When the at-fault driver doesn't have enough coverage, your own policy may be the only path to fair compensation — if the claim is handled correctly.
Texas doesn't require drivers to carry more than a minimum amount of liability insurance, and a meaningful share of drivers on the road have none at all. Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, an optional part of your own auto policy, is designed to fill that gap — paying out when the at-fault driver has no insurance, or not enough to cover your damages.
Because a UM/UIM claim is made against your own insurance company rather than someone else's, it's easy to assume it will go smoothly. In practice, insurers evaluate these claims the same way they'd evaluate any other — and sometimes push back on the value of a claim even though you've been a paying customer.
Many drivers have UM/UIM coverage without realizing it, since insurers in Texas are required to offer it and a driver has to reject it in writing to opt out. Checking your policy, or having someone check it for you, is often the first step after an accident with an uninsured driver.
An optional part of your own auto insurance policy that pays out when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your damages.
Not necessarily, but since you're making a claim against your own insurer, the process can become adversarial, similar to a third-party claim.
No, it's optional, but insurers must offer it, and you must reject it in writing if you choose not to carry it. Many drivers have it without realizing.
If you or someone you love has been hurt, don't guess at what your claim is worth. Get a straight answer.