All serious car accidents are frightening and distressing, but to learn that you were hit by an uninsured motorist or underinsured driver can make a stressful experience even more worrisome. How will you pay your medical bills if the other driver is uninsured? What if a passenger in your car is seriously insured? And who pays to fix the car?

Uninsured and underinsured drivers present a huge problem in Texas. While the rate of uninsured drivers has declined in recent years, more than 20 percent of drivers remain uninsured or lack full coverage.

Texas state insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage to every Texas car insurance policy holder. If you purchase uninsured motorists coverage, your own car insurance company will pay for property damages and injury damages when the other vehicle is uninsured. However, if you don't carry a UM/UIM policy, you have no recourse with your own insurance company in the event that you're involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist.

Unfortunately, as long as the economy is in a tailspin, the number of uninsured motorists is only going to rise. Most uninsured motorists claim they don't carry car insurance because they can't afford it, and with an increasing number of families feeling a financial pinch, you'll see an increasing number of uninsured motorists on the road.

How do you deal with an uninsured motorist claim? Just because you carry an uninsured motorists policy doesn't mean your own car insurance company is going to treat you fairly. It should, but that's simply not always the case. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and the more they pay out in claims, the less money they make. It's a cruel reality of business.

In order to be treated fairly, you will need an experienced personal injury lawyer to fight for you and make sure you are fairly compensated. Without an experienced personal injury attorney, you won't be able to achieve the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries.

What happens to the medical bills when you have no insurance to cover them? If you are in a serious car wreck, your medical bills add up quickly. The ambulance ride and emergency room visit alone can put you out several thousand dollars. If you have to be admitted to the hospital, have surgery, or undergo physical therapy for an auto accident, you could easily be looking at $50,000-$100,000 in medical bills. Think your health insurance company is going to pay those bills? Well, think again.

Many health insurance companies are reluctant to pay bills incurred from a car accident. They reason that the liable party's auto insurance should pay the bills, so they leave the burden of the bills to you and the insurance company. If you're injured in an auto accident with an uninsured motorist, those bills can fall squarely on your shoulders.

Your uninsured motorist coverage insures you and the passengers in your vehicle who suffer bodily harm caused by a driver with no insurance. If another driver is using your car with your permission, he or she is also covered by your UM (uninsured motorist) coverage.

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is similar to uninsured motorist coverage. This type of insurance pays the difference between the other driver's insurance limits and the total damages for bodily injury. For example, if the other driver's insurance policy covers $30,000 and medical bills for your injuries are $60,000, your underinsured motorist coverage will pay the remaining $30,000, depending on your policy limits.

Have you or a family member been involved in an accident where the party at fault has no car insurance? If so, I will be happy to listen to you and we can work together to ensure you receive the full amount of compensation you deserve.