Tennessee requires a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. The state also requires $25,000 in property damage liability insurance.
Unfortunately, not all drivers buy the proper coverage. In fact, Tennessee is one of the top five states when it comes to uninsured drivers, with nearly ¼ of all drivers on the state’s roadways lacking the required protections according to research from Bankrate.
If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist who harms you, you need to understand your legal rights. The Lawyers of Brown and Roberto can help you identify your options to get the compensation you deserve to cover your losses. Give us a call today at (865) 691-2777 to schedule your free consultation with a Knoxville uninsured motorist accident attorney.
What is an Uninsured Motorist Accident in Knoxville?
An uninsured motorist accident happens when a driver who does not have the required minimum liability insurance coverage causes a collision.
Under these circumstances, crash victims who would normally pursue a claim for compensation from that at-fault driver are left in a difficult position. Without the required liability insurance coverage, it is possible that the driver who harmed them will not be able to compensate them for the losses they endured.
Crash victims can normally recover medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress damages from the driver who was to blame for the incident. These damages can add up to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars with help from a Knoxville car accident attorney.
Those victims will need to determine how they can best get compensated when the motorist who is supposed to pay for these losses does not have the insurance coverage necessary to foot the bill.
How Can You Get Compensation?
After an uninsured motorist accident, you may be able to collect payment for your losses from your own insurer.
Under Tennessee Code section 56-7-1201, insurers are required to provide uninsured motorist coverage equal to the policyholder’s bodily injury liability limits unless the policyholder opts out by rejecting this coverage in writing. This means if you have auto insurance yourself and you did not opt out of buying uninsured motorist coverage, your own insurer could step up and pay for your damages.
You may also be able to sue the other driver directly with help from a Knoxville uninsured driver accident lawyer to try to get paid for your losses. If they have substantial personal assets, you could collect from them if you won a judgment against them and they’d have to pay out of their own financial resources. Unfortunately, many people who get into an uninsured motorist accident don’t have much money or property you could take.
Let Our Knoxville Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorney Help
If you or someone you love was involved in an accident with a driver lacking insurance coverage, a Knoxville uninsured motorist accident lawyer can help. Your personal injury attorney in Knoxville can assist in pursuing a case against the responsible driver directly or in making a claim with your own insurer.
Contact The Lawyers of Brown and Roberto at (865) 691-2777 today to learn more.