About 1 in 7 Texas drivers is uninsured. And many more drivers carry less insurance than they will realistically need to cover their victims’ medical bills and vehicle damage if they cause a serious crash. The minimum amount of liability insurance coverage that Texas requires is $30,000 for a single person injured in an accident, $60,000 for all people injured in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage. It’s easy to see why this may not be enough in a serious crash, or a motor vehicle accident involving several people.
The car crash attorneys at Ted Lyon Law have extensive experience handling difficult motor vehicle crash cases, including those involving uninsured/underinsured car accidents in Dallas. Call 877-833-5966 to speak with an injury attorney. We serve clients in communities across North Texas.
What Are My Options if the Other Driver is Uninsured or Underinsured?
If you were hit by an uninsured/underinsured driver, you’re going to need to find another way to pay your medical bills and financial losses after a car crash or truck accident, bicycle accident, pedestrian strike, or hit-and-run. You may have two options available to you. The first option is filing a car crash claim against your own Dallas insurance company to get payment under your PIP or UM/UIM policy. Here’s what that means.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
In Texas, insurance companies are required to offer you a minimum of $2,500 in PIP coverage that you can use to pay your own expenses if you are involved in an accident. You have this coverage unless you specifically rejected it in writing when you purchased your policy.
People can buy more than the minimum amount, so we will need to look at your policy to see how much additional personal injury coverage you have. It can be used to pay medical bills, lost income, and the cost of a caretaker. It won’t pay for damages to your vehicle.
Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)
This is another kind of insurance coverage you may have bought when you purchased your own insurance policy. In Texas, insurance companies are required to offer you UM/UIM coverage. Unless you rejected it in writing, you have this coverage.
Again, you can buy more than the minimum amount, so we will need to look at your policy to see how much uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage you have. It can be used to pay for medical bills or vehicle and property damage.
If the at-fault driver had some insurance, but not enough to cover your losses, your insurance company will go after their policy to get all the money available. Then you will need to turn to your own insurance company to cover your remaining losses. Sometimes that’s easy; sometimes you will need legal help to get the money you deserve.
Civil Lawsuits
Another option that may be available to you is a civil lawsuit. Most often, people don’t have insurance because they can’t afford it. In that case, there may not be any money or assets to go after in a court of law. Sometimes people don’t have insurance because they are driving without a license, or because they forgot to make their payment on time. An experienced trial lawyer at Ted Lyon Law can help you bring a case to court to recover your damages. Our attorneys have extensive trial experience.
Hit-And-Run Accidents
Under Texas law, a person who is involved in a motor vehicle accident must stop if there is a possibility of injury or property damage. If the driver leaves the scene, it’s considered a hit-and-run accident. If the victim or a witness got the vehicle’s license plate number, one of our personal injury lawyers can help you identify the owner, gather the evidence, and pursue a civil claim for damages.
The driver could also face criminal charges. If the accident resulted in serious injuries, it is a 3rd degree felony. A hit-and-run causing a death is a 2nd degree felony. Both can result in a prison sentence. If there were no witnesses and the Dallas victim does not have any information, the victim’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy may pay for their injuries after the car crash. We can help you through the process of filing the claim to ensure you receive a fair settlement.
Get Legal Help From Our Dallas Attorneys With an Uninsured/Underinsured Accident Claim
Call 877-833-5966 for a free initial consultation with an attorney who can help you recover financially after an uninsured/underinsured car accident in Dallas.
