Getting hit by a pickup truck is bad enough on its own. Getting hit by one whose driver doesn’t carry enough insurance to cover your injuries? That’s a different kind of nightmare. Houston roads are packed with pickup trucks every single day, from the Energy Corridor to I-10, from Beltway 8 to the crowded intersections near the Galleria. When one of those trucks slams into your vehicle and the driver’s policy can’t cover your medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering, you need to know exactly what your options are. At Gustin Law Firm, based in Houston, Texas, we fight for injured people who are left holding the bill after a crash with an underinsured pickup truck driver. This page explains what Texas law says, what coverage protects you, and how to pursue the full compensation you deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a difference between an uninsured driver and an underinsured driver, and that difference matters a lot when you’re hurt. An uninsured driver has no coverage at all. An underinsured driver has some insurance, but not enough to pay for the full extent of your damages. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 601.072, the minimum amounts of motor vehicle liability insurance required in Texas are $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $60,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in a single collision, and $25,000 for property damage. That 30\/60\/25 coverage sounds like real money until you’re facing a serious injury from a pickup truck crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about what a rollover accident or a T-bone collision with a full-size pickup truck actually costs. A single emergency room visit, surgery, and a short hospital stay can easily exceed $30,000. Add physical therapy, follow-up care, lost wages, and the pain and suffering that comes with a serious back or spinal cord injury, and that minimum-coverage policy is gone in a flash. The driver who hit you technically had insurance. They just didn’t have enough. That’s the definition of underinsured, and it’s one of the most common problems we see in Houston pickup truck accident claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a 2023 study by the Insurance Research Council, the uninsured motorist population increased from 11.6% to 14% of drivers between 2017 and 2022. Even drivers who carry the bare legal minimum are, in many serious injury cases, functionally underinsured. Pickup trucks cause disproportionately severe injuries because of their size, weight, and ride height. When a loaded F-150 or Chevy Silverado hits a smaller passenger car, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic, and a $30,000 policy limit is almost never enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key takeaway: you can be seriously hurt by a driver who followed the law and still bought insurance, and still be left with bills that far exceed what their policy will pay. That gap is where underinsured motorist (UIM) claims come in, and where having an experienced personal injury lawyer<\/a> in your corner becomes critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas does not require drivers to carry underinsured motorist coverage, but it does require insurance companies to offer it. Insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist coverage when you buy auto insurance. If you don’t want it, you have to turn it down in writing. That means if you never signed a written rejection of UM\/UIM coverage, you may have it on your policy right now without realizing it. Before you assume you’re unprotected, pull out your declarations page and check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage provides payment for bodily injury and property damage sustained by you or the passengers in your vehicle as a result of an accident involving a driver who has insufficient insurance to cover the damages. In plain terms, your own insurance company steps in to cover the gap between what the at-fault driver’s policy pays and what your damages actually total, up to your UIM policy limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas UM\/UIM coverage covers both economic and non-economic damages. That includes medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. It does not cover punitive damages. So if a pickup truck driver rear-ended you on I-45 near the Texas Medical Center and left you with a herniated disc, your UIM coverage can pay for your surgery, your lost wages during recovery, and the physical pain you’ve endured, even though the at-fault driver technically had insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is an important wrinkle, though. Your own insurance company is not automatically on your side when you file a UIM claim. Insurers have a financial interest in paying as little as possible. Carrying uninsured\/underinsured motorist coverage is not a fail-safe solution. You still might have to sue your own insurance company before you can obtain those benefits that come with your additional coverage. This is why having a truck accident lawyer<\/a> handle your UIM claim from the start protects your right to full compensation and prevents the insurer from lowballing you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pickup trucks are the most popular vehicles on Houston roads. Drive down Highway 59 or loop around the Sam Houston Tollway on any given morning and you’ll count more F-150s and Silverados than almost any other vehicle. Their popularity is not the problem. Their size is. A full-size pickup truck can weigh between 4,500 and 7,000 pounds, sometimes more when loaded with tools, materials, or equipment for work. When that kind of mass hits a standard passenger car at highway speeds, the results are severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Injuries from pickup truck accidents routinely include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage that lingers for months or years. These are not $30,000 injuries. They are $100,000, $250,000, or even million-dollar injuries when you account for future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and long-term pain and suffering. The Texas minimum coverage of $30,000 per person barely scratches the surface of what a serious pickup truck crash victim actually needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This coverage gap is even more pronounced in commercial contexts. A delivery driver, contractor, or oilfield worker operating a pickup truck for business purposes may have employer liability involved, but if the truck is registered as a personal vehicle with minimum coverage, the victim still faces a major shortfall. Fatigued driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving by pickup truck operators are common causes of these accidents in Houston, and none of those factors change the fact that the at-fault driver’s policy may be woefully inadequate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Texas Transportation Code also recognizes the financial responsibility gap. Under Section 601.154, the Texas Department of Public Safety can require security from a driver when there is a reasonable probability that a judgment will be rendered against them. However, that security is capped at the same limits set in Section 601.072, meaning the statutory framework itself acknowledges the limits of minimum coverage. A seasoned truck accident lawyer<\/a> in Houston understands how to pursue every available avenue when those limits fall short of your actual losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The steps you take in the hours and days after a pickup truck crash directly affect the strength of your UIM claim. First, call 911 and get a police report filed. The Houston Police Department or Harris County Sheriff’s Office will document the scene, and that report becomes a key piece of evidence when your attorney pursues your claim. Never accept a driver’s offer to settle privately. You need that official documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel okay. Pickup truck accidents often cause injuries that don’t show full symptoms right away, such as whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding. Waiting to seek care gives the insurance company ammunition to argue your injuries weren’t caused by the crash. Medical records tie your injuries directly to the accident, and they form the foundation of your damages calculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Document everything at the scene. Take photos of both vehicles, your injuries, the road conditions, and any skid marks or debris. If witnesses are present near landmarks like NRG Stadium, the Port of Houston, or a construction zone on the Grand Parkway, get their contact information. Witness statements can be powerful tools in a disputed claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notify your own insurance company about the accident promptly. Your policy likely requires timely notice as a condition of coverage, including UIM coverage. However, be careful about giving recorded statements before you speak with an attorney. Insurance adjusters, even your own, are trained to ask questions in ways that minimize payouts. Contact Gustin Law Firm before you give any recorded statement. We handle pickup truck accident claims across Houston and the surrounding areas, and we work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. Please note that court costs and litigation expenses may be deducted from any recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re unsure about your coverage, a truck accident attorney<\/a> can review your policy and identify every source of compensation available to you, including UIM coverage, medical payments coverage, and potential third-party liability claims against employers or other negligent parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gustin Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with its principal office in Houston, Texas. We represent people seriously injured in pickup truck accidents throughout Harris County and the greater Houston area, including Pasadena, Pearland, League City, and beyond. Our attorneys have recovered over $50 million in total recoveries for our clients, and we bring that same commitment to every underinsured driver pickup truck case we take on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you come to us after an underinsured pickup truck crash, we start by building your case from the ground up. We gather the police report, preserve surveillance and dashcam footage if available, obtain black box data from the pickup truck, and work with accident reconstruction professionals when the facts are disputed. We document every element of your damages, from emergency room bills to future medical costs to lost earning capacity, so that your claim reflects the full picture of what this crash has cost you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We then pursue every available source of compensation. That means filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability policy first, then pursuing your own UIM coverage for the remaining gap. If the at-fault driver was operating the truck for a business, we investigate employer liability and third-party claims as well. We do not let insurance companies shortchange our clients. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial in Harris County District Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our firm handles these cases on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no attorney’s fees unless we win. Court costs and litigation expenses may be deducted from any gross recovery. We believe that access to strong legal representation should not depend on your ability to pay upfront, especially when you are already dealing with medical bills and lost income from a crash that was not your fault. Call us today at (713) 491-4792<\/strong> for a free consultation with a truck accident attorney<\/a> who handles Houston pickup truck accident claims. This content is provided on behalf of Gustin Law Firm, Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits are not high enough to cover all of your damages. In Texas, insurance companies are required to offer both UM and UIM coverage when you purchase auto liability insurance. If you did not reject this coverage in writing, you may already have it. UIM coverage pays the difference between what the at-fault driver’s policy covers and the total value of your claim, up to your own policy’s UIM limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. That is exactly what UIM coverage is designed for. Under Texas law, once you exhaust the at-fault driver’s liability policy, you can make a claim against your own UIM coverage for the remaining amount of your damages, up to your policy limits. For example, if your total damages from a pickup truck crash are $120,000 and the at-fault driver only carried $30,000 in bodily injury coverage, your UIM policy can cover up to $90,000 of the remaining gap, depending on your policy limits. An attorney can review your policy and calculate the full recovery available to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 601.072, the minimum liability insurance requirements are the same for pickup truck drivers as for any other private passenger vehicle operator: $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury to two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage. There is no higher minimum requirement for pickup trucks, even though they cause significantly more severe injuries in crashes. This is one reason why UIM claims are so important for pickup truck accident victims in Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which generally applies to the underlying negligence claim against the at-fault driver. For UIM claims against your own insurance company, the timeframe can also be governed by your policy terms and the Texas Insurance Code. Missing a deadline can result in losing your right to recover entirely. Because these deadlines are strict and the rules can be complex, you should contact a Houston personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights and preserve your evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insurance companies sometimes deny UIM claims, delay payment, or offer settlements far below the actual value of your damages. When that happens, you have the right to dispute the decision and, if necessary, file a lawsuit against your own insurer. Texas law provides protections for policyholders under the Texas Insurance Code, including provisions that address bad faith insurance practices. An attorney can review the denial, challenge the insurer’s position, and fight to recover the full amount you are owed under your policy. Do not accept a low offer without first consulting with a Houston pickup truck accident attorney<\/a>. Call Gustin Law Firm at (713) 491-4792 for a free consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTexas Law and Your Right to UIM Coverage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Pickup Truck Accidents Create Bigger Coverage Gaps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What to Do After a Pickup Truck Accident with an Underinsured Driver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Gustin Law Firm Handles Underinsured Pickup Truck Claims in Houston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs About Underinsured Driver Pickup Truck Accident Claims in Houston<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in Texas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I file a UIM claim if the pickup truck driver had some insurance but it wasn’t enough?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does Texas require pickup truck drivers to carry more insurance than regular car drivers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How long do I have to file an underinsured motorist claim in Texas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What if my own insurance company denies or underpays my UIM claim after a pickup truck accident?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n