Every state in the country has adopted its own vehicle insurance statutes. Those who have a vehicle licensed in Texas must carry liability insurance at all times. According to the Texas Department of Insurance:
Liability will pay for necessary medical and repair expenses for the other party following an accident for which the insured is responsible. The state has mandated a minimum level of coverage that is considered acceptable.
Liability minimums in TX are:
*Twenty five thousand dollars for medical expenses incurred by a single individual (driver who is alone in the car at the time of the accident)
*Fifty thousand dollars for the combined medical expenses of all of the occupants of the vehicle when it was struck.
*Twenty five thousand dollars for any necessary property repairs, including those for the victim's vehicle.
Statistics show that the number of underinsured and uninsured drivers on state and national roads is alarming and the consequences of these circumstances are far reaching.
In a pilot program two years ago state troopers began an insurance verification program. In a test run of a single county over 25% of drivers were found to be uninsured. The troopers stated further that in some counties they expect that over half the drivers are uninsured. That is an astounding conjecture but not altogether unbelievable in these challenging economic times.
For many it has come down to the choice between auto insurance and their family's more immediate needs. Unfortunately, it's a frightening risk to take.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston personal injury attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm in Houston, Texas. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident with a drunk driver call the Baumgartner Law Firm.
