It’s a New Year, and along with other resolutions and changes in behavior, giving yourself an insurance check-up is a good idea. Texas attorneys that assist people who have been injured in automobile collisions often find that the at-fault driver has either no insurance, or too little insurance to compensate the victims of negligent drivers. This can leave a family devastated if medical bills and lost wages are not recovered. Additionally, if the medical care is given at taxpayer expense, and there is no insurance (or insufficient insurance) the public pays for the negligence of the at fault driver.
One way to protect yourself against drivers that do not follow the law and purchase liability insurance – or only follow the legal minimums and purchase only the base amount of liability insurance – is to look at your policy. Adding Personal Injury Protection (also called PIP coverage) to your policy is an inexpensive way to provide you and your family with a safety net in the event medical bills are incurred following an auto wreck. In Texas, you can purchase up to $10,000. in PIP coverage. This coverage can immediately reimburse you for much of your out of pocket medical expenses and lost wages. Even if the at fault, or liable, driver does have insurance, your PIP coverage is usually quicker and is an additionally layer of coverage to protect you.
Also, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is available in addition to your liability coverage. This UM/UIM coverage is designed to protect you when the other driver has no insurance (uninsured) or has too little insurance to properly compensate you for your injuries and losses (underinsured). Again, this coverage does not add significantly to your insurance premium, but can provide compensation for medical bills, lost wages, physical injuries, and all other legally entitled damages and losses incurred as a result of a negligent driver causing a collision with you.
An experienced personal injury attorney will review all available insurance coverage following an automobile accident, and determine what potential compensation is available to the victim or the victim’s family. Review your insurance policy and make sure you are fully protected in 2011.
