If you drive in Texas, state law requires you to carry liability auto insurance. But many drivers don’t fully understand what that coverage actually pays for and what happens once it’s exhausted — let alone why these limits often become critically important after a serious Texas car or truck accident.
At Zehl & Associates, we’ve won Billions for accident victims, including some of the largest motor vehicle verdicts and settlements in Texas history. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or tragically killed in a crash, our undefeated car accident lawyers can investigate every available source of compensation, protect your rights, and pursue the financial resources you need to move forward.
Texas Minimum Liability Requirements
Texas is an at-fault state for car accidents and insurance. State law requires drivers to carry at least the following liability coverage, often referred to as 30/60/25:
- $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
- $60,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident
- $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident
These numbers ensure that drivers can assume basic financial responsibility in the event of a crash. Essentially, they represent the minimum amount your insurer will pay toward another person’s injuries or property damage if you’re found at fault for a crash. Many drivers carry higher limits, since the minimum often falls short of covering a serious accident’s full cost.
What Liability Insurance Actually Covers
Liability insurance exists to protect other people from the financial consequences of your negligence behind the wheel.
If you cause an accident, your liability coverage pays for the injured person’s:
- Medical expenses for the other driver and their passengers
- Lost wages the other party incurs due to their injuries
- Pain and suffering damages awarded in a claim or lawsuit
- Repair or replacement costs for the other driver’s vehicle
- Damage to other property involved in the crash, such as a fence or building
Your insurer will pay these costs up to your policy’s limits. If a judgment or settlement exceeds those limits, you could be personally responsible for the difference.
What Liability Insurance Does Not Cover
Liability insurance only covers damage you cause to others — it does not pay for your own losses.
Specifically, it won’t cover:
- Repairs to your vehicle
- Your medical expenses
- Your lost wages
- Damage caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver who hits you
If another party is at fault for your accident, you may be able to recover these losses through their liability insurance or other available sources of compensation.
What Coverages Help Pay for My Own Damages After I Cause a Crash?
However, to cover situations where a driver is at fault for the accident and needs insurance for their own losses, Texas drivers can add optional coverages, including:
- Collision coverage: Pays for damage to your own vehicle regardless of fault, including in situations where you hit another car, a fixed object, or roll your vehicle in a single-car accident
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Covers your medical expenses and a portion of lost income after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash. It can also extend to passengers in your vehicle.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage: Protects you if the at-fault driver doesn’t carry enough insurance (or any insurance at all) to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. This coverage is also useful in hit-and-run situations.
Notably, Texas requires insurers to offer PIP and UM/UIM coverage on every policy (though drivers can reject these coverages in writing).
Reviewing your policy before an accident happens can help you determine what coverage you have if you cause a crash.
Contact Zehl & Associates To Schedule a Free Consultation With an Undefeated Houston Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a crash in Houston, Texas, and you’re unsure what coverage applies to your situation, an experienced attorney can review your policies. Your lawyer will identify every source of available compensation and make sure you’re not left covering costs that should be someone else’s responsibility.
Contact Zehl & Associates to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options with an Undefeated Houston car accident lawyer.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours