There is no such thing as a good car accident but being hit by an uninsured driver has got to rank as one of the worst kinds. Car accidents can cause catastrophic damage, both physically and financially, and when the liable driver does not have insurance, it can leave you without anywhere to turn for support. Luckily, you are not on your own, and you do have legal options to recover. According to statistics, 14.1% of drivers in Texas are reportedly uninsured, so it is important to be prepared for the possibility of colliding with one, if you have not already.
Options if You Have Been in an Accident With an Uninsured Driver
It may feel as though you have hit a dead end (no pun intended), but you have a number of legal and non-legal options available to you if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver in Texas which we will review here. Of course, the best way to find out what options are available to you is to speak directly with a Texas personal injury attorney, but this information is general and may still be helpful.
- Rely on your medical insurance. Many people in this situation find themselves defaulting to relying on their own medical insurance to treat any injuries sustained in the crash and relying on their own car insurance for damages to the vehicle. However, for a few reasons, this is not advisable. Relying on your own medical insurance is likely to result in significant co-pays and may not cover a large portion of your injuries. The best thing to do is consult with an attorney.
- File a claim with your own car insurance company. If you carry uninsured vehicle insurance or underinsured vehicle insurance, you can file a claim with your insurance company to cover the damages caused by the accident. It should be noted though that often this coverage will not cover the full amount of damage that you sustained.
- Bring a personal injury lawsuit. Just because the other driver does not have insurance, does not mean they do not have personal assets. By bringing a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party you can collect the full amount of damages that you suffered because of the crash, as well as compensation for pain and suffering.
- Identify other potentially liable parties. The at-fault driver may not be the only party who you can hold accountable in court and collect damages from. In many cases, other parties have also contributed to causing the crash and can be added as parties to your lawsuit. For instance, if the liable driver was driving a company vehicle at the time of the accident, you may also be able to sue their employer. If poor or malfunctioning signage contributed to causing the accident, the city may also be able to be added as a party. In some cases, a vehicle malfunction or component defect contributed to causing the accident, in which case the component or vehicle manufacturer can also be added as a party.
Contact the Law Office of Raul A. Guajardo in Edinburg, Texas
If you have been injured or suffered significant damages due to an uninsured motorist accident in the Edinburg, Texas area, the Law Office of Raul A. Guajardo is ready to fight to get you the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. Contact the Law Office of Raul A. Guajardo today to schedule a consultation.