Auto insurance is compulsory in Texas, meaning every driver is required to have a car insurance policy that meets certain minimum coverage limits. Those minimum Texas auto liability limits are often referred to as “30/60” because they require at least $30,000 of coverage per injured person and at least $60,000 of coverage per accident.
Although $30,000 may sound like a lot of money, it is not always enough to cover all of an injured victim’s expenses after an accident. In fact, medical expenses alone can easily surpass this limit, before adding lost wages and other injury-related costs. Accidents that result in catastrophic injury and/or long-term disability can end up costing hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
When the minimum Texas auto insurance requirements are not enough
Texas drivers are required to buy insurance meeting the 30/60 minimum limits, but they are also free to exceed these limits. Some drivers choose to play it safe by purchasing insurance policies that far surpass minimums set by the Texas liability car insurance law. Most people, however, opt to keep their premiums down by selecting minimum coverage. This can present a problem for accident victims whose injury-related expenses exceed $30,000.
If the minimum auto insurance coverage has been used up and the injured party still has additional expenses, the driver remains liable. That means you can pursue the driver directly and try to collect on a judgment against them after prevailing in court.
Unfortunately, individual drivers rarely have sufficient assets to cover a significant personal injury award. Furthermore, many assets, such as a primary residence, personal vehicle, or retirement funds, are protected from judgments by Texas law.
How to plan for the worst
Suffering injuries in a car wreck that far exceed the Texas auto insurance limits is a very real possibility. To protect yourself in this instance, you may choose to add underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage to your own auto insurance policy. These options protect you in the event that you are hit by a driver without any insurance or by someone who does not have a large enough policy to cover the full extent of your injuries.
Other sources of payment available to accident victims
If you are injured in a car accident where the driver is uninsured or has only the minimum coverage under the Texas auto insurance requirements, you may need to look to other sources to pay your expenses related to the accident.
If the driver has minimal personal assets and you do not have underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy, you might think you are out of luck, but a skilled Houston car accident attorney may be able to help you obtain funds from additional sources. For example:
Umbrella insurance policies
Some drivers under Texas liability insurance law, purchase umbrella policies that include additional liability coverage. Umbrella policies may provide coverage above and beyond an individual’s home, auto, or other insurance limits, and may be available to satisfy a bodily injury claim.
Additional at-fault parties
Often the full investigation of a case reveals that someone else’s negligence contributed to the injuries suffered in an auto accident. For example, another driver may have acted negligently, contributing to the crash. Also, a defective car part installed by the manufacturer may have caused or exacerbated the damage caused by the accident. Adding more at-fault parties to the case increases the amount of money available in a settlement or judgment.
Other responsible parties
Much like finding additional at-fault parties, there also may be other individuals or entities that are responsible for the actions of the driver. For example, an accident that occurs while the at-fault driver was working for a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft may be covered by the ride-sharing company’s insurance policy, or a driver may have been working, and thus his or her employer is liable.
The above sources of funds may not be easily discoverable without the assistance of a competent auto accident attorney. Furthermore, an attorney can assist by negotiating with medical providers to reduce their final bills, leaving more insurance money in the injured victim’s pocket.
Contact an experienced auto accident attorney in Texas
If you have been injured in a car accident and the at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough to compensate for your injuries, you need a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Houston who understands where to find additional sources of settlement funds.
Attorney Richard Schechter has been advocating and negotiating on behalf of accident victims in Texas for over 35 years. If you were involved in an accident, contact our office today to discuss how to maximize your personal injury settlement.
