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How does uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage work?

On Behalf of | Jul 3, 2024 | Car Accidents

People’s first instinct after a car crash is usually to turn to insurance. The big insurance companies spend massive amounts of money every year trying to prompt consumers to trust them. Someone involved in a crash in Texas probably expects insurance coverage to help them pay to fix a damaged vehicle. In cases where people get injured, bodily injury liability coverage can pay for medical expenses and can even replace someone’s lost wages.

In Texas, state law requires drivers to carry basic coverage. Both property damage and bodily injury liability coverage are the baseline requirements for all Texas drivers. Some people add extra coverage to their policies to ensure they have protection in more situations. Uninsured and underinsured driver coverage are some of the most popular added coverage people include in their policies.

How uninsured and underinsured coverage works

The name of the coverage can help many people understand the point of carrying uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This extra insurance applies in cases where the driver who caused the crash doesn’t have appropriate insurance.

Many drivers in Texas take the risk of not maintaining active coverage. There are thousands of drivers who intentionally cancel their insurance coverage after registering their vehicles. There are also drivers who accidentally break insurance laws, possibly due to stress on their budgets.

Uninsured motorist protection can pay for expenses in a crash where the driver at fault for the collision does not have proper coverage. It also applies in hit-and-run scenarios where the police are unable to identify the driver at fault for a collision.

Underinsured drivers are more common than uninsured drivers. There are many people in Texas whose insurance policies only provide the bare minimum required by state law. These drivers could have inadequate coverage, especially if they cause crashes that put people in the hospital.

People with severe injuries, massive property damage losses or job setbacks may need to use underinsured motorist coverage to supplement the liability coverage provided by the driver who caused the crash. Individuals who earn competitive wages or drive nicer vehicles might want to consider adding uninsured and underinsured coverage to their policies for personal protection.

Adding supplemental coverage to a policy before a car crash occurs can give people peace of mind. Pursuing support during complicated insurance claims involving supplemental coverage can also be important for those affected by motor vehicle collisions.