What Do I Do if Someone Hits My Car Without Insurance?

If someone hits your car without insurance, you may still have opportunities to collect compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to your injuries.

According to statistics compiled by the Insurance Research Council, about one in eight drivers in the U.S. were uninsured in 2015. The percentage of uninsured motorists has been climbing since 2010. In Texas, that figure is slightly higher at 1 in 7. Texas is ranked 16th in the nation for uninsured drivers.

The odds for Texans of being in an accident with somebody who is uninsured increase every year, although cheap auto insurance providers like FreewayInsurance.com are making it more affordable than ever to be insured. If you end up in this situation, what do you do? Read on to find out.

What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured and underinsured coverage will reimburse you if you are in an accident with somebody not covered by insurance. Texas statutes require insurance companies to include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in auto insurance plans

If you are involved in a crash with a driver who does not have insurance, the damage to your car is covered by your policy’s collision coverage. Your medical health insurance should pay for treating your injuries. However, if an accident limits your ability to work or leaves you with long-term medical needs, your health care coverage most likely won’t cover those costs. 

Your uninsured or underinsured coverage will pick up a portion of your costs after this. Property damage coverage will pay for harm to your vehicle and other possessions, while bodily injury coverage helps cover medical bills. 

No matter how much insurance you have, there may be still other damages insurance won’t cover that you would have to pay for out of pocket. In cases where the damages are extensive, your insurance company may resist paying you at all. 

Your Insurance Company May Not Want to Pay

In Texas, your insurance carrier is only liable to pay for damages that the at-fault driver is legally liable for. 

You may have to prove your claim by filing a lawsuit and getting a verdict from a judge or jury.  Your insurance carrier probably won’t sit by and wait to find out what the liability will be and in what amount. If the damages are extensive and they would have to pay out a lot of money, it might be in their best interest if you lost your case. 

This means you will probably have to show evidence of that liability and the related damages before you can get money from your own policy. This is when a personal injury attorney can help. He or she can review the facts of your case and fight for the money that is owed to you.

Consult With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you’ve been injured in an accident and the person who hits you does not have insurance, you may find receiving damages from your injuries harder than you anticipate.  

Finding the right personal injury attorney from the beginning will help make sure you understand the process and reach important deadlines. The Texas Statute of Limitations dictates that you have two years to file your personal injury lawsuit against an uninsured motorist. For help with the process, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney can make a world of difference.