Car accidents are traumatic and terrifying, especially when you or your loved one suffered injuries in the crash. After an accident, the distress may escalate when you discover that the careless or reckless driver responsible for your accident has insufficient insurance to cover your damages, or—worse—no insurance at all.
What happens when your injury damages add up after a car accident in Austin but the at-fault driver doesn’t have adequate insurance?
What Insurance Do Texas Drivers Have to Carry?
The minimum insurance requirements in Texas include higher coverage amounts than many other states, but bodily injury coverage may still be inadequate in today’s world of high-cost medical care. In Texas, drivers must carry the following minimum insurance requirements:
- $30,000 in bodily injury and death coverage per person
- $60,000 total bodily injury and death coverage per accident
- $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident
Drivers do not have to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance in Texas but many drivers elect to carry this additional coverage.
What Is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage is an insurance policy addition that covers damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering after an accident with a motorist who lacks insurance or whose insurance is insufficient to cover the damages. It also pays for damages after a hit-and-fun accident when the at-fault driver isn’t identified or apprehended.
Unlike some states which require all drivers to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, Texas only compels drivers to carry the minimum insurance coverage, though all insurers must offer clients optional additional policies for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. If a driver declines the coverage they must do so in writing.
What to Do After an Accident With an Uninsured/Underinsured Driver?
In the chaotic scene of a car accident’s aftermath, it can be difficult to keep a clear head, especially if you or a loved one suffered serious injuries. However, if you can safely use a phone without causing further injury—or ask an uninjured person to do so for you—you can begin to take the necessary steps to protect yourself. These steps include the following:
- Call 911 to report the accident and apply reasonable first aid as needed
- While awaiting emergency services, use the phone’s camera to snap photos or a video of the accident scene and damaged vehicles
- Take photos of any visible injuries
- Add the contact name and insurance information of the other driver
- If there were eyewitnesses to the accident, add their names and contact information
Always go directly to a hospital after a car accident and undergo a complete evaluation. Then, obtain a copy of your medical report, and the accident report. Report the car accident to your insurance company as soon as possible or within the time limit listed in your policy.
It’s always best to hire a car accident attorney in Austin before dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
What Are My Options After an Accident With an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist?
If the driver at fault for your accident doesn’t have insurance or your damages like medical expenses and lost wages far exceed the at-fault driver’s minimal insurance policy, you can file a claim against your own insurance policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. In some cases, your attorney may also suggest filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for additional compensation.
How Can an Austin Car Accident Lawyer Help?
Learning that the driver who caused your accident cannot cover your damages is unsettling. Call the Austin car accident lawyers at Shaw Cowart, LLP today for experienced representation. At Shaw Cowart, we have a results-oriented approach that explores all avenues for compensation for your Austin car accident damages.