Hit by an uninsured driver in New Braunfels, TX? Contact the top New Braunfels uninsured motorist accident lawyer to seek compensation.
An uninsured driver hit you, and now the person who caused the wreck has walked away with nothing on the line. You are the one left with the hospital bills, the missed paychecks, and phone calls from adjusters who suddenly sound less friendly than the day you signed your policy.
Here is what many Texans do not realize: the coverage you have been paying for every month was built for exactly this moment. Your Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist benefits are yours by right, not a favor your insurer grants when it feels generous. Recovering them takes a lawyer who knows how these claims actually get paid. Vendt Accident Attorneys has spent decades handling cases against Texas insurers who would rather short-change an injured neighbor than write a fair check, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Call (832) 490-7088 or contact us online for a free consultation with a New Braunfels uninsured motorist accident lawyer and discover how we can help you with your case.
Hit by an Uninsured Driver in New Braunfels?
Your car is totaled, your medical bills are stacking up, and the driver who caused it all had no insurance. That’s an infuriating situation, and one you shouldn’t have to face without someone firmly in your corner.
You are not out of options. At Vendt Accident Attorneys, we pursue every available path to compensation, through your own Uninsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, against the at-fault driver directly, and through the courts when your insurer refuses to pay what you’re owed.
What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Texas?
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is protection that pays your damages when the at-fault driver carries no liability policy at all. Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the other driver has a policy, but their limits aren’t enough to cover your full losses.
Texas law requires every auto insurer to offer this protection, which means you likely have it unless you rejected it in writing. This coverage may apply when:
- The driver who hit you has no liability insurance
- Their policy limits can’t fully cover your medical bills and lost wages
- A hit-and-run driver fled the scene and cannot be identified
- You or a resident family member was injured as a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist
Does UM/UIM Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents in Texas?
Yes, Texas Uninsured Motorist coverage is designed to apply when the at-fault driver flees and cannot be found. Reporting the crash to police immediately is critical, because your insurer will require an official police report to process any claim involving an unidentified driver.
A pattern we see often in New Braunfels hit-and-run claims is the insurer asking for a recorded statement before the police report has even been filed, hoping to lock in an incomplete version of events. In the UM cases we have worked through Comal County, waiting until the CR-3 is finalized before giving any statement is usually what keeps an unidentified-driver claim from getting denied on a technicality.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a UM/UIM Claim?
A UM/UIM claim lets you pursue the same categories of damages you could have sought from the at-fault driver’s liability policy. We go after every dollar your situation demands:
- Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and any future treatment your injuries require
- Lost income: Wages you’ve already missed and future earnings reduced by your injuries
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and the lasting impact on your quality of life
- Property damage: The full cost to repair or replace your vehicle
- Punitive damages: Available when the at-fault driver was intoxicated or acted with gross negligence
One limit to know: your total UM/UIM recovery is capped at the policy limits you carry. That’s exactly why identifying every available layer of coverage, and building the strongest possible claim, matters so much.
What we see consistently in UM/UIM claims out of New Braunfels is an insurer offering a fast number that only covers the medical bills paid so far, before future treatment has even been estimated. We do not let a demand go out until a treating physician has weighed in on long-term care, because a policy-limits claim built on an incomplete medical picture rarely gets a second chance.
What to Do After a Crash with an Uninsured Driver
The steps you take immediately after the accident directly shape your ability to recover full compensation. These five actions protect both your health and your claim.
Call 911 and Document the Scene
Call police immediately to create an official accident record, photograph the damaged vehicles and your injuries, and collect contact information from any witnesses on the scene.
Seek Medical Care Right Away
Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible, even if you feel fine at the scene. Some injuries don’t surface for hours or days, and a prompt medical record ties your condition directly to the crash.
Notify Your Insurer but Control What You Say
Report the accident to your insurance company to open the claim, but do not give a recorded statement or accept any settlement offer before speaking with an attorney.
Obtain the Official Crash Report
Request a copy of the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (Form CR-3) once it becomes available, this document is the factual backbone of your claim.
Contact a New Braunfels Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
An experienced attorney shifts the leverage back to you and keeps your claim moving forward while you focus on getting better.
How Long Does an Uninsured Motorist Claim Take in Texas?
The time it takes to resolve a UM/UIM claim in Texas varies widely depending on the complexity of the case and other factors. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or insurer bad faith can take considerably longer, and the Comal County court schedule can add delays on top of that.
Getting an attorney involved early is the most effective way to keep your case on track.
Why You Need a Lawyer for a UM/UIM Claim
Filing a UM/UIM claim puts you in direct conflict with your own insurer. The moment you report the accident, they assign an adjuster whose sole job is to limit what the company pays out, not to get you what you deserve.
Most unrepresented claimants settle for far less than their cases are worth. We know what your claim is genuinely worth, and we fight to make sure you get it.
How We Build Your Uninsured Motorist Case
We treat every case as though it is heading to trial from the day you hire us. That preparation creates real leverage against insurance companies and gives you the strongest possible position, whether your case settles at the negotiation table or goes before a Comal County jury.
Fault Investigation and Full Damage Documentation
We gather police reports, witness accounts, and medical records immediately and bring in accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts when necessary to document every loss in precise, defensible terms.
A Complete Review of Your Available Coverage
We examine your policy thoroughly to find all applicable UM/UIM benefits, including opportunities to “stack” coverage across multiple vehicles or household policies, which can substantially increase your total recovery.
Hard Negotiation and Trial Litigation
We compile a comprehensive demand package, challenge every lowball offer the insurer puts forward, and file suit in Comal County if they refuse to pay what your case is actually worth.
Across the stacked-policy UM claims we have handled in Comal County, most clients have no idea a second household vehicle’s coverage can apply until we pull every policy in the home. Identifying that second layer of coverage early, before the initial demand goes out, is usually the difference between a payout capped at one policy and a recovery that reflects the actual value of the claim.
How Much Is Your Uninsured Motorist Case Worth?
There is no formula. The value depends entirely on the severity of your injuries, the cost of future care, your lost earning capacity, and the coverage available to you. Here’s what the key UM/UIM coverage types typically apply to:
|
Coverage Type |
Common Minimum Limit |
What It Covers |
|
Bodily Injury UM/UIM |
$30,000 per person |
Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering |
|
Property Damage UM/UIM |
Vehicle repair or replacement |
|
|
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) |
Covers initial medical bills and partial lost wages, regardless of fault. |
Texas Deadlines for Uninsured Motorist Claims
Texas law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Your insurance policy may impose its own deadline as well, check your policy for any required timeframe to report a UM/UIM claim.
Missing either deadline can permanently end your right to any recovery. There is no advantage to waiting.
Insurance Traps to Avoid in UM/UIM Claims
Your insurer’s adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to protect the company’s money, not yours. Know what they’re doing:
- Recorded statements: Used to ask leading questions that minimize your injuries or suggest the accident was partly your fault
- Quick settlement offers: Made before you understand the full extent of your injuries, accepting one closes your claim for good
- Gaps in medical care: Any break in your treatment becomes “evidence” that your injuries weren’t serious
- Broad medical releases: Signing one hands the adjuster access to your full medical history to search for pre-existing conditions
- “You don’t need a lawyer”: The fact that they say this tells you exactly why you do
“My wife and I were involved in a motorcycle accident a few years back, and Scott handled everything from the hospital to the insurance. We were well beyond satisfied as he made the process very easy to understand and demonstrated a high level of professionalism. We highly recommend Scott Broussard as your attorney.” – Steve Ledford
Why Choose Vendt Accident Attorneys in New Braunfels
Insurance companies have enormous resources dedicated to minimizing what they pay you. We are here to match that and exceed it.
Our team includes founding attorney Frank Vendt, Jr., a former President of the Fort Bend County Bar Association, and experienced trial attorneys with extensive jury-trial experience.
We handle every case on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win. Our New Braunfels office serves Comal County clients directly, and our team includes bilingual attorneys fluent in Tagalog and conversant in Spanish, because everyone in our community deserves strong representation.
“Mr. Vendt is a very knowledgeable & fair attorney. I was great and very happy with the help I received. You will not find better counsel.” – Darren G
Your Free Consultation
Your initial consultation is completely free, and if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you. Reach out to Vendt Accident Attorneys today to speak with a New Braunfels uninsured motorist accident lawyer about your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Worth Suing an Uninsured Driver Directly in Texas?
In most cases, it isn’t practical, someone who can’t afford insurance typically has no assets to satisfy a judgment. Pursuing your UM/UIM claim against your own insurer is almost always the more effective path to actual, recoverable compensation.
Do I Have to Sue My Own Insurance Company to Receive UM/UIM Benefits?
Sometimes, yes. To trigger UM/UIM benefits, you must establish the other driver’s fault and the value of your damages, and if your insurer disputes either, filing a lawsuit against them may be the only way to get what you deserve.
Will Filing a UM/UIM Claim Raise My Insurance Rates in Texas?
No, Texas law explicitly prohibits insurers from raising your premiums or canceling your coverage because you filed a UM/UIM claim for an accident that was not your fault.
Can I Stack Multiple UM/UIM Policies in Texas?
In many cases, yes. Texas law allows “stacking,” which means combining UM/UIM limits from separate policies covering different vehicles in your household, a strategy that can significantly increase the total benefits available to you.
Do I Need a Police Report to File a UM/UIM Hit-and-Run Claim in Texas?
A police report is not always a strict legal requirement, but it is close to essential in practice. Most insurers will deny hit-and-run claims outright without official documentation confirming the crash occurred.
Does My UM/UIM Coverage Apply When I’m Injured as a Pedestrian or Cyclist?
Yes, UM/UIM coverage follows you as a person, not just your vehicle. It protects you and your resident family members whether you were driving, riding as a passenger, walking, or cycling when the uninsured driver struck you.
What UM/UIM Coverage Limits Should I Carry in Texas?
Texas requires insurers to offer a minimum of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident, but serious injuries can exhaust those limits quickly. Carrying higher limits is one of the most important financial protections you can have before an accident ever happens.