With car accidents come damaged vehicles, injuries, and death. This leads to repair or replacement costs, medical expenses for psychological and physical therapy, legal costs, and lifelong injuries that adversely affect our quality of life. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) estimates that the total economic loss resulting from motor vehicle crashes in the state is as high as 43.4 billion dollars a year.
Car Accident Statistics in Texas
According to statistics from the TxDOT, 205,498 people were injured in vehicular accidents in 2020. 14,656 of these people sustained serious or incapacitating injuries, resulting in them being unable to walk, drive, or perform activities that they previously could. There were also 3,896 car accident fatalities, an increase of 7.54 percent from the year before.
These accident statistics show that a reportable crash occurred almost every minute in 2020. One person was injured in a vehicle accident every two minutes and 34 seconds and one person died every two hours and 15 minutes. Not all the fatalities involved drivers and their passengers either. 717 pedestrians and 79 cyclists died due to car accidents, both numbers having a significant increase from the year before.
Why Commuters Need Car Insurance
It is legally required.
There are only two states in the U.S. where you can legally drive without auto insurance. Virginia allows you to pay a cash bond or an uninsured motorist fee instead of insurance, while New Hampshire requires you to demonstrate that you have a considerable amount of funds available should you need to pay out-of-pocket for an at-fault accident.
In all other states, car owners need to have an auto insurance policy that meets the mandatory legal requirements. In Texas, the law requires a minimum bodily injury coverage of $30,000 per person, or up to $60,000 per accident if more than one person is injured. In addition, the insurance policy you get needs to have a minimum of $25,000 for property damage liability.
If you are caught driving without auto insurance, your first violation will result in a fine of up to $350. In addition, you will have to pay an additional surcharge of $250 a year for three years when you renew your driver’s license. Any subsequent offenses will add a fine of up to $1,000. And you may have your license suspended or your car impounded.
It protects all parties in an accident.
Texas is an at-fault state. This means that the driver who is primarily responsible for causing the accident is liable to pay damages to the injured party or parties. In 2018, the average claim for property damage due to a car crash was $3,841 and the average claim for bodily injury was $15,785.
Imagine if you have to cover that sum without car insurance!
On the other hand, if you are a victim of an accident caused by an uninsured driver, you will have to pay for your medical expenses upfront. You will likely have to wait a long time before you get reimbursed and may even have to take the at-fault driver to court first. This can result in a delay in treatment and mounting debt for an accident that was not even your fault.
Similarly, if you have a passenger in your car at the time of an accident, personal injury protection can cover their injuries and property damage too. This means that your friends or family will have their medical bills taken care of if they are unfortunately involved in a crash. If they had expensive property such as laptops that got damaged, these can be replaced too. This is another reason why car insurance is needed for anyone who drives.
It protects assets.
Collision insurance and comprehensive insurance are valuable addons to basic auto insurance. Collision insurance can help you to cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle if you are found to be at-fault in an accident. It can also help you pay for vehicle repairs if the at-fault driver is uninsured or if their insured amount is too low.
Comprehensive insurance covers a wider range of events that may cause damage to your car. For instance, comprehensive insurance may cover malicious acts such as vandalism and theft. It can also reimburse you for damages caused by natural disasters such as hail, floods, and fire. The claims may even cover damages caused by animals including pets.
How to Buy Car Insurance
Whether you are using your vehicle for personal transport or business tasks, you will need to purchase car insurance in Texas. Most car insurance companies will offer basic to comprehensive coverage options. The average cost of car insurance in Texas is about $1,823 per year depending on your age, credit score, driving history, and the type of car that you own.
There are many ways to purchase car insurance. Most insurers will have their products listed on their websites. Some helpful online comparison tools also allow you to receive and compare quotes from several different companies at once. Car insurance companies help commuters to get back on their feet quickly in the event of an accident. Without insurance, the freedom that comes with owning a vehicle goes right out the window!