Chief Manuel Borrego, of the Wichita Falls Police Department, is recommending that all uninsured vehicles be impounded. This proposal could mean that the vehicles of uninsured motorists could be impounded without a prior written citation. Chief Borrego believes that this strategy might help to make Texas roadways safer. He thinks the current laws just aren’t doing enough to keep uninsured motorists off of the streets.
The Wichita Falls Police Department reports that over 1000 citations for uninsured motorists have already been issued this year. Unfortunately, the current impound facility may not be large enough for the proposed change. Chief Borrego has suggested that a new impound facility on Armory Road would be large enough to accommodate a greater number of impounded vehicles.
If uninsured motorists are at risk of having their cars impounded, they may stay off of the roads. This could help to keep irresponsible drivers off of Texas roadways. In addition, it will also help to protect insured, law-abiding, Texas motorists. Chief Borrego is quick to point out that many different cities in Texas and across the country have already implemented this type of law. The current law calls for drivers in Texas to show proof of insurance. In many cases, only a written citation or ticket is given. If this proposal goes into action, uninsured motorists could have their vehicles impounded on the spot.
According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles about 20 percent of Texas motorists are uninsured. Unfortunately, the burden of uninsured and underinsured drivers on the road falls on responsible Texas drivers. Texans are spending more on insurance premiums to protect themselves from irresponsible motorists. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles also reports that Texans are paying almost $900 million to protect themselves against uninsured and underinsured motorists. Even with an uninsured motorist policy, it may be difficult to cover medical bills and lost wages after a serious car accident.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you should contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. A number of different factors will need to be considered following this type of wreck. Insurance claims involving uninsured motorists can be complicated too. It may be difficult to file a claim with your insurance company, even if you have an uninsured motorist policy. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at the Altman Legal Group at (940) 761-4000 for a free consultation.