What Happens If the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Isn’t Enough? How Umbrella Policies Can Make or Break Your Injury Claim
When Insurance Isn’t Enough: Understanding Umbrella Coverage in Personal Injury Cases
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, you might assume the at-fault driver’s insurance will cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. But what if it doesn’t? In Texas, many drivers carry the minimum required liability coverage—which is often nowhere near enough to cover a significant personal injury claim.
At Mike Massey Law, PLLC, we’ve seen too many clients hurt by underinsured drivers. Fortunately, there’s a potential safety net: umbrella insurance. In this post, we’ll break down what umbrella coverage is, how it works, and how it could affect your injury settlement.
What Is an Umbrella Policy?
An umbrella policy is extra liability insurance that goes beyond the limits of someone’s home, auto, or other underlying policies. It’s designed to protect a person’s assets if they’re sued for causing injury or property damage.
Here’s how it works:
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If the at-fault driver has $30,000 in auto liability insurance and your claim is worth $250,000, the auto policy only pays $30,000.
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If that driver also has a $1 million umbrella policy, it may kick in to cover the remaining $220,000—after the auto insurance maxes out.
Umbrella policies are typically triggered only after the underlying policy’s limits are exhausted.
Do All Drivers Have Umbrella Coverage?
Unfortunately, no—umbrella insurance is optional. Many people don’t carry it unless they have significant assets to protect.
That’s why we always investigate the full insurance picture when representing clients. If the at-fault party has umbrella coverage, you may be able to recover the full value of your claim—even if their auto policy is minimal.
How Do You Find Out if Someone Has an Umbrella Policy?
It’s not something you can look up online. At Mike Massey Law, PLLC, we use:
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Demand letters and discovery tools
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Claims adjuster negotiations
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Insurance disclosure requests during litigation
We know the right questions to ask—and how to hold insurers accountable if there’s more coverage hiding behind the scenes.
What If There Is No Umbrella Policy?
In that case, we explore:
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Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)
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Other responsible parties (e.g., employers, commercial policies)
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Personal lawsuits against the at-fault driver, if they have significant assets
Every case is different—and we don’t give up easily.
No Win, No Fee—Guaranteed
If you’re worried about legal costs, don’t be. At Mike Massey Law, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency basis. That means:
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You pay nothing upfront
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You pay nothing at all unless we win
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We only get paid if you get paid
Let’s Find the Coverage You Deserve
Don’t settle for less than you’re owed. Even if the at-fault driver’s insurance is low, there may be more coverage available through an umbrella policy—or other avenues. We’ll dig deep to uncover every possible source of recovery.
👉 Schedule your free case review today: [bit.ly/consultalawyer]
📞 Or call us at 833-3Million
