According to the Texas Department of Insurance, 12 percent of all motor vehicles registered in Texas are not listed on a Texas car insurance policy. TexasSure estimates that 20 percent of all drivers in Texas carry no insurance.
Texas law requires drivers to have auto liability insurance. Driving without insurance coverage is a risky move. Drivers without insurance who cause accidents could face fines, fees, license and registration surcharges, license suspension, vehicle impoundment, and financial responsibility. Here’s a breakdown of what you might face:
Fines and Fees
If a driver is caught driving without motor vehicle insurance in Dallas, the driver will face the following:
- A fine of between $175 and $350 for a first offense. If it’s a first offense and you cannot afford the fine, the court may reduce it.
- For a second offense, a fine of between $350 and $1000.
- Vehicle impoundment fees of $15 a day for 180 days.
License and Registration Surcharges
In addition to the fines and fees for driving without insurance, the uninsured driver will face a $250 surcharge when registering their car every year.
License Suspension
Under Texas law, drivers who are convicted of driving without insurance a second time will be subject to suspension of their driver’s license and vehicle registration. The suspension lasts for two years from the date of conviction. A driver whose license is suspended will need to pay a $100 reinstatement fee and provide evidence of auto insurance, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Vehicle Impoundment
In addition, a driver convicted of driving without insurance will have their motor vehicle impounded for 180 days. The driver must provide they have obtained insurance to get the vehicle out of impoundment. The court will charge you $15 per day for impounding your vehicle.
Increased Insurance Rates
Insurance companies will typically view a driver in Texas who has been convicted of driving without insurance as a higher risk. The driver will pay higher auto insurance premiums. In some circumstances, a high-risk driver may have difficulty obtaining auto insurance from any company. If two or more insurance companies have turned an uninsured driver down, the driver may apply to the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association or TAIPA for coverage. Unfortunately, TAIPA coverage is limited and more expensive than other carriers.
The insurance company will inform the DMV if the driver allows their auto insurance to lapse. This information is available to any police officer who accesses the TexasSure database. If a driver gets pulled over, the officer making the traffic stop will quickly discover that the driver has no insurance, which is a misdemeanor under Texas law.
SR-22 Requirement
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, drivers in Texas must carry a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate, also known as an SR-22.
Texas law requires drivers to have at least $30,000 of auto liability coverage for injuries to a person, $60,000 for injuries per accident, and $25,000 for coverage of property damage such as automobile damage.
The SR-22 shows that a driver has the following minimum liability insurance limits required by law:
- $25,000 for damage or destruction of property
- $30,000 for injury or death to one person
- $60,000 for injury or death of two or more people
Drivers who are uninsured or don’t have enough auto insurance to pay for the injuries they cause may face legal action.
Financial Responsibility for Accidents
If an uninsured driver causes a car accident, the uninsured driver will have financial responsibility for the accident. The at-fault driver may be held personally responsible for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that the accident victims experience.
These costs could amount to thousands of dollars in cases involving serious personal injuries, loss of income, loss of quality of life, trauma, and emotional suffering.
The personal injury attorneys at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., can help you determine who is financially liability for your injuries and discuss your legal options such as filing a personal injury lawsuit.
If the driver who injured you was driving uninsured, you may need to file a claim against your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy, which pays for the medical bills of you and your passengers, regardless of who caused the accident. All auto policies in Texas include PIP coverage unless you decline it in writing. You may also utilize your Uninsured Motorist (UM) policy if you have that coverage.
Get Legal Help from an Experienced Dallas Car Accident Attorney Near You
An experienced Dallas car accident lawyer can help you evaluate your legal options and pursue the best outcome if you have been injured in a crash involving an uninsured driver.
Our team has decades of experience helping people injured by uninsured drivers. Our injury attorneys are members of prestigious organizations such as the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, and the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
If you’ve been injured in a collision caused by another driver in Dallas, Texas, contact our law firm immediately. Our friendly and experienced staff has been serving the Dallas area for more than 45 years, and we will fight for your rights with total determination. Call us at (214) 999-9999 today.
