When you’re involved in a car accident in Texas, understanding how third-party car insurance works can make all the difference in protecting your financial security.
Texas car accident laws requires every driver to carry basic liability coverage, but navigating the claims process can be complex, especially when dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
Knowing your rights and the role of third-party liability insurance helps ensure you’re adequately compensated for any damages.
In this post, we’ll break down the essentials of filing a third-party insurance claim, what it covers, and how you can maximize your compensation. Whether you’re a driver at fault or the injured party, this guide will help you understand the protections available under Texas law.
Let’s begin.
What Is Third Party Insurance?
Texas law requires drivers to carry basic insurance cover on any motor vehicle licensed to be on the highway.
As the policyholder, you pay premiums to the insurance company as the insured party in exchange for protection against third-party liability insurance claims if you cause an accident.
In Texas, drivers must carry liability insurance, commonly known as 30/60/25 coverage.
If you are found negligent in a car accident, your basic car insurance policy will pay for the following:
– $30,000 per person for bodily injury liability,
– $60,000 per accident for total bodily injury, and
– $25,000 for property damage liability.
While these amounts may appear sufficient, medical bills and damage coverage for newer vehicles may quickly exceed these limits.
Another type of insurance policy, called first-party insurance coverage, allows you to file a claim with your own insurance provider to cover your costs from an accident.
Third Party Claims Explained
Car accidents often involve more than one motorist, and more than one driver may be at fault in a Texas car accident. Businesses, government entities, and manufacturers may also be responsible for an accident.
Other forms of third-party coverage may apply in these incidents.
The parties in a third-party insurance claim are as follows:
– As the policyholder, you are the first party.
– The insurance company is the second party in an insurance claim.
– The at-fault driver, or the negligent party responsible for your damages, is the third party.
Texas follows modified comparative negligence laws, which reduce your compensation in a third-party auto insurance claim by your percentage of fault in the accident.
You may hold no responsibility for the accident, or the insurance company may determine a portion of the fault is attributable to your actions.
As a driver, you cannot claim compensation for your costs if you are more than 50% at fault in a car accident. This is particularly important in an at-fault state like Texas.
How to File a Third Party Insurance Claim
To file a third-party insurance claim in Texas, you will need some essential information. A car accident scene can be chaotic and confusing, so obtaining a copy of the police report following a Texas car accident is crucial.
To file a claim, you will need the name and phone number of the third party’s insurance company.
You will also want to contact your own insurance company to inform them about the accident and the claims process. The third party’s insurance provider will assign a claims adjuster to your case, who will be responsible for thoroughly investigating the accident and offering a fair settlement for your damages.
However, insurance companies often aim to reduce compensation, which can save them money while costing you.
The third-party liability insurance covering the other driver should provide a written explanation for their compensation decisions. A reduction in your third-party claim may occur due to the following:
– You were assigned a higher percentage of fault in the accident.
– You didn’t properly or fully document your damages.
– The insurance company denied their insured driver’s responsibility for the accident.
– The insurance company claimed that your property damage or medical issues were pre-existing.
– The insurance provider insists that your damages and accident injuries are less impactful than you claim.
Ultimately, it is up to you to prove your damages from a car accident. With the help of an aggressive and qualified car accident attorney on your side, you have a fighting chance to secure the settlement you deserve.
What Third Party Insurance Does and Does Not Cover
Many Texas drivers are unsure what compensation may be available to them following a car accident. Third-party insurance covers include:
– All medical bills,
– Lost wages while recovering,
– Other expenses such as travel costs to appointments, and
– Physical pain and emotional suffering.
Third-party coverage protects you up to the allowed coverage amounts, preventing out-of-pocket payments. However, third-party insurance does not cover damages under the following exclusions:
– Weather-related events such as hail damage,
– Vehicle theft,
– Vandalism or deliberate acts of destruction, or
– Pothole damage to your car.
Additional insurance coverage, such as comprehensive insurance, may be required for these situations. The Texas auto insurance information guide referenced above discusses the types of auto coverage you may purchase in addition to liability coverage.
Knowing your insurance needs based on your vehicle use, where you live, and your daily circumstances can help determine your insurance cover needs.
Ways to Protect a Third Party Insurance Claim in Texas
For car accidents causing significant damages, speaking with a car accident attorney in Houston is the first line of defense. When you sign on to work with the Dax F. Garza, P.C. team, you have the guarantee that someone is looking out for your best interests.
Our firm has stood up to insurance companies working to reduce our client’s third-party insurance claims compensation by using the following tactics:
– Using our client’s recorded statements against them,
– Accessing all of the injured party’s medical records and using them to reduce the claim,
– Stalling to prevent paying an injured party, which may delay financial assistance for immediate expenses, and
– Settling too quickly before you fully understand the extent of your injuries.
Documenting a Texas car crash for a third-party insurance claim offers the necessary proof to provide evidence of your costs.
Our firm is committed to uncovering evidence that maximizes your compensation. In doing so, we strive to reach a settlement agreement with the insurance company that supports your financial recovery.
When a fair settlement is unattainable, we utilize documentation and evidence about the accident to file a lawsuit against the insurance provider for your damages.
A personal injury lawsuit allows you to seek damages up to the insurance coverage limits. Beyond these limits, we discuss other options for financial recovery to help you get back to where you were financially before the accident occurred.
Third Party Insurance Is Beneficial to You in a Texas Car Accident
Third-party insurance can offer financial protection, whether you are the injured party in a car accident or the person responsible for causing injuries.
However, when compensation fails to cover your financial costs fully, a Houston car accident lawyer with Dax F. Garza, P.C. can provide the legal advice needed to help you recover.
Contact our firm as soon as possible to obtain critical insight and guidance into filing a successful third-party insurance claim and obtaining the financial compensation you deserve. Arrange your free consultation by using our online form today.