Does Automobile Liability Insurance Cover Intentional Acts?
No, Texas car insurance liability coverage laws have many flaws. Here’s an example.
Scenario: A man gets angry because he believes you cut him off or wouldn’t let him in, etc. He gets mad and intentionally rams your car in an act of road rage. No worries, he has liability insurance; this is an auto collision, and this is why we all are required to carry liability insurance, right? Wrong.
Under the typical Texas automobile insurance policy, you lose the right to make a claim against a driver who intentionally hits you. A specific exclusion says the insurance company is not obligated to pay a dime if the insured intentionally causes the collision. It does not matter how much damage he does or who he hurts.
This is one of the many flaws in our current automobile liability insurance laws. Many states have addressed this by adopting no-fault insurance. Instead of buying insurance to protect yourself against others suing when you are negligent, all drivers buy only coverage for themselves. If you don’t carry insurance, you lose the right to assert any claim against anyone. You buy the amount of coverage you want. This also solves the problem of having so many uninsured drivers. You no longer need to rely on them to be responsible and carry sufficient coverage.
Texas has not gone to no-fault insurance. So, if you have been injured and suspect the other driver did it intentionally, contact a personal injury attorney before you speak to any insurance company or person about the accident. Call Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., for a free consultation today. 800-928-0111.
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