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East Texas Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

A car accident can leave innocent victims with major injuries—and major bills. When this happens, the at-fault driver is supposed to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

But what happens if they can’t afford to pay—either because they don’t have any insurance or don’t have enough insurance to cover what you deserve? Your options might be limited if there aren’t other sources of compensation.

Over the years, Roberts & Roberts Law Firm has helped crash victims fight for the compensation they deserve. If you were seriously injured in an auto accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you need our experienced accident lawyers on your side. Contact us now at 903-597-6000 or fill out our online form. The call costs you nothing … and it could mean everything.

The Hard Truth: Most Texas Drivers Aren’t Carrying Enough Liability Insurance

Every Texas driver is required to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage in case they cause an accident.

The problem is that this minimum amount doesn’t go particularly far. In Texas, drivers can legally insure their vehicles with $30,000 in liability coverage per injured person, $60,000 in total injury coverage per accident (if two or more people are hurt), and $25,000 in property damage. This is typically known as 30/60/25 coverage.

$30,000 might sound like a lot. But if you’re seriously hurt and need surgery, or you’ll be out of work for an extended period of time, it’ll go quickly. And what if you’re permanently disabled? Minimum coverage is nowhere near enough.

Many drivers in Texas only carry the minimum insurance coverage. And on top of that, roughly 1 out of 8 Texas drivers have no insurance at all. If you’re involved in a crash caused by an uninsured driver and they have no other assets to pay you with, you may not be able to recover anything from the at-fault driver.

In either case, you’ll need to look elsewhere for additional coverage—often through uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) within your own auto insurance policy, if you have it.

Our Case Results

We’re honored to fight and win on behalf of our neighbors and friends in Tyler, Longview, Dallas, and across East Texas. We’ve successfully settled 99% of our cases and recovered hundreds of millions for our clients.

Recovering UM/UIM Benefits Can Be Complicated

If you have been injured in an auto accident and it becomes apparent that the at-fault driver does not have enough coverage to compensate you for your injuries, you should consult with a qualified underinsured and uninsured motorist accident attorney like those at Roberts & Roberts.

Recovering benefits under your UM/UIM policy can be a complex procedure. Insurance companies are reluctant to compensate you for the full value of your injuries, even though you have paid your premium for years. You are required to bring a claim for UM/UIM benefits within a limited period after the accident, and you must be careful about settling a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, if any coverage was available.

Once you have filed a UM/UIM claim, you have the burdens of showing that you are entitled to recover damages and justifying the amount you are demanding. Although it is your own insurance company, the adjustor will view your uninsured motorist claim just as skeptically as if it were a claim from another driver. As with any claim, the insurance company’s objective is to settle your claim for as little money as possible.

Why Hire an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Lawyer?

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident and the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance (or any insurance), it may be difficult to get the fair compensation you deserve. Your attorney can help you in many important ways, such as:

• Fully investigating the crash to determine all potentially liable parties. For example, was there a mechanical failure caused by a negligent parts manufacturer or repair shop? Did a restaurant or bar knowingly overserve the driver? Was the driver using a company-provided vehicle or acting within the scope of their employment? If so, third parties such as these may also be responsible to pay for your damages.
• Identifying all possible sources of coverage. In addition to identifying the liable parties, your attorney will look through your own insurance policies to see if you have any UM/UIM, personal injury protection (PIP), health insurance, or other insurance policies that might apply to your situation.
• Calculating and fighting for all the damages you deserve. Since multiple insurance companies may be involved, this can be an especially complex process.
• Negotiating with creditors. In uninsured and underinsured motorist cases, it’s not unusual for the total amount obtained via settlement to be less than the total cost of your medical expenses and lost wages, even if you get the maximum amount under the policy limits. Once your personal injury case has been settled, your auto accident lawyer can negotiate with hospitals, care providers, and other creditors to settle your debt for as little as possible.

What We Do For You

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash and the at-fault driver had no insurance or too little coverage, contact an uninsured motorist lawyer at Roberts & Roberts today. Most of the personal injury attorneys at Roberts & Roberts are board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

• We can help you get money to repair your car or, if it’s a total loss, replace it.
• We can help you secure the medical treatment you need to get better.
• We can get you reimbursement for your lost wages.

For more serious injuries that can cause disabilities or even result in the loss of a loved one, Roberts & Roberts has a team of experts ready to assist you in recovering the insurance benefits you deserve for your losses.

• We have experts in rehabilitation who can tell if someone has been permanently injured and determine the economic consequences that injury will have on their future ability to earn a living.
• We have economists who can calculate damages, including lost income.
• We have life care planners who can forecast medical expenses of someone who has been catastrophically injured.

Frequently Asked Questions About UM/UIM Insurance Coverage in Texas

How Does UM/UIM Insurance Work and What Will It Pay For?

If the parties who caused the accident don’t have enough liability insurance to pay for your damages and you have UM/UIM insurance, you can file a UM/UIM claim with your own car insurance company.

Essentially, this allows your own insurance company to take the place of the other driver’s liability insurance policy in your personal injury claim. UM/UIM covers all the same damages that would normally be covered by liability insurance, including personal injuries, lost wages and property damage.

Who Does UM/UIM Insurance Cover?

UM/UIM insurance covers you and any household family members riding in any car, as well as any non-family members riding in your insured auto.

It can provide benefits not only for accidents that happen while you were driving, but also for wrecks where you were a passenger in another person’s car, as well as for accidents when you were walking or riding a bike under certain circumstances.

Do I have UM/UIM Coverage?

Under Texas law, insurance companies are required to offer every driver UM/UIM coverage. However, you are allowed to decline it in writing. Review your insurance policy to determine whether this coverage is available to you.

How Much UM/UIM Insurance Do I Need?

It is tragic when someone has a serious car accident and then discovers they don’t have the kind of insurance protection they need.

We recommend that drivers purchase as much additional UM/UIM insurance as they can reasonably afford. It is usually relatively inexpensive compared to liability insurance for the amount of coverage it provides, and provides significant peace of mind.

What Other Forms of Insurance Coverage Are Available to Me?

This depends on the circumstances. In addition to UM/UIM, your auto insurance policy may include:

• Medical payments coverage (MedPay), which covers medical expenses for you and your passengers.
• Personal injury protection (PIP), a form of “no-fault” insurance that will pay medical bills, lost wages, and other qualified financial damages.

Other potential forms of financial assistance and insurance that might apply after an accident might include things like long-term disability insurance, health insurance, workers’ compensation, etc. Your attorney will help you identify all possible sources of coverage and, if necessary, refer you to people who can help.

Contact Roberts & Roberts Today

Our East Texas firm has been fighting for accident victims harmed by underinsured and uninsured drivers for decades. Locally trusted and nationally known, we have been featured on dozens of television programs including Fox and Friends, ABC Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, Fox Business News, CNBC, and NBC’s Dateline.

To schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us now at 903-207-5405 or fill out our online contact form. Remember: The call costs you nothing, but it could mean everything.

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The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.