You did the right thing. Before driving your car, you purchased the correct amount of insurance mandated by Texas law:
- $30,000 for injuries/person (up to a total of $60,000/accident)
- A minimum of $25,000 for property damage
In Texas, this is commonly referred to as 30/60/25. However, you do not influence other drivers, and it is not your responsibility to ensure they have this. Furthermore, 30/60/25 is the minimum. What happens when you are in an accident with someone whose insurance doesn’t cover the injuries and damages?
The Challenges You Face
When you heard those previous questions, you may have thought the next step is finding a lawyer and taking the person to court. But even the most experienced attorney cannot get blood from a stone. Although this is not always the case, it is still a possibility.
In other words, if the driver who hit you didn’t purchase insurance because they couldn’t afford it, they may not be able to pay for the damages either. There are some scenarios where the person could get the judgment discharged (erased) by declaring bankruptcy.
Retake Control
It was previously mentioned that you couldn’t control what other drivers do. You can purchase your own insurance to protect you from their decision. This is called uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
It is meant to protect you if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance or any at all. Each state defines “underinsured” differently, so it is essential to check with your insurance company.
Just Wait…
Maybe you expect us to tell you to contact your insurance company and purchase this coverage. You should contact your insurance company but not for the reason you may think.
You may already be covered. Uninsured and underinsured coverage may have gotten bundled into the policy you have already paid for. It isn’t necessarily a different option to choose from.
Some states require that you have it. Texas is not one of them, but that does not guarantee that you don’t have this coverage. We will be glad to look over your policy for you and discuss insurance coverage with you. I wish so many of our clients would have contacted us before they were in an accident
Beaty Legal, PLLC
If you have been in a serious accident, contact Beaty Legal, PLLC, to schedule your free consultation. We are driven to find the solutions to your biggest problems. One of the first things we can do is read your insurance policy to confirm whether you have the insurance to cover the damage and your injuries. Let us find a way to help you when you need it the most.
