Can Extra Insurance Coverage Benefit a Car Accident Claim?

As an injury victim, you have the legal right to pursue compensation for your damages caused by someone else’s negligent actions. However, the amount of compensation you can recover is limited by the available insurance coverage, both from the liable driver’s policy and your policy. If you do not have additional coverage in your policy, you may not be able to recover all the compensation you need.

Below, our Fort Worth auto accident lawyers discuss some of the insurance add-ons that may be beneficial if you are injured in a crash. The consultation is free, and we do not charge you anything up front.

How Much Insurance Am I Required to Carry in Texas?

Texas is an at-fault state, which means drivers are required to carry liability insurance. State law requires drivers to carry a minimum of:

• $30,000 for bodily injury liability per person
• $60,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 for property damage liability per accident

These liability policies are used to cover any medical bills, lost income, property damage and other compensation for the injured party. In other words, your liability insurance does not cover any of your damages if you are the party responsible for the crash.

Since every driver is required to carry these minimums, you may be eligible for compensation from an at-fault party’s liability insurance. You would need to prove the driver caused the crash.

However, recovering compensation for your damages may take time and you will likely need compensation during that time. While you are waiting to have your medical bills and other damages paid for, you may have some options in the form of insurance add-ons to help ease your financial burdens.

What Types of Insurance Add-Ons Might Help Me?

There are a variety of insurance add-ons Texas drivers may choose to include in their policies that may help with various costs. Some of the add-ons that could help if you are injured in an accident may include the following:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage – This helps cover your medical costs and other economic damages you suffer after an accident no matter who caused the accident. It is also known as no-fault insurance.
• Medical Payments – This is like PIP. It may be used no matter who is at fault for the crash. However, it only covers the costs of medical bills. It is also referred to as MedPay.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM) Coverage – Technically, this coverage is optional, as you can reject it in writing. You may be able to file a claim under a UM policy if the other driver lacks any insurance or lacks enough insurance to cover the full cost of your damages.
• Rental Reimbursement– This is available no matter who caused the crash. This add-on may be used to pay for the costs of renting a vehicle while yours is being repaired.
• Collision Coverage – This add-on kicks in no matter who is at fault for the damage to your vehicle, but only after you have paid your insurance deductible.
• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) Coverage – If your vehicle is totaled and you owe more on the loan or lease than what the vehicle is worth, this insurance add-on may be used to cover the difference.

If the insurance company is taking a long time to offer a settlement, or an investigation to establish liability for a crash is complex, these insurance add-ons may help reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

While having additional insurance may be helpful, you could simply buy more uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. You never know when you may get into a crash with an uninsured driver. There is also no telling how bad your injuries may be, and if the other driver’s liability coverage runs out you may need a significant amount of coverage to pay for your damages.

Have a Claim in Texas? Call Us Today

If you were injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, our attorneys are prepared to review your insurance policy and the policy of the at-fault driver to determine your legal options.

Our attorneys do not get paid unless you do, so there is no risk to you.

Call (817) 920-9000 to schedule a free consultation.