Injured in a wreck? A Texas car accident lawyer can help you seek compensation
Medical bills can quickly spiral out of control after a car accident, leaving you questioning who is responsible for covering the costs. In Texas, the “at-fault” rule determines responsibility. This means the driver who caused the crash—and their insurance company—is liable for paying your damages, including medical expenses.
While this system may sound straightforward, securing fair compensation is rarely simple. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts or deny claims altogether, taking advantage of injured motorists who may not fully understand their rights. Without proper legal guidance, you could end up shouldering the financial burden of someone else’s negligence. An experienced Texas car accident lawyer can fight to protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
What are the insurance requirements in Texas?
In Texas, all drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to cover damages they may cause in an accident. The state’s minimum coverage requirements, often referred to as 30/60/25, include:
- $30,000 for bodily injury per person.
- $60,000 for bodily injury per accident if multiple people are injured.
- $25,000 for property damage per accident.
This liability insurance only pays for damages and injuries to others when the policyholder is at fault. It does not cover the at-fault driver’s own injuries or vehicle repairs.
Drivers also have the option to purchase additional coverage, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay) coverage, which can help cover medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash. While PIP is not mandatory in Texas, insurers must offer it, and you can only decline it in writing.
Understanding these insurance requirements is crucial for knowing what options are available to cover your medical bills and other expenses after an accident. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may need to rely on your own insurance coverage or pursue legal action to recover your losses.
Who pays for your immediate medical bills after a crash?
After a car accident, your medical bills don’t wait for an insurance claim or lawsuit to be resolved—they need to be paid immediately. In Texas, several options can help cover your upfront medical expenses:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage: If you have PIP as part of your insurance policy, it will cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs, regardless of who caused the crash.
- Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage: Similar to PIP, MedPay helps pay for immediate medical expenses, but it doesn’t cover lost wages.
- Health Insurance: If you have health insurance, it can cover your medical bills while you wait for a settlement or verdict. However, your insurer may seek reimbursement (subrogation) from the at-fault driver’s insurance later.
- Out-of-Pocket Payments: If none of the above options are available, you may need to pay your bills upfront. Keep detailed records of these expenses so they can be included in your claim against the at-fault driver.
While these resources can help with immediate costs, they are not a permanent solution. To recover the full extent of your damages, including ongoing medical care and other losses, you’ll need to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance or explore legal options. An experienced car accident attorney can guide you through this process and ensure you’re not left covering costs that aren’t your responsibility.
What if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured?
When the driver responsible for your accident doesn’t have enough insurance (or any insurance at all), recovering compensation for your medical bills and other damages becomes more challenging. However, there are often options available to protect you in these situations. If you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage as part of your car insurance policy, it can step in to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses caused by an uninsured driver.
In some cases, you may also have the option to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If they have personal assets, pursuing a legal claim may allow you to recover compensation. However, this option is less effective if the driver lacks the resources to pay a judgment.
Although dealing with an uninsured driver is complex, an experienced car accident attorney can guide you through the process. From filing claims with your own insurance to exploring legal avenues, your lawyer can help you identify all potential sources of compensation.
How are future medical expenses handled after a car accident?
For many car accident victims, medical care doesn’t end after the initial treatment. Ongoing costs like surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, and medications can add up quickly, creating a significant financial burden. Fortunately, these future expenses can be factored into your claim or lawsuit.
To seek compensation for future medical bills, your attorney will work with medical experts who can evaluate your condition and provide an estimate of the care you’ll need. This may include the cost of physical therapy, assistive devices, or even modifications to your home if your injuries result in permanent disability. Demonstrating the long-term impact of your injuries is critical to ensuring you receive compensation that covers all your needs, both now and in the future.
How much is your claim worth?
The value of a car accident claim depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the cost of your medical bills, and the overall impact on your life. While no two cases are identical, compensation typically falls into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and future expenses related to your recovery. For example, if your injuries require ongoing physical therapy or surgeries, these anticipated costs are factored into the claim.
Non-economic damages address intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages recognize the physical and emotional toll the accident has taken on you and your family.
In some cases, you may also be entitled to punitive damages, which are designed to punish the at-fault driver for particularly reckless or malicious behavior, such as driving under the influence.
An experienced car accident attorney can assess the details of your case, calculate the full extent of your damages, and negotiate with the insurance company to pursue a settlement that reflects the true value of your claim. If the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation, your lawyer can take the case to court to fight for the justice you deserve.
Contact a Texas car accident attorney to protect your rights
A car accident can leave you facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and the stress of dealing with insurance companies. Navigating the legal process alone can be overwhelming, especially when insurers work to minimize your claim. That’s why having a skilled Texas car accident attorney on your side is crucial.
An experienced lawyer will handle every aspect of your case—from gathering evidence and calculating the full value of your claim to negotiating with insurance companies and, if necessary, fighting for you in court. Their goal is to secure the compensation you need to recover and move forward with your life.
Based in Fort Worth, Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C., can advocate for you every step of the way. Attorney Wooten and his dedicated team have a strong track record of recovering compensation for accident victims in Texas, including a $780,000 settlement to the victim of a drunk driving crash.
You need to act fast if you’ve been injured in an accident. Evidence can fade, and Texas has strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims. Contact a Texas car accident lawyer today for a free consultation to learn how to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
