Can You Get Compensated If You're Hit By a Tourist?
With hundreds of thousands of international and out-of-state visitors descending on Houston for the FIFA World Cup this summer, the risk of being struck by an unfamiliar driver is real and rising. The good news is that Texas law gives you a clear path to compensation — but the road is not always simple.
Texas Is an At-Fault State — That Works in Your Favor
The foundation of any claim against a tourist driver starts with Texas's liability rules. Texas is an at-fault state, which means the driver who receives the majority of the blame for the accident is liable to pay for all damages caused — most often through their insurance policy. This means that if a tourist driver runs a red light, rear-ends you at a congested intersection near NRG Stadium, or sideswipes your vehicle while navigating unfamiliar roads, their liability coverage is legally required to compensate you for medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
Out-of-State Coverage Still Applies in Texas
One of the most common concerns after being hit by an out-of-state driver is whether their coverage will even work in Texas. When an out-of-state driver's home state requires lower minimum liability limits than Texas, their policy automatically extends to meet Texas's minimum requirements — which are 30/60/25 coverage, meaning $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. However, if their home state requires higher limits, those higher limits apply — meaning more coverage may actually be available to you than you realize.
What If the Tourist Has No Insurance?
Not every tourist on the road carries adequate coverage — or any coverage at all. An estimated 13.8% of Texas drivers have no insurance, representing over 2 million uninsured motorists statewide — and international tourists in rental vehicles or driving personal cars across the border may fall into that category. If that happens, you can recover compensation through your own UM/UIM policy, which can cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering — as long as you did not opt out of this coverage in writing.
Commercial Auto Insurance and Tourist Accidents
If you operate a commercial vehicle and are struck by a tourist driver, your commercial auto policy becomes a critical layer of protection. Commercial auto policies typically carry higher liability limits than personal policies and often include hired and non-owned auto coverage, uninsured motorist protection, and medical payments coverage for drivers and passengers. During high-traffic event periods like the World Cup, commercial operators should confirm that their UM/UIM limits are sufficient to cover gaps left by underinsured tourist drivers — many of whom carry only minimum coverage from their home states or rental agreements.
What To Do Immediately After the Accident
In Texas, the driver responsible for the accident is required to cover damages, including medical bills, property damage, and other related expenses — but collecting that compensation requires documentation. Get the tourist driver's insurance card, license plate, home state license, and contact information at the scene. Photograph all damage, file a police report immediately, and contact your own insurer to open a claim regardless of fault. If the at-fault driver's insurance coverage is less than your damages, you may still pursue additional compensation through your own policy or by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver directly.
