Car Accidents
Hit by an Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Driver in Texas? Your UM/UIM Coverage Explained
About one in eight Texas drivers is uninsured. If one of them hits you — or flees the scene — your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may be the policy that pays. Here's how it works.
Quick answer
If an uninsured driver, an underinsured driver, or a hit-and-run driver causes your crash in Texas, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can pay for your injuries, lost wages, and in many cases your vehicle damage. UM/UIM is optional but is added to most Texas auto policies unless you rejected it in writing — so check your declarations page, report the crash promptly, and call a lawyer before giving your own insurer a recorded statement.
What UM/UIM coverage actually covers
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance at all — including a hit-and-run driver who is never identified. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage fills the gap when the at-fault driver does have insurance, but not enough to cover everything your crash cost you. In Texas, both are typically packaged together as UM/UIM, and they can pay for your medical bills, lost income, and pain — out of your own policy.
You may have it even if you don't remember buying it
Texas law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage, and it is automatically included in your policy unless you signed a written rejection. That means many drivers who think they're out of options after a hit-and-run actually have coverage waiting. Pull out your declarations page and look for 'UM/UIM' or 'uninsured motorist' — or send it to us and we'll read it for you for free.
Why a UM claim is not as friendly as it sounds
Here's the trap: with a UM/UIM claim, you're now negotiating against your own insurance company. The same insurer you've paid premiums to for years still wants to pay as little as possible, and it will scrutinize a hit-and-run report or push back on the value of your injuries. Do not assume your insurer is on your side just because it's 'your' policy — the claim is still adversarial, and a recorded statement can still be used to reduce your payout.
Steps to protect a UM/UIM claim
- Report a hit-and-run to police right away — a crash report is often required for a UM claim.
- Notify your insurer promptly, but do not give a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer.
- Get medical care the same day and keep every bill and record.
- Save dashcam footage, photos, and the names of any witnesses to the crash.
- Don't accept your insurer's first UM offer without a free case review.
How we handle UM/UIM cases in the RGV
At The Relentless Lawyer, we read your policy, identify every layer of coverage, and handle the claim against your own insurer the same way we'd handle one against the other driver's — with documented injuries, a clear damages calculation, and a willingness to litigate. Hit-and-run and uninsured-driver wrecks are common on Valley roads like Expressway 83, and you shouldn't have to absorb someone else's failure to carry insurance. Your consultation is free and you pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
Will making a UM claim raise my own insurance rates?
Texas law generally prohibits an insurer from raising your rates or canceling your policy just for making a UM/UIM claim when you were not at fault. If you're worried about this, we can walk you through your specific policy during a free consultation.
What if I never identified the driver who hit and ran?
You can often still recover under your own UM coverage for a hit-and-run, even when the driver is never found — but a prompt police report and physical evidence of the contact are usually key. The sooner you report it and call us, the stronger your claim.
Injured? Let's talk today.
Free case review. No fee unless we win.