Who to Talk to After a Car Wreck or Truck Accident
Texas law requires liability insurance, but not everyone follows the law. If you are involved in an accident and the other driver does not have liability insurance, or has only the minimum, you may need San Antonio car accident attorneys to help you receive the compensation you need to recover from your collision, financially, physically and mentally.
Why does car insurance matter?
If you’re thinking, “If I should just call a San Antonio car wreck lawyer anyway, what does it matter if the other driver or I have insurance?”, you are not alone.
Texas law requires motorists to pay for the accidents they cause. This usually comes from liability insurance coverage, and the at-fault driver’s insurance pays to repair or replace the not-at-fault driver’s vehicle. But many drivers carry the minimum allowable liability coverage:
- $30,000 for each injured person
- up to $60,000 per auto accident
- $25,000 in property damage per collision
Considering the costs of car repair and replacement, and how quickly $30,000 can be spent in hospital fees and medical coverage, liability insurance is rarely enough to cover the damages in a serious crash. This coverage, however, often begins to cover the payment costs and can sometimes get you back on your feet temporarily and help you to start healing physically and financially.
This is where San Antonio car accident lawyers come in — we understand that the basic auto insurance payouts on even the smallest of policies can get your treatment started, but you may need more compensation. Our attorneys fight to recover more from the at-fault driver.
That explains the other driver’s car insurance, but what about mine?
Texas auto insurance companies offer several types of coverages in addition to liability (and you can increase from the 30/60/25 minimum stated above). Types of car insurance you can obtain to protect yourself include:
- Liability insurance
- Personal injury protection (PIP) covers you, your passengers and other injured parties by paying medical and funeral benefits as well as up to 80% of lost income and caregiver costs
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (UM/UIM) protects you when your car wreck is caused by a driver without or with insufficient auto insurance
- Collision and Comprehensive insurance is necessary for those who still owe money on their vehicles, and covers repairs or replacements in accidents. Comprehensive insurance covers repairs or replacement if your car is damaged by environment, malice, falling objects, etc.
- Medical payments coverage is available if you would like to add more coverage for health and medical benefits than what PIP affords you
- Towing, Rental and other coverages cover your costs for tows if your car is not safe to drive after the accident, car rental costs and any coverages you might purchase for car stereo systems or other contents of the vehicle at the time of the crash.
So what do I need to know about car insurance?
It is important to know and understand your benefits by reviewing your policy’’s declarations page, which summarizes the type of insurance and coverage you have. Many insurance company websites allow you to calculate your premium if you were to adjust your protections. You can also refer to the Texas Consumer Bill of Rights if you would like to confirm your rights under Texas law.
Even if you do have proper insurance, it is always a good idea to enlist the aid of San Antonio auto accident attorneys if you are involved in a collision. Insurance companies, even your own insurer, have their own agendas and the only way to protect your rights throughout the process of physical and financial recovery is to hire an advocate for your best interests. Call the Báez Law Firm in San Antonio today at 210-979-9777 or contact us online for a free consultation.
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