Uninsured/Underinsured Car Accidents in Seguin
If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by the negligence of an uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM), the path toward fair compensation is challenging. You may need to use your own coverage to address your physical, financial, and emotional losses. Although uninsured/underinsured car accidents in Seguin are complex legal matters, an experienced car accident attorney at Felix Gonzalez Law can work on your behalf to achieve the best solution.
What Is UM/UIM Coverage?
UM/UIM coverage is designed to cover losses under specific circumstances, including if someone is injured by a driver without adequate—or any—liability insurance. UM/UIM coverage is triggered in both instances and addresses a full range of losses, including:
- Property damage to the victim’s car and its contents
- Related medical expenses, whether current or ongoing
- Lost income and any losses related to future earning potential
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
Insurance providers in Texas must offer UM/UIM coverage with their car insurance policies. While drivers are not obligated to accept the coverage, the only way to decline it is by submitting a written rejection to the insurance provider.
Without an official rejection, this coverage automatically applies, which makes it likely that most drivers carry UM/UIM coverage. In Seguin, if someone is injured by a motorist who has not upheld their insurance coverage obligations, the injured person’s UM/UIM coverage will be activated.
Minimum Coverage Requirements
The State of Texas sets a minimum liability coverage requirement for motorists. It is referred to as 30/60/25 as it includes $30,000 in bodily injury per person, $60,000 in total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in total property damage per accident.
If an accident is serious, this level of coverage may be inadequate, even if the at-fault driver carries the state-mandated minimums. In this case, the injured person can use their UIM coverage to help address any additional losses.
Stacking UIM Coverage Amounts
Under the right circumstances, UIM coverage can be stacked, with the amount of coverage an injured person is entitled to being added across policies or vehicles, creating more comprehensive coverage. If someone has a car insurance policy covering more than one vehicle or their household has more than one car insurance policy, they may be able to stack the coverage across policies in the event of an accident. For example, if the injured person and their spouse have separate insurance policies on their vehicles, stacking may be an option.
However, policyholders should be aware that stacking typically only applies to the bodily injury portion of a claim, not to any property damage. Additionally, some car insurance providers include language in their contracts that prevents stacking. Due to these complexities, a proactive car accident lawyer is crucial in understanding the vehicle insurance policy and the coverage it provides.
Proving Your Car Accident Claim
If someone is injured by a negligent motorist, such as a speeding or distracted driver, they need to prove that some form of negligence caused the car accident in question. They must also demonstrate that they suffered legal damages as a result, which refers to the covered losses.
In Seguin, if the injured person discovers that the negligent driver did not have enough coverage to address their losses in their entirety or had no coverage at all, they can turn to their own UM/UIM coverage.
Talk to an Experienced Seguin UM/UIM Car Accident Attorney Today
Uninsured/underinsured car accidents in Seguin are all too common. If you have been injured by a driver without adequate liability insurance, the car accident attorneys at Felix Gonzalez Law can help you explore your UM/UIM coverage options and pursue the compensation you deserve. To learn more, call or contact us online today at no cost.
