Getting hit by a driver who has no insurance or not enough coverage can leave you stuck with medical bills, lost income, and vehicle repairs you never expected to have to pay out-of-pocket. To make things worse, you might have to file a claim against your own insurance company to recover the money you are owed. That process is rarely as straightforward as it should be.
The car accident attorneys at The Terry Law Firm help Sevierville residents fight back when an uninsured or underinsured driver causes a crash. Our uninsured motorist lawyers in Sevierville have more than 50 years of combined legal experience and a proven record of holding insurance companies accountable.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.
What Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Pays for in Tennessee
Your own auto insurance policy likely includes uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. These are two distinct types of protection, and knowing the difference matters when it is time to file a claim.
UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver carries no liability insurance at all or when a hit-and-run driver cannot be identified. UIM coverage kicks in when the at-fault driver does have insurance, but their policy limits are too low to cover the full cost of your losses.
Under either type of coverage, you may be able to recover compensation for the following:
- Emergency room visits, surgeries, and ongoing medical treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages from time away from work
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
Many drivers in Sevierville do not realize how much financial protection their own policy can provide until they need it most. A UM/UIM claim lawyer in Sevierville can review your policy and identify every dollar of coverage available to you.
When You Can File a UM/UIM Claim After a Sevierville Crash
You can file a UM or UIM claim anytime the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance to cover your losses, such as in the following examples:
- A driver rear-ends you at a red light and turns out to have a lapsed insurance policy
- A hit-and-run driver strikes your vehicle and leaves the scene before anyone can identify them
- An at-fault driver carries only Tennessee’s minimum liability coverage, which falls far short of your actual medical expenses
- A multi-vehicle crash involves one or more uninsured drivers
If a hit-and-run driver caused your injuries, Tennessee law does set specific requirements for UM claims. Under TCA § 56-7-1202, your vehicle generally must have made physical contact with the hit-and-run vehicle, or you must be able to provide independent verification of the crash, such as witness statements or surveillance footage.
Our Sevierville uninsured motorist attorneys can help you determine whether your situation qualifies and gather the evidence you need.
Why Filing a UM/UIM Claim Should Not Raise Your Insurance Rates in Tennessee
One of the biggest concerns people have about filing a claim against their own insurer is that it will raise their premiums. This fear keeps many crash victims from seeking the money they are rightfully owed.
Tennessee law directly addresses this concern. Under TCA § 56-7-1201, your insurance company cannot increase your rates or cancel your policy solely because you filed an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim. The law treats UM/UIM claims differently from at-fault accident claims because you were not the one who caused the crash.
Despite this protection, some insurers still create the impression that filing a claim could have consequences for your policy. If your insurance company tries to discourage you from filing or hints at rate increases, a Sevierville uninsured motorist lawyer at The Terry Law Firm can step in and protect your rights under Tennessee law.
How Insurers Try to Underpay UM/UIM Claims and How a Lawyer Pushes Back
Even though your UM/UIM coverage exists to protect you, your insurance company does not always act like it is on your side. Once you file a claim, the insurer’s goal shifts toward paying out as little as possible. Some of the most common tactics include:
- Questioning the severity of your injuries or arguing that certain treatment was unnecessary
- Delaying the claims process in hopes that you will accept a lower offer out of frustration
- Pointing to gaps in your medical records to suggest your injuries are unrelated to the crash
- Citing technical policy language or missed reporting deadlines to reduce or deny your claim entirely
The UM/UIM claim lawyers at The Terry Law Firm know how to counter every one of these strategies. Our attorneys can thoroughly document your injuries, gather supporting medical evidence, and handle all communication with the insurance company. If your insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, we will not hesitate to begin legal proceedings.
Reasons to Choose UM/UIM Claim Lawyers in Sevierville
Filing a claim against your own insurance company is not like filing a claim against someone else’s. The legal and strategic considerations are different, and having an experienced attorney on your side can make all the difference in the outcome. When you work with The Terry Law Firm, you can count on the following:
- A family firm with deep roots in East Tennessee and a tradition of legal service dating back to 1960
- More than five decades of combined experience handling car accident cases and insurance disputes
- A team-driven approach where every attorney and staff member collaborates on your case
- Responsive, personal communication so you always know where your claim stands
- Aggressive representation backed by a willingness to go to trial when the insurance company will not cooperate
Our Sevierville uninsured motorist attorneys understand how stressful it is to deal with a crash you did not cause while also fighting your own insurer for fair treatment. We are ready to carry that burden for you.
Talk to a Sevierville Uninsured Motorist Lawyer at The Terry Law Firm
You should not have to pay out of pocket for someone else’s decision to drive without proper insurance. The Terry Law Firm is here to fight to make sure your own policy delivers the protection you paid for.
Call us or contact us online today to schedule a free, fully confidential consultation with a Sevierville uninsured motorist attorney.