Getting hit by an uninsured driver on the I-10 or the 610 Loop is more common in Houston than most people realize. Texas has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country, and when one of those drivers causes a crash, the financial consequences can fall directly on you. Medical bills pile up. Your car sits in a repair shop. You miss work. And the person who caused it all has no insurance to pay for any of it. That is exactly why knowing your legal options, and having the right attorney in your corner, matters so much after this kind of accident. Gustin Law Firm, with its principal office in Houston, Texas, represents injured people throughout the Houston area who have been hurt by uninsured and underinsured drivers. Attorney Chris Gustin and his team have helped clients recover over $50 Million in total recoveries. If you or someone you love has been hurt, call us today at (713) 491-4792.<\/p>\n
Texas has a serious uninsured motorist problem. According to a 2025 study by the Insurance Research Council, 15.4 percent of motorists, or more than one in seven drivers, were uninsured in 2023. Texas tracks even higher than that national figure. Around 20% of Texas drivers are uninsured, adding to the financial burden for insured drivers, since insurance companies account for the higher likelihood of accidents involving uninsured motorists who cannot pay for the damages they cause. Think about what that means every time you merge onto the Southwest Freeway or sit in traffic near the Galleria. One in five vehicles around you may have no insurance at all.<\/p>\n
The Texas Legislature recognized this problem and took action. The problem in Texas is so significant that the Texas Legislature directed the Texas Department of Insurance to create TexasSure to help reduce the number of uninsured drivers in the Lone Star State. TexasSure has a database that connects every registered vehicle in the state by its license plate, vehicle identification number (VIN), and liability insurance policy. Despite that system, uninsured drivers continue to cause accidents every single day across Houston and Harris County.<\/p>\n
Under Texas Transportation Code Section 601.072, the minimum liability coverage required for Texas drivers is $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $60,000 for two or more people injured in one collision, and $25,000 for property damage. Even drivers who do carry insurance often carry only these bare minimums. If your medical bills exceed those limits, the at-fault driver\u2019s policy runs out fast, leaving you with a gap you have to fight to fill. That is where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and an experienced personal injury lawyer<\/a>, become critical.<\/p>\n Whether your accident happened near Memorial Park, along Highway 59, or anywhere else in the greater Houston area, the fact that the other driver had no insurance does not mean you are out of options. Texas law gives you real paths to recovery, and Gustin Law Firm knows how to pursue every one of them.<\/p>\n Texas law gives you a layer of protection that many people do not know they have. Under Texas Insurance Code Section 1952.101, \u201cuninsured or underinsured motorist coverage\u201d means the provisions of an automobile liability insurance policy that protect insureds who are legally entitled to recover from owners or operators of uninsured or underinsured motor vehicles damages for bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death, or property damage. An insurer may not deliver or issue for delivery in this state an automobile liability insurance policy unless the insurer provides uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in the policy or supplemental to the policy. In plain terms, every auto insurance company selling policies in Texas must offer you this coverage.<\/p>\n Insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist coverage when you buy auto insurance. If you do not want it, you have to turn it down in writing. That means if you never signed a written rejection, you likely have this coverage on your policy right now, even if you did not realize it. Many Houstonians discover this after a crash, and it can make a significant difference in the outcome of their claim.<\/p>\n There are two types of UM coverage in Texas. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for certain damages if you are involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. There are two types: bodily injury and property damage. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage generally pays for medical bills, while property damage coverage pays for the costs to repair your damaged vehicle. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) works differently. Underinsured motorist coverage must provide for payment to the insured of all amounts that the insured is legally entitled to recover as damages from owners or operators of underinsured motor vehicles because of bodily injury or property damage, not to exceed the limit specified in the insurance policy, and reduced by the amount recovered or recoverable from the insurer of the underinsured motor vehicle.<\/p>\n One important detail under Texas Insurance Code Section 1952.109: the insurer has the burden of proof in a dispute as to whether a motor vehicle is uninsured. That shifts a key obligation onto the insurance company, not you. Still, insurance companies do not always pay what they owe without a fight. That is why having a personal injury lawyer<\/a> review your claim from the start protects your interests and keeps the pressure on the insurer to honor your policy.<\/p>\n People often assume that if the at-fault driver has no insurance<\/a>, there is nothing to recover. That is not true. Depending on your own policy and the specific facts of your case, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Your UM or UIM coverage can pay for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Beyond your own policy, you may also be able to pursue the uninsured driver directly through a personal injury lawsuit if they have assets worth pursuing.<\/p>\n The types of damages available in a Texas uninsured motorist claim include current and future medical bills, lost income and lost earning capacity, physical pain and mental anguish, disfigurement, and impairment. If you suffered a serious injury like a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury in the crash, your damages can be substantial. A broken bone that requires surgery, months of physical therapy, and time away from your job near the Texas Medical Center can easily exceed $100,000 in total losses. The minimum UM policy limits in Texas will not cover that. You need an attorney who will fight for the full value of your claim.<\/p>\n Uninsured motorist claims also apply in hit-and-run situations. Uninsured\/underinsured motorist coverage also pays if you are in a hit-and-run accident and the other driver cannot be found to pay for damages. However, under Texas Insurance Code Section 1952.104, for the insured to recover under uninsured motorist coverage if the owner or operator of any motor vehicle that causes bodily injury or property damage to the insured is unknown, actual physical contact must have occurred between the motor vehicle owned or operated by the unknown person and your vehicle. If a driver cut you off and caused you to crash without making contact, that specific rule matters. A Houston car accident lawyer<\/a> at Gustin Law Firm can help you understand how this rule applies to your situation and what evidence you need to support your claim.<\/p>\n Do not let the insurance company pressure you into accepting a lowball settlement. Insurers sometimes treat UM claims differently than third-party claims, but your rights are just as real. Gustin Law Firm handles these disputes aggressively, and we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Please note that litigation expenses, such as court costs and expert fees, are separate from attorney fees and may be deducted from your recovery.<\/p>\n The steps you take in the hours and days after an uninsured motorist accident can directly affect the strength of your claim. First, call 911. A police report is essential. Houston Police Department officers or Harris County deputies will document the scene, and that report becomes a key piece of evidence. Even if the other driver insists on handling things privately, you should always get law enforcement involved. A driver who avoids involving police may be doing so precisely because they have no insurance.<\/p>\n Second, get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine at the scene. Injuries like soft tissue damage, concussions, and internal trauma do not always produce immediate pain. Waiting to see a doctor gives insurance companies a reason to argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash. If you were near the Heights, Midtown, or any other part of Houston when the accident happened, go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center and tell them exactly what happened.<\/p>\n Third, document everything you can. Take photos of the vehicles, the road, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Note the other driver\u2019s license plate number. If you are dealing with a distracted driving<\/a> accident or a drunk driving accident<\/a>, the police report will often capture evidence of impairment or phone use that supports your claim.<\/p>\n Fourth, notify your own insurance company of the accident promptly. Texas law requires you to cooperate with your insurer, but you do not have to give a recorded statement without legal guidance. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can minimize your claim. Before you speak with any adjuster, call Gustin Law Firm at (713) 491-4792. We will handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure your rights are protected from the very beginning.<\/p>\n Gustin Law Firm is a Houston-based personal injury law firm that represents injured people throughout Harris County and the surrounding areas. Attorney Chris Gustin and his team handle motor vehicle accident cases involving uninsured and underinsured drivers, and they understand the specific challenges these cases present. Insurance companies can be difficult, even when you are making a claim under your own policy. Having a skilled legal advocate makes a real difference in the outcome.<\/p>\n Our firm has helped clients recover over $50 Million in total recoveries across a wide range of personal injury cases. We take uninsured motorist claims seriously because we know what is at stake for our clients. Whether you were injured on the Hardy Toll Road, near NRG Stadium, or anywhere else in the Houston metro area, we are ready to review your case at no cost to you.<\/p>\n We also handle cases that involve complex coverage questions. For example, if you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle when the crash occurred, questions about uber accidents<\/a> and how multiple insurance policies interact can make your claim more complicated. Our team knows how to sort through layered insurance situations and identify every source of available coverage. Similarly, if the at-fault driver was distracted at the time of the crash, evidence of distracted driving<\/a> can strengthen your claim even when you are pursuing it through your own UM policy.<\/p>\nTexas Law and Your Right to Uninsured Motorist Coverage<\/h2>\n
What Damages Can You Recover After an Uninsured Motorist Accident?<\/h2>\n
What to Do After an Accident with an Uninsured Driver in Houston<\/h2>\n
Why Gustin Law Firm Handles Houston Uninsured Motorist Cases<\/h2>\n