The Kipness Law Firm, P.C

The minimum amount of auto liability insurance in Texas to cover a car accident is:

• $25,000 for a single death or injury;
• $50,000 for death or injury to more than one person; and
• $25,000 for property damage

Failure to carry auto insurance can result in the suspension of your driver’s license.

If you move to Texas, you need to confirm your auto insurance company will still cover you.  If you are involved in a car accident, you must report the accident to the police if:

• more than $500 of property damage was done to a car or
• if anyone is injured, no matter how seriously

Each driver must make a report to the Texas DPS.  If a law enforcement officer investigates the car accident, the officer’s report will take care of this filing requirement. 

You should purchase as much insurance as you can afford.  Many personal injury and wrongful death cases involving car accidents are worth more than the policy limits.  You may be personally responsible for any personal injury cases if the jury returns a verdict above your policy limits.

In 2008, 263 people were killed in car accidents with trains.  You are 40 times more likely to die in a car accident with a train than an accident with another car. 

Almost half of all car accidents at railroad crossings occur at crossings that do not have safety equipment such as flashing lights, automatic gates.  Trains, due to their size and weight, need more time and distance to stop than a car.  A train traveling 50 mph needs 1 1/2 miles to stop.

Car and train accidents can be avoided by doing the following:

1. Cross tracks at designated crossings
2. Do not walk, run, cycle or ride ATVs on the railroad track
3. If your car stalls on a railroad crossing, get out immediately and call the police
4. Watch for a second train if you are crossing multiple railroad tracks
5. Do not race a train to a railroad crossing
6. Do not drive around or under lowered railroad gate
7. Approach railroad intersection, like all intersections, with care and be ready to yield to the train
8. Expect trains to run day and night and at anytime

To cross a railroad intersection safely, you should:

1. Stop well away from the tracks
2. Observe all warning devices and determine if lights, bells, or gates have been activated to indicate an approaching train
3. If warning devices are not on, still look in both directions
4. Listen for warning sounds such as train whistles or horns
5. If you see a train coming, stop and do not cross the tracks until the train has passed
6. Once it is safe, cross without delay and never stop on a railroad track