Getting into an accident is bad. It can result in you suffering serious injuries and damage to your car or property. This situation can, however, be much worse when the driver who causes the accident doesn’t have insurance. If you find yourself in such an accident you might start wondering how you will get compensated for injuries. To get your answers you should contact a Houston car accident lawyer from McDonald Worley. The lawyer will investigate your car accident and advise on the course of action to take against the uninsured driver.
Houston, TX Uninsured Driver Statistics
The law in Houston, TX requires that all motorists have automobile liability insurance. However, not everyone complies with this law. The Insurance Information Institute shows 13.3% of drivers in Texas are uninsured. Texas DMV, however, says this number could be as high as 20%. Most uninsured drivers say they can’t afford to pay for insurance or the car is not used. The minimum car insurance cover drivers should have in Houston, TX is $30,000 per bodily injury. $60,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage.
What Options Will Houston Car Accident Lawyers Recommend If You Are in a Car Accident Involving an Uninsured Driver?
Your auto accident attorney in Houston can recommend the following options to get you the compensation.
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File a lawsuit against the negligent driver-
You can try to recover damages from the personal assets of the driver. Since the driver doesn’t have insurance, you can compel him to pay you out of his pocket. The truth, however, is most uninsured drivers lack the capability to cover the economic loss incurred by the injured party.
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File an uninsured or underinsured claim-
This would mean seeking compensation for injuries and damages from your own insurance company. This would be the best option in an accident where the driver doesn’t have insurance. In such a claim you would ask your insurance company to pay for bodily injury or property damage. Filing this claim would be easier if you have purchased uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. If you have, then you probably have been paying a premium to your insurance company. Therefore it is conventional for your insurance company to act in good faith and pay any damages. They should pay what you could have recovered from the driver at fault. If the negligent driver had limited insurance, your insurance should pay the balance of what the driver cannot pay. Even if you haven’t paid for uninsured or underinsured coverage you can still get compensation.You will get the minimum compensation the limit allow for an accident involving an uninsured driver under Texas law. This is because when you buy auto insurance, an insurer should offer coverage against an uninsured or underinsured driver.
The minimum amounts offered by an insurer which you can claim are $30,000 for injury to one person. $60,000 for injury to two or more persons and $25,000 for property damage per accident. You are sure to have this coverage unless you rejected it in writing. If you signed a waiver against coverage for an uninsured driver, you will not get compensation for your injuries. Ask your insurer for all documents you signed if they say you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage.
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Claim compensation from a liable third party-
If the driver was driving a company car at the time of the accident, you could hold the employer liable. If the driver was drunk, a claim could be made against the establishment that sold him the alcohol.
Contact an Auto Accident Attorney in Houston
Following an accident with an uninsured driver, you should hire an attorney right away. Auto accident attorneys in Houston have represented victims of accidents involving uninsured drivers for years. At McDonald Worley, we know how to get compensation for you despite a driver not having insurance.Don’t give up on your compensation because the driver at fault doesn’t have insurance. We will get you fair compensation for your injuries by negotiating with the insurance company, we can also file the proper paperwork. We will do all we can to ensure you get paid for any losses incurred. Contact us for a consultation. We will look at your claim and advise on the best course of action. Should your claim be valid, let us do all the legal work as you recover. Our consultations are free and you will only pay us if we get you compensation.