Did you know that unlicensed drivers are responsible for one in every five fatal car crashes in the country? (According to AAA Foundation for Public Safety). Driving without a license is never a good idea, but it happens. If you have been injured while driving without a Texas license, you probably have questions about how driving without a license affects liability for the car accident.
Unlicensed Texas drivers involved in a car accident are not automatically held liable for the incident, although that is the common misconception. However, driving without a license can affect your personal injury claim following a Texas car accident.
If you are in a Texas car accident and you are an unlicensed driver, you are not automatically held liable for damages based on the fact that you were driving without a license. Liability for a Texas car accident is determined based on negligence or irresponsible driving. The driver that caused the car accident will typically be held liable, so unless the person driving without a license was also the one that caused the accident, they shouldn’t assume they are liable. However, driving without a license is against the law and does have its own consequences. The unlicensed driver and the owner of the vehicle may face penalties.
Texas law requires everyone driving a vehicle to have a valid driver’s license. If a driver is discovered driving without a license in Texas, they are breaking the law. First-time offenders may face a fine of up to $200. Third-time offenders may face up to six months in jail and a fine up to $500. When the unlicensed driver causes a car accident, they may be held liable for the cost of any damages, personal injuries, etc. on top of the charges for driving without a license.
If you sustained injuries from a Texas car accident while driving without a license, please contact the Carrollton personal injury lawyers at Hudson Law. We put Personal back into Personal Injury Law.
