Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Leave Accident Victims Few Options
Liability insurance, as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, is necessary for total financial protection from the financial hardship caused by car accidents.
December 23, 2011
In every state but New Hampshire, drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance or some other proof of financial responsibility. This coverage ensures that those injured in motor vehicle accidents have resources available to compensate them for medical bills, wages lost due to an inability to work and other losses arising out of a crash.Adequate insurance coverage also protects those who carry it, even if they are not injured: drivers who cause an accident but lack coverage must pay out of pocket to compensate victims. Yet, according to an Insurance Research Council study, one in seven drivers nationwide lacks liability coverage -- and in Tennessee, the proportion of uninsured drivers is substantially higher, at approximately one in four.
Tennessee Insurance Laws
Tennessee's financial responsibility laws require drivers to carry some form of proof that compensation will be available to those they negligently injure in an accident. Usually, this takes the form of an insurance card, although drivers may also receive certification of financial responsibility by posting a cash deposit or bond or by meeting the requirements to qualify as a self-insurer. Failure to produce evidence of financial responsibility is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $100 and drivers license suspension.
The minimum amount of liability coverage for one injury or death is $25,000 in Tennessee. For all injuries and deaths in a single accident, the minimum is $50,000. Tennessee also requires at least $15,000 in coverage for property damage for one accident.
Protection from Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers
Unfortunately, even among those drivers who comply with Tennessee's financial responsibility laws, many simply purchase the minimum amount of coverage, which is often not enough to pay for all the costs of a crash. While a Nashville car accident lawyer can help you explore all the potential avenues for financial recovery following a crash, there are precautionary steps you can take in advance to protect yourself from motorists who are not adequately insured.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can pay for injuries to you and your passengers, and sometimes damage to your property, when another driver is responsible for an accident but does not have enough (or any) insurance coverage to pay for the damages. In a way, getting this type of coverage is like insuring yourself against every other driver on the road. Although carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is extremely important, it is usually relatively inexpensive to add it on to an existing car insurance policy.
Of course, after an accident, purchasing extra insurance coverage always seems like a great idea in hindsight. Whether you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or not, if you have already been involved in a car crash and are unsure of your options, it is important to contact a Nashville personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to protect your right to compensation.
Article provided by Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge
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