You pay auto insurance premiums monthly, assuming the coverage will protect you when accidents occur. However, standard liability insurance only compensates people you injure—it provides nothing when someone else hits you. Richardson car accidents—uninsured driver claims often expose this harsh reality. When that other driver carries no insurance, you face potential financial catastrophe unless you purchased uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage fills this critical gap. Texas Insurance Code Section 1952.101 requires insurers to offer UM coverage, though Texas law permits you to decline it in writing. With approximately 14.5% of Texas drivers operating without insurance—roughly one in seven vehicles on Richardson roads—understanding UM coverage becomes essential for drivers navigating US-75, Belt Line Road, and Collin County roads daily.
Key Takeaways for Uninsured Motorist Coverage
- UM coverage is first-party protection through your own policy that pays medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages when uninsured drivers cause injuries.
- Texas requires insurers to offer UM coverage equal to liability limits but allows written rejection, creating situations where drivers unknowingly lack protection after signing rejection forms years earlier.
- UM coverage costs vary by carrier and rating factors.
- Health insurance doesn’t replace UM coverage because health policies pay only medical bills while UM addresses lost wages, pain and suffering, and the full economic impact of injuries.
- Richardson drivers face daily exposure to uninsured motorists on high-traffic corridors, making UM coverage essential rather than optional protection.
Table of Contents
Understanding Uninsured Motorist Coverage Basics
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you when at-fault drivers carry no insurance or flee accident scenes. Unlike liability coverage that compensates others when you cause accidents, UM coverage offers first-party protection—you file claims with your own insurance company for injuries that negligent, uninsured drivers cause. Options when hit in Richardson often depend on your insurance policy, as UM coverage helps you recover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages even when the at-fault driver cannot pay.
UM coverage activates when at-fault drivers openly admit to lacking insurance. Police reports document this lack of coverage, establishing the foundation for UM claims. Hit-and-run accidents also trigger UM coverage when drivers flee before providing information, though policies often require physical contact or independent corroboration per policy terms, such as witness or video evidence.
What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Pays
UM bodily injury coverage compensates various damages resulting from uninsured driver accidents. Medical expenses receive payment, including emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical equipment, and future care costs. Unlike health insurance that might deny certain treatments or require pre-authorization, UM coverage pays reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to accident injuries.
Lost wages constitute another significant UM benefit. When injuries prevent victims from working, UM coverage compensates for missed income during recovery periods. This extends to reduced earning capacity when injuries create permanent work limitations. A construction worker suffering back injuries that prevent heavy lifting might receive compensation for the difference between previous wages and reduced earnings in lighter-duty positions.
Pain and suffering is the non-economic component of UM claims. Physical pain, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and loss of enjoyment all factor into these damages. Permanent impairments generate additional compensation, including disabilities, disfigurement, and life-altering injuries.
How UM Differs From Other Insurance Coverages
Insurance terminology creates confusion, particularly when multiple coverages sound similar. Understanding distinctions between UM coverage and related protections helps Richardson drivers make informed decisions.
| Coverage Type | What It Covers | When It Applies | Typical Limits |
| Uninsured Motorist (UM) | Your injuries from an uninsured driver | The at-fault driver has $0 insurance | $25K-$500K+ |
| Underinsured Motorist (UIM) | Your injuries when coverage is insufficient | The at-fault driver has inadequate insurance | Same as UM limits |
| UM Property Damage (UMPD) | Vehicle damage from an uninsured driver | The at-fault driver has $0 insurance | Optional in Texas; not included on many policies—drivers often rely on collision instead |
| Medical Payments (MedPay) | Immediate medical bills regardless of fault | Any accident, fault irrelevant | $1K-$10K typical |
| Collision | Vehicle damage regardless of fault | Any collision | Based on vehicle value |
| Health Insurance | Medical treatment only | Any illness/injury | Policy specific |
Why Health Insurance Doesn’t Replace UM Coverage
Health insurance covers medical treatment but excludes lost wages, pain and suffering, and non-medical losses. Health policies also impose deductibles, co-payments, and coverage limitations. Additionally, health insurers assert reimbursement rights, requiring repayment from accident settlements under Texas Property Code Section 55 for hospital liens and ERISA subrogation for employer plans. Plan language controls ERISA reimbursement, and reductions are often negotiable.
UM property damage coverage is optional in Texas and not included on many policies—drivers often rely on collision instead. Note that UM bodily injury has no collision deductible; collision repairs still carry the deductible unless you have UMPD. Underinsured motorist coverage complements UM protection, paying the difference when at-fault drivers carry insufficient limits for your damages.
Texas Law: What You Must Know About UM Coverage
Texas Insurance Code Section 1952.101 requires insurance companies to offer UM coverage in amounts equal to your liability limits. However, Texas law permits declining UM coverage through a written rejection signed by the named insured.
Many Richardson drivers rejected UM coverage years ago during the initial policy purchase without fully understanding the consequences. These rejection forms remain valid indefinitely until you request UM coverage. Drivers commonly don’t remember signing rejection forms and discover their lack of protection only after uninsured drivers hit them.
You Can Add UM Coverage Anytime
The good news is that you can add UM coverage anytime through policy changes or renewal periods. Contact your insurance company or agent to add UM coverage to existing policies. The process takes minutes and typically becomes effective at the next policy renewal or through immediate policy endorsement.
Why Richardson Drivers Face Elevated Uninsured Motorist Risk
Richardson’s geography creates substantial uninsured driver exposure. The city straddles Dallas and Collin Counties along the US-75 corridor, a major commuter route. What you need to know is that at Texas’s 14.5% uninsured rate, Richardson drivers share roads with thousands of uninsured vehicles during typical commutes.
For example, on a 30-minute commute encountering roughly 1,000 vehicles, approximately 145 could be operating without insurance. Belt Line Road intersections, Campbell Road interchanges, and the CityLine entertainment district concentrate uninsured driver accidents in Richardson’s highest-traffic areas.
Why Uninsured Drivers May Present Higher Accident Risk
Uninsured drivers create disproportionate accident risk beyond their percentage of the driving population. Drivers who disregard insurance requirements may exhibit other dangerous behaviors that increase collision probability.
Commonly cited risk factors may include:
- Operating vehicles with suspended or revoked licenses due to prior violations or DUI convictions
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs without concern for legal consequences
- Engaging in distracted driving behaviors, including texting, phone use, and inattention to traffic
- Speeding and aggressive driving patterns that reflect a general disregard for traffic laws
- Operating poorly maintained vehicles with brake, tire, or mechanical problems that contribute to accidents
- Lacking proper driver training or experience, particularly among unlicensed drivers
These overlapping risk factors can disproportionately represent uninsured drivers in certain crash types. Richardson drivers face elevated danger from uninsured motorists beyond simple statistical probability.
What Happens Without UM Coverage
Victims lacking UM coverage face limited options. You need a lawyer after uninsured driver accidents because lawsuits against these drivers remain possible, but collection is often nearly impossible. Texas law prohibits wage garnishment for ordinary tort judgments (exceptions exist for child support, taxes, etc.—not typical accident judgments). Homestead protection shields primary residences.
Health insurance pays medical bills but imposes deductibles and coverage limits, then asserts reimbursement liens. Lost wages receive no compensation. Pain and suffering damages simply vanish.
How to Determine Adequate UM Coverage Limits
Selecting appropriate UM limits requires assessing your financial exposure. Multiple approaches can be used to calculate adequate protection levels.
Match Liability Limits
At a minimum, UM coverage should equal your liability limits. This ensures comparable protection whether you injure others or others injure you.
Asset Protection
Calculate your net worth, including home equity, retirement accounts, and savings. Purchase UM coverage sufficient to protect these assets. High-net-worth individuals should consider $250,000-500,000 or higher UM limits.
Income Replacement
Estimate 6-12 months of lost wages plus typical medical expense ranges. This calculation often suggests $100,000-250,000 as reasonable coverage for most middle-income Richardson families.
Signs You Need Higher UM Limits
Certain life circumstances and financial situations justify purchasing UM coverage exceeding minimum recommendations. Evaluating your personal situation helps determine whether standard limits provide adequate protection.
Consider increasing UM limits if you:
- Own a home worth $300,000 or more with significant equity that uninsured driver accidents could threaten
- Earn $75,000+ annually, where extended injury-related work absences would create substantial lost income
- Support dependents, including children or elderly parents, who rely on your income for essential expenses
- Work in professions requiring physical abilities where injuries might permanently reduce earning capacity
- Maintain significant retirement savings or investment accounts representing decades of accumulated wealth
- Drive high-mileage routes daily for work or long commutes, increasing exposure to uninsured drivers
These factors increase both your probability of serious accidents and the financial impact of injuries. Higher UM limits protect proportionally to your elevated risk and potential losses.
Common UM Coverage Mistakes to Avoid
The most costly mistake is rejecting UM protection to save $10-15 monthly. Those small premium savings become catastrophic when uninsured drivers cause serious injuries.
Carrying minimum UM limits despite high asset values creates vulnerability. Assuming health insurance eliminates the need for UM coverage is a dangerous misunderstanding. Personal injury settlements are calculated based on the full extent of financial loss, so failing to increase UM limits after major life changes like marriage, children, or home purchases creates coverage gaps that could leave you financially exposed.
Filing UM Claims: What to Expect
When uninsured drivers cause injuries, you file UM claims with your own insurance company. This creates inherent conflict because your insurer must pay your damages rather than collect from another carrier.
Your insurance company takes the position of the uninsured driver, contesting liability, causation, and damages. Adjusters investigate fault and evaluate damages with an eye toward minimizing payouts.
Proving Your UM Claim
You must prove the other driver’s fault and your damages through police reports, witness statements, photographs, medical records, and expert testimony. Texas’s modified comparative fault system under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001 reduces compensation by your percentage of fault. Fault exceeding 50% bars recovery entirely.
In Texas, courts generally require a determination of the other driver’s liability and your damages before UM/UIM benefits are owed; policy terms such as consent-to-settle also apply. For UIM specifically, most Texas policies require you to exhaust or settle the at-fault driver’s liability limits (with consent where required) before UIM pays.
FAQ for Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Texas?
No, Texas law doesn’t require purchasing UM coverage. However, Texas Insurance Code Section 1952.101 mandates that insurers offer UM coverage equal to your liability limits. You can decline UM coverage only through signed written rejection.
What’s the Difference Between UM and UIM Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when at-fault drivers carry zero insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when at-fault drivers carry insufficient insurance for your damages. Most Texas policies offer UM and UIM together as combined coverage.
Does UM Coverage Pay for Car Damage in Texas?
Generally no. UM bodily injury coverage addresses physical injuries, not vehicle damage. UM property damage coverage exists as a separate optional protection, but many policies don’t include it. Richardson drivers typically rely on collision coverage for vehicle damage regardless of fault.
Can I Add UM Coverage If I Rejected It Before?
Yes, you can add UM coverage to existing policies anytime through policy changes or during renewal periods. Contact your insurance company or agent to request adding UM coverage. The process typically takes minutes.
Does UM Coverage Apply to Hit-and-Run Accidents?
Yes, UM coverage typically applies when drivers flee accident scenes. However, policies often require physical contact or independent corroboration, such as witness or video evidence. Report accidents to your insurance company promptly because delays complicate UM claims.
What Happens If My UM Coverage Isn’t Enough?
UM policy limits cap recovery regardless of actual damages. If you carry $50,000 UM coverage but suffer $150,000 in damages, your UM policy pays only $50,000. This demonstrates why adequate UM limits matter.
Does Health Insurance Replace the Need for UM Coverage?
No, health insurance addresses only medical treatment, not lost wages, pain and suffering, or full economic impact. Health policies also impose deductibles and network restrictions. Health insurers assert reimbursement liens requiring repayment from any settlements.
Protect Your Financial Future With Adequate UM Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage represents essential financial protection for Richardson drivers facing daily exposure to uninsured vehicles. UM coverage provides exceptional value.
Review your insurance declarations page today to verify you have UM coverage and adequate limits. If you rejected UM coverage in the past, contact your insurer to add this critical protection.
When uninsured drivers cause injuries despite your UM coverage, insurance companies often contest valid claims. You need legal representation that understands both UM coverage litigation and insurance company tactics.
Contact AMS Law Group at (888) 960-8363 for assistance with UM coverage questions or UM claim disputes. We provide free insurance policy reviews to help Richardson drivers understand their coverage. We fight insurance companies that deny or undervalue UM claims. Our team works on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
Call now for your free consultation. We’re available 24/7 and provide services in English, Spanish, and Arabic. Protect your financial future today with adequate UM coverage and experienced legal representation when accidents occur.