Like every other state in the country, Tennessee does require all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance while operating their vehicles on public roads. However, this minimum insurance is rarely enough to cover all of the damages caused in anything more than a minor accident. This presents a serious problem for motorists because in many cases they are not able to recover the compensation they need to pay for all of their losses or expenditures created by a car accident.
Legal Limits in Tennessee
The minimum liability insurance coverage required in Tennessee are known as “25/50/15.” More specifically, this means:
- $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
- $50,000 total for all injuries or deaths per accident
- $15,000 for all property damage per accident
This may seem like a lot of money, but the reality is this doesn’t cover a whole lot. If you are in a moderate accident with a passenger and both of you accrue more than $25,000 in expenses (which isn’t hard to do in medical bills), both of you will face the proposition of having to pay for the rest of your bills out of your own pocket if the other party cannot pay.
How to Ensure You Are Compensated
As you can see, underinsured drivers are nearly as much of a risk as uninsured drivers, as they are not adequately covered if they cause an accident with significant financial liability. However, there are a few ways you can make sure your accrued expenses are paid for in the event one of these incidents happens to you. Insurance companies offer uninsured or underinsured coverage as well, which helps to cover the gap between your actual expenses and their liability coverage should you fall victim to one of these motorists.
Likewise, in many cases insurance companies will keep their own bottom line at the forefront when handling your claim and resist paying out on your claim as much as possible. Retaining the services of a skilled Morristown car accident attorney can help you avoid the headache of having to fight with an insurance company while recovering from potentially serious injuries.
At The Terry Law Firm, we have represented the interests and well-being of East Tennessee’s injured and bereaved since 1960. We understand that the answer to the same question may be completely different for two different cases, and that there is no “cookie-cutter” answer. We strive to provide big-firm knowledge and small-firm service to each of our clients, giving them the best possible experience in their difficult times.
Call The Terry Law Firm and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our distinguished legal team today at (423) 586-5800.
