The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that nearly 40,000 people are killed on America's roads every year. That means that during the past 24 hours almost 110 people have died from some traffic related incident, while many more may have suffered serious injuries.
Statistics like this are why many states require motorists to have minimum amounts of liability coverage before allowing them on the road. For example, the Texas Department of Insurance states that Texas residents must carry at least $30,000 of liability coverage per injured person, $60,000 for everyone injured in an accident and $25,000 for vehicle and other property damage.
Many Texans choose to carry more than the minimum coverage requirements, but unfortunately, recent data suggests that 20 percent of the population drives without any auto insurance at all. This makes it more difficult for people injured in a car crash to obtain the compensation to which they are entitled. It is important that you protect yourself by carrying collision coverage and uninsured motorist coverage. If your policy does not include collision coverage and uninsured motorist coverage, you might not be able to repair your vehicle or pay your bills after a collision with an uninsured motorist.
However, Texas is working hard to combat the growing uninsured motorist problem. The TDI reports that Texas authorities now have the ability to immediately verify whether a vehicle is insured or not. Previously police officers could be fooled by false insurance cards or when people immediately dropped coverage after receiving proof of insurance from a provider. Those tricks, however, are now a thing of the past.
Costs of Uninsured Drivers
Auto insurance premiums are based upon a variety of risk factors and projected costs in case of an accident. One factor driving up projected costs is the growing number of uninsured motorists on the road. When someone without insurance is at fault in an accident, the victim's insurance company must pay for the property damage and medical costs. Therefore, automobile insurance rates would likely decrease if uninsured motorists obtained coverage of their own.
People injured by uninsured motorists deserve compensation for their injuries. Speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately to discuss your rights and legal options.
