Car accidents happen in Texas and other U.S. states every day. While an at-fault driver’s car insurance policy will pay for damage to your car or your body, what happens if the other driver doesn’t have insurance? Most states require all drivers to carry at least liability insurance. However, some drivers purchase liability insurance for long enough to get their car registered, only to cancel the policy later. It’s not uncommon for many drivers to fail to purchase liability insurance.
Many states have traditional tort insurance laws in place, which means that the at-fault driver’s insurance is supposed to pay. Other states have no-fault insurance laws, which means that both drivers cover the costs of injuries or damages regardless of who was at fault.
If you get into an accident and the at-fault driver isn’t insured, you may be forced to pay for the costs of damage or medical bills out of pocket. While a lawyer may be able to help you recover damages, an at-fault driver who cannot afford to pay for car insurance most likely won’t have many assets.
The risk of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver can be high. For that reason, some drivers opt to protect themselves from the responsibility of covering damages if they’re hit by an uninsured motorist by adding extra coverage to their own insurance policies.
A car accident can be extremely stressful, especially if you become injured. Medical bills are often expensive, and a long recovery time might lead to lost wages and emotional pain and suffering. The costs of paying for damage to your vehicle can be equally frustrating. If you become involved in a motor vehicle accident, an attorney may be able to help you recover some of these expenses.