Nearly 1 in 7 Harris County Cars Are Uninsured – And That Impacts You

Why Are So Many Harris County Drivers Uninsured?

The Texas Appleseed report suggests that affordability is an important part of the problem.

Among the Harris County residents who participated in the study:

• Insured participants paid an average of $238 per month per vehicle, or about $2,856 per year.
• 73% described their premiums as somewhat or very unreasonable for the coverage they received.
• Participants with insurance spent an average of about 10% of their monthly household expenses on car insurance.
• 47% said they had gone without car insurance at some point while owning a vehicle. Almost all of those participants cited high insurance costs as the reason.

The focus group was small, so these percentages should not be treated as representative of Harris County as a whole. But the participants’ experiences help illustrate the financial pressure behind the broader uninsured-driver problem.

One participant described having to choose between insurance and groceries after losing her job. Another summed up the monthly burden this way: between a car payment and insurance, “It is almost $1,000 just for a car.”

For many Houston families, then, driving uninsured may not come from believing insurance is unnecessary. It can be the result of having to choose which bills they can afford to pay.

Most Drivers Still Believe Car Insurance Matters

The study also found an important tension: people understood the value of insurance even when they struggled to afford it.

More than half of participants said car insurance protects them and other drivers or gives them peace of mind. More than 90% agreed that insurance allows them to drive legally, and 80% believed people should be required to have insurance to drive in Texas.

Yet 47% of participants said they had gone without insurance while owning a car. One participant described being rear-ended by an uninsured driver and feeling there was “nothing to be done” because the other driver did not have coverage.

That experience highlights the problem for everyone on the road. When a driver cannot afford liability insurance, the financial consequences of a crash can shift to the person they hit – even when that person did nothing wrong.

For Houston drivers, that raises an important question: What can you do if the person who caused your accident has no insurance?

What Happens If an Uninsured Driver Hits You in Texas?

If an uninsured driver causes a crash, there may be no liability insurance available from that driver to cover your injuries and other losses. That does not necessarily mean you have no other options.

One potential source of compensation is your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Depending on your policy and the circumstances of the accident, UM coverage may help with losses caused by a driver who has no liability insurance.

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage serves a related purpose. It may apply when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their available liability coverage is not enough to cover your losses.

Other potential sources of recovery can depend on the circumstances of the crash. For example, another person or business could share responsibility for some accidents.

How Do I Know If I Have UM/UIM Coverage?

Start with your auto insurance policy or declarations page. In Texas, insurers generally must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, although a policyholder can reject it in writing.

After a serious crash, it can be helpful to determine early whether UM/UIM coverage is available and what limits apply. You should also keep records related to the accident, including medical treatment, expenses, lost income, and communications with insurance companies.

Importantly, a UM/UIM claim is made through your own insurance coverage, but that does not mean payment is automatic or that every accident-related loss will be covered. The policy and circumstances of the crash still matter.

For more information about dealing with insurance after a collision, see our Car Accident Insurance Claims FAQs.

Can You Sue an Uninsured Driver in Texas?

Potentially, yes. But obtaining a judgment and actually collecting money are two different things. A driver who could not afford insurance may also have limited assets available to satisfy a judgment.

That is one reason identifying all potentially available insurance coverage and responsible parties can be important after a serious accident with an uninsured driver.

If you discover that the other driver does not have insurance, don’t assume there is nothing you can do. A car accident attorney can review the crash, your own insurance policy, and other potential sources of recovery to help you understand what options may be available.

What Should You Do After a Crash With an Uninsured Driver?

Finding out the other driver does not have insurance can make an already stressful accident more complicated. A few practical steps can help protect important evidence and make the insurance process easier to navigate.

• Report the crash. Contact law enforcement and make sure the accident is documented.
• Get the other driver’s information. Collect their name, contact information, vehicle details, and any insurance information they provide.
• Document the scene. Take photos or videos of the vehicles, damage, roadway, and other relevant details when it is safe to do so.
• Get medical attention. Some injuries may not be immediately obvious after a crash. Follow your medical provider’s recommendations and keep records of your treatment.
• Notify your insurance company. Report the accident promptly and ask what coverages may apply, including UM/UIM coverage.
• Keep your records together. Save medical bills, repair estimates, receipts, missed-work documentation, and communications related to the claim.

You can find more practical guidance on our What To Do After a Car Accident page.

If the accident caused serious injuries or there are questions about available coverage, consider speaking with a lawyer before resolving the claim. An attorney can review the accident and insurance policies to determine what potential sources of recovery may be available.

Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Houston? Trust Guss May Be Able To Help

When the driver who caused your accident does not have insurance, figuring out how to pay for medical bills and other losses can become more complicated. There may still be options through your own insurance coverage or other responsible parties.

Trust Guss Injury Lawyers can investigate the accident, review available insurance coverage, gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and pursue compensation when appropriate.

If you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Houston, contact Trust Guss for a free consultation. There are no upfront attorney fees, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

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