There are many traffic laws in Texas that could save people’s lives if everyone followed them. Unfortunately, from speeding to illegal passing and tailgating, there are many questionable driving behaviors that people in Texas regularly perform.
Given that many drivers have no qualms about committing a moving violation, it may come as little surprise to learn that some people don’t follow the state law that mandates motor vehicle liability insurance.
Despite the possible risk involved, many people drive in Texas without active insurance coverage. What will happen to you if one of those uninsured drivers causes a crash?
You might need to go to court
While you may loathe the idea of bringing a lawsuit against someone else, that may be the only way for you to recover the expenses generated by the crash. Especially if you suffered injuries in the crash, you may lose thousands of dollars due to both medical bills and also lost wages if your injuries necessitate time off from work.
A personal injury lawsuit brought against an uninsured driver can help compensate you. The courts may award you compensation for your property damage losses and injury-related expenses.
You might make a claim against your own policy
If you already pay for basic Texas car insurance, you may have also decided to invest a bit more for better coverage. If you have uninsured motorist protection on your policy, your insurance can pay for the kinds of costs that the other driver’s policy would typically cover.
Such coverage can help you immediately after a crash, but it can also technically pass some of the financial responsibility for the wreck to you, as insurance companies tend to increase premiums after people make large claims even when they are not at fault. For many drivers, a combination of reviewing their own insurance and defensive driving tactics can minimize the risk of them getting hurt by an uninsured motorist.
Ideally, with the right approach, you shouldn’t have to absorb the costs of a wreck caused by someone else. Knowing your rights after a car crash caused by someone without insurance will put you in the best position to stand up for them assertively.