Cole, Cole, Easley, and Sciba Trial Attorneys can help you through the claims process when you’re hurt in a car accident in Victoria. Most people assume that after a car accident, insurance is going to step in and take care of everything. But that changes pretty quickly when the other driver says, “I don’t have insurance.” Suddenly, you’re wondering who’s going to pay for your medical bills, fix your car, and what you’re even supposed to do next. That’s where we can help. Set up a free consultation with our Victoria car accident lawyers today.
Does a Lawyer Make Sense?
When you’re in a car accident in Victoria, a few things are going to be apparent right away. You’re going to know that you’re in pain and that your car is damaged. What you won’t know right away is whether the other driver has insurance. Even if they’re supposed to, not everyone follows the law. And in a lot of these types of situations, the driver doesn’t stick around at all.
At that point, you’re probably filing a claim through your own insurance company. And while it’s your own insurance company, their job is to evaluate your claim—not necessarily pay every dollar you’re asking for. When you add in doctor’s appointments, missing work, fixing your car, and everything else you’re dealing with, it’s easy to see why a lawyer makes sense. We can help you by:
- Figuring out exactly what coverage you have under your policy
- Looking over the medical treatment you’ve already received and what you may still need
- Talking to witnesses who saw the collision
- Looking for video from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or dashcams to see if we can identify the driver or their car
Once we’ve got the basics covered, we take over the parts most people don’t want to deal with.
- Handling the back-and-forth with your insurance company
- Putting your medical records and bills together, along with all the other evidence
- Keeping your claim moving so it doesn’t get stuck in limbo
- Talking through whether filing a lawsuit actually makes sense—and only recommend it if it’s the right move
When the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you’re already starting behind. You shouldn’t have to figure everything out by yourself. That’s why our team handles all of that for you, giving you the space to get answers and heal.
What Are the Insurance Requirements for Drivers in Victoria?
Every driver in Victoria has to carry the minimum amount of auto insurance required under Texas law. Right now, those minimum limits are based on what’s called 30/60/25 coverage:
- $30,000 for injuries to one person
- $60,000 for injuries to multiple people
- $25,000 for property damage
That’s the state’s minimum liability coverage. It’s supposed to be there when someone causes an accident. But when the driver who hit you doesn’t have insurance—or doesn’t have enough—the focus shifts to your own policy. That’s where Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage comes in.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage applies when the driver who caused the accident has no insurance at all. Depending on your policy, it can help cover things like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Damage to your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Other losses tied to the accident
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage works a little differently. It applies when the other driver has insurance, but not enough to cover everything you’ve lost. That’s more common than people realize, especially when someone only carries the minimum coverage.
Most uninsured-driver claims in Victoria end up relying on UM coverage. But having that coverage doesn’t automatically mean your insurance company is going to write a check. You still have to go through the claims process, and that’s where a lot of these claims start getting complicated.
What Information Should I Try to Get From the Other Driver When They Don’t Have Insurance?
When someone tells you they don’t have insurance, it’s easy to panic. But just because they don’t have insurance doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do. In fact, when you learn that the other driver doesn’t have insurance, the information you get at the scene and gather later can be even more important to how your claim plays out. So, if it’s safe, try to get things like:
- Pictures and videos of both vehicles, the roadway, skid marks, traffic signals, weather conditions, and any visible injuries.
- The other driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license number, and license plate information.
- Contact information for anyone who saw the collision.
- Any statements the other driver made about the accident or why they didn’t have insurance.
Of course, none of this is more important than your health. Call 911 for an ambulance and police response first. The evidence can usually wait, but your safety shouldn’t. Plus, the responding police are going to want to know that the other driver wasn’t insured or fled the scene so they can try to track them down.
And in the days and weeks after the accident, there are other pieces of information that can make your claim much stronger, including:
- Medical records from the emergency room, urgent care, your doctor, specialists, or physical therapy.
- The police report, especially if officers responded to the scene.
- Pictures/videos showing how your injuries change as they heal.
- Repair estimates and pictures of the damage to your vehicle.
- Records showing missed work, lost income, and any out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident.
- Notes about how your injuries affect your daily life, whether it’s pain, mobility issues, or things you simply can’t do right now.
- Anything you get from your insurance company, including letters, emails, claim numbers, recorded statement requests, or settlement offers.
Remember, if you couldn’t collect much information at the scene, that doesn’t mean your claim is over before it starts. These accidents happen fast, and your first priority should always be getting somewhere safe. The goal isn’t to build a perfect case on your own—it’s simply to get whatever information you reasonably can. From there, we can help fill in the rest.
How the Claims Process Works When Another Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance
Obviously, things look a little different when the other driver doesn’t have insurance. Instead of filing a claim with their insurance company, you’re usually filing one through your own UM coverage. From there, your insurance company investigates what happened, reviews your evidence, and decides what they’re willing to pay.
How much they offer depends on your injuries, your damages, and the evidence backing up your claim. But there’s another piece that matters—your UM policy limits.
Basically, your insurance company is only going to pay up to the amount of coverage you purchased. If your injuries are serious or your losses are significant, those limits can disappear pretty quickly.
If that happens, you may still have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the uninsured driver if you can locate them. That gives you a chance at fuller “damages” that go beyond your own UM policy, which can include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
Even though you didn’t cause the accident, you’re still the one who has to prove what happened and what it’s cost you. That’s why acting quickly matters. The sooner you start gathering evidence and protecting your claim, the better position you’ll be in.
Talk With Our Victoria Car Accident Lawyers After an Accident With an Uninsured Driver
Getting hit by an uninsured driver in Victoria creates problems you didn’t ask for. Suddenly you’re trying to recover from your injuries while figuring out insurance coverage, paperwork, and where compensation is actually going to come from.
You don’t have to take all of that on by yourself.
Our Victoria car accident lawyers can walk you through your options, explain what your insurance actually covers, and help you pursue every source of compensation that’s available. Reach out today for a free consultation, and we’ll talk through what happened, answer your questions, and help you figure out what comes next.
