Ask a Lawyer - Archive

I was injured in a car accident, but the at-fault driver's insurance company is telling me that my medical bills exceed the coverage limits. What does this mean?

I am sorry to hear about your troubles. Please note that I am a licensed Nebraska attorney, and that you should always seek the advice of local counsel in all your legal matters. In 2008, the minimum amount of auto liability coverage each driver must carry increased from 20/40/15 to 25/50/25. The first number in the series represents the maximum liability for one single person in an accident; the second represents the maximum liability for each accident (regardless of the number of persons involved); and the third represents the total liability for property damage (all numbers represent dollars in thousands).

Unfortunately, even with the raised minimum coverage amounts, the average driver in Texas carries too little liability insurance. As you are discovering, a hospital stay and surgery can easily, and rapidly, exceed these amounts. Often, auto accident victims are left holding the bag for any overages. As such, it is wise to carry underinsured motorist coverage so that your own policy will kick in once you have exhausted the at-fault driver's policy. You should check with your auto insurance company to see if you have underinsured motorist coverage.