Protecting Your Rights When the At-Fault Driver Is Underinsured or Has No Insurance
When you’re hurt in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, your first course of action, when seeking compensation for your losses, is to turn to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Unfortunately, far too many drivers, in Texas and nationwide, have either inadequate insurance or no coverage at all, even though state law mandates that every driver purchase minimum coverage. In Texas, one of every five drivers has no auto insurance, and an estimated 50% of drivers carry only the minimum required by law. So if you’re hurt in an accident caused by the carelessness of another driver, the chances are very good that the at-fault party will have no coverage or that their coverage will be insufficient to compensate you for all your losses.
What can you do when your injuries have been caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver? Are you without recourse to cover your losses? Not necessarily.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Coverage
In Texas, as in most places, you can purchase insurance that provides some coverage when you are hurt by an uninsured or underinsured driver. By law in Texas, your insurance provider must offer you UM (uninsured motorist)/UIM (underinsured motorist) coverage. It won’t automatically be included in your policy, though. You must affirmatively choose to add the coverage, which will come with an additional (usually minimal) premium.
Typically, on the application for insurance, you’ll find a box you can check to indicate that you want “liability only” coverage. If you check that box, you won’t have any coverage if you’re hurt by an uninsured motorist, and you’ll get only minimal compensation from an underinsured motorist.
Even though your insurance provider is required by law to offer UM/UIM coverage, don’t expect them to notify you of the coverage if a situation arises where you need it. You want an experienced personal injury attorney, someone who knows how to read and understand a motor vehicle insurance policy. Bailey & Galyen can do that for you.
Scott Robelen is Board-certified in personal injury by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and he has a comprehensive understanding of motor vehicle insurance coverage in Texas. Over the past three decades, he has taken more than 300 cases to a jury verdict, and his results have changed internal policies at police departments, correctional facilities, and corporations.
For experienced legal representation when you’ve been injured by an uninsured motorist, contact Bailey & Galyen, or call our offices at 844-402-4350. We offer a free initial consultation to anyone with a potential motor vehicle accident injury claim. You can reach us by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will meet with you evenings or weekends, if necessary. Se habla español.
We handle all car, truck, and motorcycle accident claims on a contingency basis. We’ll only charge attorney fees if we are able to recover compensation for your losses.
