Texas Accident & Injury News
What happens if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance?
Officer Injured in Crash, Driver Arrested for Driving Without a License
According to a KSAT News report, an SAPD officer was injured in an auto accident involving a driver with no license.
Police reported the accident happened at around 10 p.m. Monday, December 30th, near Old Pearsall Road and Holm Road on the Southwest Side. A patrol vehicle was traveling southbound down Pearsall when a Nissan Altima pulled out in front of the patrol car. The crash sent the patrol vehicle into a head-on collision with another vehicle, and the officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Altima remained at the scene, where they were arrested for driving without a license and liability insurance. The driver also had an active warrant for their arrest, but police did not specify what the warrant was for. No other injuries were reported.
Did You Know?
Roughly 14% of drivers (1 in 7) across the U.S. drive without insurance.
Hit by a Uninsured Driver — What Should I Do?
Texas mandates 30/60/25 minimum coverage for all drivers. However, many people still choose to drive without insurance, and Texas is estimated to have high rates of uninsured drivers.
Auto insurance protects your assets after an accident and covers the costs of property damage and injury when you cause an accident — but what happens when you’re injured by a driver with no insurance? What should you do? Can you get compensation?
Let’s take a look.
What to Do After an Accident With an Uninsured Driver in Texas
You have the same right to compensation after an accident whether or not the driver is insured — however, getting the money is a bit more complicated. To protect your claim, follow these steps if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance:
- Call 9-1-1: It’s good practice to call the police for any accident. It’s legally required if you or anyone else was injured, but it is also critically important if the driver has no insurance.
- Don’t Take Money: Never accept money from an uninsured driver. You don’t know how extensive your injuries or property damage are, and this is often done to avoid legal repercussions.
- Swap Information: Get their name, contact info, and vehicle information. Any witnesses willing to share their information with you can also benefit you during the claims process.
- Document the Scene: Get photos and/or video of the damage and any visible injuries, as well as anything relevant around the accident scene. You should also record the name and badge number of the responding officer(s).
- Seek Medical Attention: Get checked out by a doctor ASAP to ensure you have no hidden injuries that could be life-threatening if left untreated.
- Report the Accident to Insurance: It’s best to do this on the same day or as soon as you can to ensure you remember the events clearly.
- Call an Attorney
Where Does Compensation Come From?
You can technically file a civil lawsuit against the driver for compensation. But if they don’t have money to afford an insurance policy, they probably won’t be able to pay, even if you win the case.
Instead, compensation will come from your insurance policy. This is typically through UM/UIM coverage and/or PIP coverage. These are automatically included in your policy unless you opt out in writing. Third parties can also be liable if they contributed to the accident (i.e., car manufacturers, construction companies, etc.).
In accidents like these, it’s a good idea to have a car accident attorney advocating for you. Just because insurance is supposed to protect you doesn’t mean that it always does — at the end of the day, insurance companies want to make a profit.
Injured by an Uninsured Motorist in Texas? Call Shaw!
You should never have to pay for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
If you were injured by an uninsured motorist in Texas, you could be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Ambulance Costs,
- ER Treatment,
- Medical Bills,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Missed Work,
- Property Damage,
- Trauma/PTSD,
- Wrongful Death,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.
Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 for a free case evaluation with an experienced car accident attorney. No fees, no obligations, just the expert legal advice you need. We’re a trusted name in San Antonio and across Texas because we put our clients first. We look forward to serving you.