713-225-5050 
At Charles J. Argento, our Houston personal injury lawyer knows that while car insurance is legally required to drive a vehicle in Texas, it is often difficult to understand what the policy covers when a car accident occurs.
Although Texas has a Consumer Bill of Rights for auto insurance, auto accident and injury victims are often surprised to learn that their insurance companies contest their claims after a crash occurs.
Here, our Harris County car accident attorney explains the different types of coverage, and how to ensure you have medical payments coverage attached to your policy, so if you are injured in an accident, you will not be left paying your medical bills out of pocket.
What are the Different Types of Automobile Insurance in Texas?
There are eight basic types of auto insurance coverages that consumers can purchase for their vehicles.
They include:
- Liability Coverage
Texas law requires drivers to have at least $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage. Drivers may purchase more coverage, so their best interests are covered if they injure someone during a crash.
- Collision Coverage
Pays to repair or replace the car after an accident.
- Comprehensive Coverage
Pays if the car is stolen or damaged by fire, flood, vandalism, or something other than a collision.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Pays if you’re hit by someone who didn’t have insurance or didn’t have enough to pay your medical and car repair bills. It also pays if you’re in a hit-and-run accident. Insurance companies must offer you this coverage.
If drivers do not want uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, they must tell their insurance companies in writing.
- Medical Payments Coverage
Pays for the driver and his or her passengers’ medical bills after an accident.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage
Like medical payments coverage, PIP pays for the driver and his or her passengers’ medical bills after an accident. In addition, PIP pays for things like lost wages and other nonmedical costs. All auto policies in Texas include PIP coverage.
If drivers do not want PIP coverage, they must tell their insurance companies in writing.
In Texas, insurance companies are not required to offer medical payments coverage like they are with PIP insurance. If your insurer does offer you both, you can only choose one. Texas law does not allow both to be on an auto insurance policy.
Check your auto insurance policy to ensure you are fully covered.
Have You Been Injured in a Crash? Contact Our Houston Auto Accident Attorney for Help Today
If you have been injured in a vehicle collision caused by negligence in Texas, contact our experienced auto accident attorney in Houston at Charles J. Argento today to schedule a free consultation by calling 713-225-5050 or by contacting us online.
Our law firm does not get paid until we obtain a settlement or verdict for your unique case.