Hit by Uninsured Motorist or Driver? Our Beaumont Accident Lawyers Can Help
Being involved in an auto accident is always stressful, especially if you’ve been injured. And then on top of everything, you find out the driver who caused your accident was uninsured or was not adequately insured. What do you do when you’ve been hit by an uninsured motorist? What are your options for recovery? The Texas auto accident lawyers at Gilbert Adams Law Offices can answer all your questions if you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver and ensure your injury claims are handled appropriately.
Uninsured Motorists in Texas
According to the most recent data available, approximately 14% of drivers in Texas do not have car insurance. To assist in addressing this problem, Texas law requires all drivers who purchase auto insurance the option to also purchase uninsured motorist coverage, sometimes referenced as “UIM.” In other words, an insurance company cannot sell you a car insurance policy without providing you the choice of also purchasing uninsured motorist coverage, for an additional fee. The minimum limits are $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Even when you elect not to purchase UIM coverage, if the insurance carrier cannot produce a rejection signed by you in writing, it could still be responsible for providing you UIM coverage.
Even if you purchased uninsured motorist coverage, insurers usually work hard against you in effort to avoid paying you benefits if you were hit by an uninsured driver. Too, there are hoops that you must jump through to collect UIM coverage. Our experienced Texas auto accident lawyers can help in this situation. Insurance companies use specific tactics to minimize payouts to policyholders, seemingly treating the whole claim process like a game—they win if you settle for less than you deserve. We know that for you this is not a game. You need your benefits to cover the cost of your injuries and damages, and we can make sure you get them.
Obtaining Additional Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If you’re involved in a serious auto accident, the minimum limits required by Texas law will likely not be enough to cover all your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages arising from the accident. For this reason, insurance companies offer higher limits of uninsured motorist coverage, such as $100,000 for bodily injury, per person; $300,000 for bodily injury, per accident; and $50,000 for property damage. A good rule of thumb is to purchase as much uninsured motorist coverage as you carry in liability coverage. The additional cost for UM coverage is small compared to what you pay for your liability policy.
Even though you’re paying an increased premium for UM coverage, the insurance company’s goal remains the same—to pay you as little as possible when you make a claim. Having additional uninsured motorist coverage is only beneficial if you get what you’ve paid for, which is why seeking legal counsel after a serious auto accident is so important.
Talk to an Experienced Texas Auto Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been hit by an uninsured motorist, call us at Gilbert Adams Law Offices. Since 1930, we’ve helped auto accident victims in Texas assert their rights against insurance companies, and we look forward to helping you.
