Does Car Insurance Cover Accidents on Private Property in Texas?

Auto insurance coverage, like bodily injury and property damage liability, usually deals with collisions on public roads. However, what if your car accident occurred on a private parking lot or driveway? Who is liable, and will insurance cover damages?

Does car insurance cover accidents on private property? Coverage terms vary between insurance companies and even individual policies. If you suffered a severe accident, talk to a lawyer and find out how you may claim compensation.

Not All Policies Will Cover Accidents That Occur on Private Property

Suppose you collide with another driver on private property and believe the other motorist’s negligence led to the accident. In that case, you’ll usually take action against that motorist’s insurance company, similar to an accident on a public road. However, many accidents on private property, like hitting a tree or a guardrail, only involve one vehicle.

Some auto insurance policies in Texas offer coverage for private-property accidents. Others only cover accidents on public roads and specifically exclude car crashes on private property.

Read the fine print and find out whether your policy provides coverage for car crashes on private property. If the answer is negative, you may have to explore other venues for seeking compensation, like a lawsuit against those whose negligence may have caused your accident.

If you know you’re going to drive on private property like racetracks, protect yourself by purchasing a policy that covers private property accidents. 

Proving Liability May Be Difficult

Even if the response to “Does car insurance cover accidents on private property?” is “yes,” in your case, proving liability could be trickier compared to an accident that happened on a public road.

Public roads have clear traffic laws, speed limits, and regulatory markings and signs. Dash cams and traffic cameras often capture vehicles involved in accidents, making it fairly easy to prove that someone didn’t yield the right of way or ignored a sign on a public road. 

In contrast, a collision between two vehicles in a private driveway leaves much more room for interpretation. The police may not show up on the scene if nobody is injured, so you may not have a conclusive report.

Moreover, the property owner may ask you to leave the scene before you’ve had enough time to gather evidence or question witnesses. It’s crucial to collect evidence quickly, save all your accident-related bills, and consult an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after a serious car accident on private property.

Is the Property Owner Responsible for Your Losses?

Premises liability is another issue to consider when experiencing a car accident on private property. Property owners are under a duty to keep their premises safe if the property is open to clients or authorized visitors.

For example, if you collide with another driver or with an object in a store’s poorly lit parking lot, you may be able to prove that the accident was due to the property owner’s negligence. You’ll need to show that they should have known about the dangerous condition of their property and made a reasonable effort to fix it.

Did You Suffer an Accident on Private Property? Call The Dow Law Firm

The answer to “Does car insurance cover accidents on private property?” isn’t always obvious. If you aren’t sure who’s responsible for your vehicle crash, contact us at The Dow Law Firm at (512) 240-9951 or contact us online. With extensive personal injury law practice and a track record of many successful settlements, we can help you establish liability and walk you through the steps of seeking compensation.