While recent data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the San Antonio Police Department shows that vehicle thefts have finally begun to decline from their pandemic-era peaks, auto theft remains a massive headache for the Alamo City.
Following a major surge that peaked at over 19,000 stolen vehicles in a single year, San Antonio continues to face a high volume of vehicle crimes. From the widespread social media trends targeting Kia and Hyundai models to the targeted theft of pickup trucks across local shopping centers and hotel parking lots, thousands of drivers are left dealing with the fallout of a stolen vehicle every year.
Worse than the theft itself, many stolen vehicles wind up in severe accidents. High-speed chases and reckless driving by car thieves frequently result in devastating collisions on major corridors like I-10, I-35, and Loop 410.
If your car was stolen and involved in a crash, you may wonder if you can be held responsible for the damages. Conversely, if you were hit and injured by someone driving a stolen vehicle, you might be unsure who will cover your medical bills and property damage.
The experienced San Antonio car accident lawyers at Herrman & Herrman are here to help. We can review your options for seeking compensation in a free legal consultation.
Insurance for Damage To or Caused By Stolen Vehicles in Texas
Navigating insurance after a stolen vehicle accident depends heavily on your specific policy coverages. Here is how Texas auto insurance handles these complex situations:
1. Damage to Your Own Stolen Vehicle
If your car is stolen and later recovered with body damage or totaled in a crash, your liability and collision insurance will not cover it. You must have comprehensive auto insurance coverage to file a claim for the theft and subsequent damage. Comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by events outside of a standard collision—including theft, vandalism, fire, or weather.
2. If You Are Hit by a Stolen Car
If you or your passengers are injured by a thief driving a stolen vehicle, recovering compensation can be tricky since the criminal rarely carries insurance. Your options include:
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Personal Injury Protection (PIP): By law, all Texas auto insurance policies automatically include PIP unless you decline it in writing. PIP covers medical bills, lost wages, and non-medical costs for you and your passengers, regardless of who caused the wreck.
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Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM): This is your primary safety net if you are hit by a stolen car. Because the thief does not have lawful liability insurance for that vehicle, you can file a claim against your own UM coverage. If you have this coverage, your insurer should pay for medical bills, property damage, and even pain and suffering.
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Medical Payments Coverage: This optional coverage acts as a direct supplement to pay medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of fault.
What to Do If Your Vehicle is Stolen in San Antonio
If you walk out to a parking lot and realize your vehicle is gone, taking immediate action can protect you from liability and help law enforcement tracking.
1.Call the Police Immediately:File an official report.
You Are Not Liable for a Stolen Car Accident
The most stressful question for many owners is: “Can I be sued if a thief crashes my car into someone else?”
The General Rule: Under Texas common law, a vehicle owner is not liable for personal injuries or property damage caused by a thief. Because the vehicle was taken without your consent, the law does not hold you responsible for the negligent actions of a criminal.
However, this differs fundamentally from the “permissive use doctrine.” If you willingly loan your vehicle to a friend, family member, or coworker, you can be held liable for property damage or personal injury resulting from their negligent driving, as they operated the vehicle with your express or implied permission.
Talk to a San Antonio Car Accident Attorney Today
Whether you are trying to deal with an insurance company that refuses to honor your comprehensive/UM claim, or you were injured by a reckless driver in a stolen car, these cases involve complex webs of insurance priority and legal doctrines.
The legal team at Herrman & Herrman can investigate the accident, handle discussions with insurance adjusters, and fight to ensure your medical bills and financial losses are fully covered. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
ABOUT HERRMAN & HERRMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
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