Anderson Injury Lawyers | March 21, 2025 | Car Accidents
Texas insurance laws require drivers to purchase minimum amounts of car insurance coverage. Drivers can purchase higher amounts and different types of coverage, but they must have the minimum amount to satisfy the law.
Mark Anderson, a skilled car accident attorney in Dallas, TX, and founder of Anderson Injury Lawyers explains the importance of proper insurance. If you are stopped for driving without insurance, you could face one or more consequences, including receiving a ticket for no insurance.
What Is the Penalty for Driving Without Insurance in Texas?
Driving without insurance in Texas can lead to serious consequences. You may face criminal penalties for being an uninsured driver. If you cause a car accident without insurance, you may also be personally liable for the damages caused by the accident.
Criminal Penalties
A no-insurance ticket in Texas is called a Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (FMFR). Under Texas law, no one can operate a motor vehicle unless financial responsibility is established for the vehicle.
Generally, the penalties for driving without insurance can include:
- A fine of up to $350 for the first offense
- An automatic surcharge of $250 per year for three years
- A fine of up to $1,000 for the second offense
- Points against your driver’s license
- Driver’s license suspension
Driving without insurance can result in other problems. You may experience one or more collateral consequences for a no-insurance traffic ticket.
Collateral Consequences for No Car Insurance
If you receive a ticket for having no insurance coverage, your insurance rates may increase. It depends on your insurance company and other factors. You will also need to maintain an SR-22 Insurance Certificate to prove you have the minimum car insurance coverage.
Driving without insurance could also result in significant personal liability if you cause a car accident. Texas is a fault-based state for car accident claims. The driver who caused the car accident can be liable for the other party’s damages.
Economic and non-economic damages in a car accident can include:
- Medical bills
- Loss of enjoyment of life and quality of life
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Rehabilitative therapies and care
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Impairments and disabilities
- Out-of-pocket expenses
If you have car insurance, your insurance company could be liable for the victim’s damages up to the policy limits. However, without insurance, you are liable for the entire amount of the damages. The accident victim could sue you to collect the amount of damages.
Car Insurance Requirements for Texas
Texas requires minimum amounts of liability insurance.
The minimum car insurance coverage is:
- $30,000 for bodily insurance coverage for one person
- $60,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage coverage
In a car accident claim, liability insurance compensates accident victims for their damages. However, the victim must prove that the insured driver caused the accident to recover compensation.
Establishing Liability For a Car Accident
Even if the other driver does not have insurance, you will still need to prove negligence to recover for any injuries.
The elements of negligence are:
- Duty – The driver had a legal duty to use reasonable caution to avoid causing an accident. For example, drivers owe a duty to all others on the road to follow traffic laws.
- Breach of Duty – The driver’s conduct breached their legal duty of care. For instance, a driver runs a red light while texting.
- Causation – The driver’s conduct was a proximate and direct cause of the accident. In our example, the accident would not have occurred if the driver had run the red light.
- Damages – The victim sustains damages because of the driver’s conduct.
The insurance company may try to shift blame to deny or undervalue the damages using a comparative fault. Be cautious when speaking to an insurance adjuster. Adjusters are skilled at twisting things victims say to imply fault.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney For More Help
Car accident cases can be complicated, especially when a driver does not have insurance. If you’ve been injured in a Fort Worth or Dallas accident and need legal help, contact our Dallas car accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 820, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
