Tennessee requires all motorists—including drivers of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and everything in between—to have adequate insurance coverage. This coverage can help you and other motorists pay for costs associated with getting into an accident. For example, it can cover the costs of medical bills from injuries, fixing up a damaged vehicle, or replacing a vehicle outright.
Yet many people drive without insurance or with inadequate coverage. That means you could be fighting with your insurance for much-needed help to cover the economic and non-economic costs of your accident. If you find yourself in this scenario, a Memphis uninsured motorist accident lawyer from our team at Cory Watson Attorneys can explain your options and advocate for your financial recovery.
Sharing the Road With Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers in Memphis
You are required by Tennessee law to have a certain level of vehicle insurance coverage to legally drive on the road. Per the Tennessee Department of Revenue, your auto insurance coverage must meet the following minimum requirements:
- $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
- $50,000 for total injuries or death per accident
- $15,000 for property damage per accident
However, Tennessee has one of the highest rates in the county for uninsured motorists. According to a 2021 report from the Insurance Research Council, it’s estimated that more than 23% of Tennessee drivers operated a vehicle without adequate insurance in 2019. That’s nearly a quarter of all drivers in the state.
If a driver does not have any form of auto insurance, they are considered an uninsured motorist (UM). If a driver has auto insurance coverage with limits less than what’s listed above per Tennessee state law, then they’d be considered an underinsured motorist (UIM). You might also face a pseudo-uninsured driver situation if you’re involved in a hit-and-run and the driver is never caught.
Many insurance companies offer UM and UIM coverage as supplemental policies. That means, if you are in an accident where the at-fault driver has little or no auto insurance, you may have to rely on your own insurance company to pay up, but you must have one of these or another type of policy to do so.
If you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist in Memphis, an attorney from our firm can help you protect your rights as an insured motorist and recover the compensation you deserve. The team at Cory Watson Attorneys has the expertise in challenging insurance companies and navigating Memphis car accident cases.
For a free legal consultation with a uninsured motorist accidents lawyer serving Memphis, call 877-562-0000
How to Get Compensation From an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver Accident
When you’re in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, the first thing you and your attorney will have to prove is who is at fault. If both drivers contribute to the accident, your lawyer must prove that you were less than 50% at fault, per Tennessee’s comparative negligence law. You can still seek compensation in this case, but your settlement may be reduced by the percentage you share in fault.
Another way your attorney may help you seek compensation is to prove that the other driver:
- Did not have adequate insurance at the time of the accident,
- Did not uphold their responsibility to drive safely, and
- Acted negligently, causing the accident and subsequent damages, injury, and/or death.
A Memphis uninsured motorist accident lawyer can gather evidence to prove who is responsible for the collision, negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf, and advise you through the whole process.
Who Pays for My Damages?
You might seek compensation for economic damages like current and future medical bills, lost wages during recovery, future lost wages due to disability, and loss of spousal support, should you have lost a loved one in the accident. You can also get compensated for non-economic damages related to your UM or UIM accident, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.
If you are in an accident with an underinsured motorist, you may need to file a lawsuit to receive fair compensation for your damages. Your attorney can advocate for your rights both in and out of the courtroom.
Memphis Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-562-0000
You don’t Have Long to Sue in Memphis
Per Tennessee Code § 28-3-104, you only have one (1) year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for a personal injury case. The process of gathering evidence, building your lawsuit, and filing is a lengthy and complex process, but a Memphis uninsured motorist accident lawyer can handle it all for you.
Insurance companies may try to strong-arm you into taking a settlement that’s not suitable or accepting fault for your Memphis accident that compromises your right to adequate compensation. It can also be time-consuming and stressful to gather evidence like witness testimony, police reports, insurance documentation, and more to build a case.
Getting an attorney as soon as possible after the incident can take the pressure off of you or your family and give you the time you need to recover.
Contact our Memphis Car Accident Lawyers today
Why Choose Cory Watson Attorneys
The team at Cory Watson Attorneys has nearly 40 years of experience in representing individuals and families who’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident. We know how tragic and painful this event can be, and we are proud to help families like yours seek justice and compensation that can aid in your moving on.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation so we can review the facts of your case and start advocating for you and your loved one. Call us or fill out the online form on our website.
Call or text 877-562-0000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form