Everything You Should Know About Texas Car Insurance Claims
Everyone dreads car accidents – some result in minor injuries while more serious accidents can lead to severe injury and heavy fines. Regardless of the outcome, there’s a good chance you’ll have to file a car insurance claim in Texas.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to file a car accident or injury claim, it’s important to be familiar with how car insurance works. Thankfully, the experienced McAllen car accident lawyers at Villalobos Law Firm are here to explain the details of Texas car insurance claims and ease some of the anxiety of the situation.
Continue reading to learn more about car accident insurance claims, and remember that we have answers to more questions on our website if you need additional info.
How Car Insurance Works and the Different Types Available
Similar to life or home insurance, car insurance protects you financially in return for a premium paid to the insurance company each month. The specific amounts you pay and what protections you’re afforded are worked out in the insurance policy.
If you wind up in an accident, you’ll receive compensation based on the details of your insurance policy, but what types are out there?
Texas requires that all drivers have a basic amount of liability car insurance, which can be broken down into:
- Property Damage – Coverage for expenses that relate to damage you caused to another’s property with your vehicle
- Bodily Injury – Coverage for expenses that relate to personal injury or death when you’re at fault.
There are more optional types of coverage out there, but when it comes to the law, these are the most important to be aware of.
What Is a “Fault” vs a “No-Fault” State?
When you go to file a claim, it can make all the difference whether or not you’re in an at-fault or no-fault state. Texas is an example of an “at-fault” state, so let’s briefly go over what that means for Texas drivers.
Texas requires the driver who caused the car accident to pay their own and the other party’s expenses. Everyone will file through the responsible party’s insurance company rather than through each individual company.
On the other hand, a “no-fault” state would require all individuals to file through their own insurance company. However, this isn’t a concern for Texas drivers.
Insurance Coverage Required by Texas State Law
As previously mentioned, Texas is an at-fault state and requires all drivers to have the minimum liability coverage in case of a car accident.
The specifics can be explained through the “25/30/60 Rule.” This determines the minimum amounts you must have in liability coverage for property damage or bodily injury. You can break it down like this:
- $25,000 per accident in property damage
- $30,000 per person for bodily injury
- $60,000 per accident for bodily injury
Remember to check your policy for the specifics, but these are the minimum coverage amounts required by Texas law for liability insurance.
What To Do if You Need to File a Claim After a McAllen Car Accident
If you’re the victim of a car accident injury and want compensation, then it’s best to gather your evidence and reach out to a credible personal injury attorney. The legal professionals at the Villalobos Law Firm have a proven track record of helping clients get the best outcome possible, so reach out today!
