When you’re the victim of a car accident, your first priority should be to get treatment for any injuries. After that, though, you may start wondering how the crash will affect your driving record and insurance premiums. Ultimately, the answer comes down to the specifics of your accident case. As far as your driving record is concerned, though, every accident you are involved in is recorded.
If you are concerned about finances and how to pay for medical bills, talk to an experienced Dallas car accident attorney. The Dallas personal injury lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm handle car accident and other personal injury cases to help our clients get the compensation they need, regardless of what the insurance company tells them.
Do My Insurance Premiums Go Up If the Accident’s Not My Fault?
In general, Texas auto insurance companies only pay for damage and injuries when their driver is at-fault. Some states require drivers to have something called Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which pays for their own injuries regardless of who is at fault. That is called a “no-fault” insurance system. While Texas does not require drivers to carry PIP, it does require auto insurance companies to offer drivers PIP.
If your plan includes PIP, then your insurance might help pay for your car accident injuries regardless of who is at fault. In any case, the party who did injure you is the one who primarily pays for your injuries through insurance. That means that, in most cases where you’re not at fault, your insurance company will not spend much money on your case.
Your insurance premiums only go up to reflect how much your insurance company had to pay for your accident. If you were not at fault, then the other driver’s insurance will be paying – not yours.
As long as your insurance company is not spending much money, your insurance premiums should not change. This may be different if you had PIP on your plan. Generally, PIP will cover injuries up to a certain cap (at least $2,500 in Texas). If your insurance pays for this, then your premiums may go up a bit.
If you have been injured in a car accident, especially if it was caused by someone else, you should talk to an attorney about your injuries. Our lawyers understand auto insurance and how to get you the maximum compensation you might be entitled to. This can help cover medical expenses, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering. Even if you and the other driver have auto insurance, Texas law may still allow you to take the case to court instead.
Texas Driving Record for Car Accidents
The Texas Department of Public Safety keeps Texas driving records for every licensed driver. Your Texas DPS driving record has a list of every crash you’ve been involved in, regardless of whether you were ticketed or at fault. It also lists all tickets you have received for moving and non-moving violations. That means if you did cause a car accident, or you were partially responsible, that may appear on your record.
If the other driver caused an accident, and you were not at fault and did not receive a ticket, it is usually okay that these crashes appear on your record accident record. Since the crash was not your fault, your record will reflect that. Usually, this is not a problem.
A high record of accidents can become an issue, though – even if the accidents were not your fault. Especially if you are applying for a job that requires a good driving record, employers may look at a high number of accidents as a bad thing. Similarly, even if the records were not your fault, your insurance company may not like to see a high number of accidents. Regardless of fault, it may show them you are “more accident-prone.”
No matter what, do not let the risk that an accident will appear on your Texas driving record stop you from reporting the accident or getting the help you need. Any time you are involved in a car accident, especially if there is personal injury, report the accident to the police. Police crash reports can help add credibility to your story and help prove the other party was at fault in an accident. Moreover, police might take photos of the scene and cite the other driver for the accident, all of which can help you prove the other driver’s fault to insurance companies or a court. These police reports, and any other information you can obtain, will significantly help an Arlington, Texas car accident lawyer as they help with your case.
Texas Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact a car accident attorney. The experienced car accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm can help you understand how to get the compensation you need from insurance companies or take the at-fault driver to court. Call today for a free consultation at (817) 476-1797.