becomes a nightmare if the at-fault driver doesn’t have auto insurance or enough coverage for the damage and injuries you sustained. However, uninsured/underinsured driver coverage can provide some relief.
These policies can get complicated fast and without an attorney’s help, your policy may be delayed or denied. So if you were injured in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, contact The Krist Law Firm, P.C. today at (281) 283-8500.
Our Houston car accident attorneys will aggressively help you obtain financial compensation so you can move forward with your life after an accident.
Texas Uninsured Statistics
According to a study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), there are nearly 30 million uninsured drivers in the United States. This amounts to about one in eight drivers. While the percentage of uninsured drivers has been trending downward since 2009, the payments on uninsured motorist claims increased by 75% between 2003-2012.
The IRC study revealed that Texas has the third-highest number of uninsured drivers at 1.6 million. An estimated 20%, or one out of every five vehicles in Texas, are uninsured, which is significantly higher than the national average of 13%.
In 2008, Texas unveiled a program known as TexasSure, which is an online insurance verification system intended to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles in the state.
TexasSure works by matching the records of passenger vehicles to the auto liability insurance policies submitted by insurers via an automated database. Although the rate of uninsured drivers is declining due to TexasSure, it is estimated that Texas motorists pay almost $1 billion in insurance premiums every year to protect themselves against millions of uninsured/underinsured drivers.
Houston Car Accidents With Underinsured or Uninsured Motorists
Uninsured and underinsured drivers cause a lot of harm when they are involved in car crashes. Without proper coverage, injury victims may be left financially responsible for the property damage, lost wages, and medical bills that a negligent driver actually caused.
Auto liability insurance is supposed to be how people pay for accidents they cause. In Texas, drivers are not only required to have insurance, you must purchase a policy that meets the minimum liability limits.
The basic coverage limits in Texas are 30/60/25, which means $30,000 per person for bodily injury claims, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury claims, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
When you are involved in an auto accident caused by someone who is either uninsured or underinsured, you could be left paying for it. This is why it is important to have uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage on your auto liability policy.
What Does UM/UIM Coverage Pay For?
UM coverage will pay for your injury or property damage expenses that are caused by an accident in which an uninsured driver is at fault. UIM coverage protects you in the event that your accident-related damages exceed the policy limits of the at-fault driver.
UM/UIM coverage is not mandated in Texas, but must be offered as a part of any auto liability insurance policy.
How a Houston Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by an uninsured driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses through a personal injury claim. At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., our knowledgeable and experienced car accident lawyers have helped countless accident victims obtain fair compensation for their injuries.
We can evaluate your case, make sure that your accident is thoroughly investigated, help you get access to the medical care that you need, and build an argument that supports your claim for compensation. With our team of attorneys, you may be able to recover your past and future:
- Medical costs
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical limitations
- Disfigurement
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
Contact us today at (281) 283-8500 to receive a free case evaluation.
Let the Krist Law Firm review what happened, determine if you can file an uninsured/underinsured claim, and what you can expect. There’s no risk in calling because we don’t charge up-front fees and don’t get paid unless you recover compensation.