GREGG HARRISON - ATTORNEY AT LAW

UNINSURED MOTORISTS – WHAT A HEADACHE!

I have received many calls recently with people who have been in car wrecks – and a lot of them have been hit by UNINSURED DRIVERS! When a person calls with a dilemma like this – the first thing I ask is: “Do you have full coverage?” Unfortunately, the answer I have been getting is “No… I don’t have full coverage - I didn’t think I needed it!” My heart sinks at that point because usually the injured party is not the uninsured driver – it’s the person who has been hit and has done nothing wrong! At this point I am speaking with a person who’s car is totaled and more importantly – are injured! A person hit by an uninsured driver, who is not carrying full coverage, is most likely out of luck at this point. Don’t let this happen to you!

As the economy gets worse, wallets tighten; Once people fall behind on their bills, car insurance may lapse. The reality is that you could be hit by an uninsured driver at anytime. Worse than your car being ruined, you or a family member could be severely injured by an uninsured driver. Who will pay for your medical bills, lost wages, property damages, rental car, etc.?

The way in which you can be protected from an UNINSURED DRIVER is to:

1. Carry a full coverage policy (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage) which covers you and your passengers up to the bodily injury limits chosen;

2. Carry Personal Injury Protection (P.I.P) which usually covers lost wages and medical bills for you and your passengers for limits of $2,500 on up.

Texas law states that a person may not operate a motor vehicle in this state unless financial responsibility is established for that vehicle. Most people do this by buying automobile liability insurance. The law currently requires minimum coverage of $20,000 per injured person, up to a total of $40,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $15,000 for property damage (20/40/15 coverage). On April 1, 2008, the minimum required liability limits increase to $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).

It is important to note that even if you are hit by an insured driver with minimum limits, the minimum limits may not be enough to cover your damages in a serious accident. By having FULL COVERAGE you can make an additional claim on your UNDERINSURED insurance if your damages exceed the minimum limits of the at fault driver. Your policy will state the specific rules you must abide by to make this type of claim.

Please take a look at your policy limits page of your auto insurance and see if you are fully covered. If you are not, call your insurance representative and protect yourself with full coverage insurance! If you have been injured in a wreck with an uninsured driver within the past two years, AND YOU CARRIED FULL COVERAGE AT THE TIME OF THE WRECK, you still have time to consult an attorney and set up a claim to recover your damages. Insurance carriers are not permitted to raise your insurance rates for making an UNINSURED claim! If you paid for it, you are entitled to use it!

Gregg Harrison is an Attorney with offices in Cypress, Houston, and Corpus Christi, Texas. Gregg has negotiated settlements and obtained verdicts on numerous auto wreck cases in Texas. You can reach Mr. Harrison anytime for legal issues or questions at 832-797-7600 or via Email: gharrisonlaw@yahoo.com. Consultations are always free of charge whether in person or on the phone. Speaking engagements on various legal topics available upon request.