Murfreesboro Uninsured Driver Accident Lawyers
Finding out that the driver who caused your accident has no insurance can feel like being injured twice. First, someone else’s negligence leaves you hurt. Then you discover that the insurance coverage you expected to pay for your losses may not exist. But being hit by an uninsured driver does not necessarily mean you are out of options.
The Murfreesboro Uninsured Driver Accident Lawyers at Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers help crash victims determine what compensation may be available when an at-fault motorist has no liability insurance. In many cases, uninsured motorist coverage under an injured person’s own automobile policy can become an important source of recovery.
These claims can also create an uncomfortable situation: you may be seeking benefits under a policy you purchased and paid for, yet your own insurance company may dispute what it owes. Weir & Kestner can handle those insurance issues for you and pursue compensation for the injuries and losses caused by the accident.
Tennessee Drivers Are Required to Demonstrate Financial Responsibility
Tennessee requires drivers to demonstrate financial responsibility. Most motorists satisfy this requirement by maintaining automobile liability insurance. The state’s minimum liability limits are currently $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death to multiple people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Unfortunately, insurance requirements do not guarantee that every vehicle on the road will actually be insured. Some drivers allow their policies to lapse after failing to pay premiums. Others drive a vehicle without obtaining insurance at all. In some cases, a motorist might mistakenly believe coverage exists when the applicable policy has been canceled or does not cover the particular situation.
Whatever the reason, an injured person can be left facing medical expenses and lost income without liability coverage from the person who caused the crash. That is where uninsured motorist coverage can become especially important.
Your Own Insurance Policy May Provide Uninsured Motorist Benefits
Uninsured motorist coverage, often called UM coverage, is designed to protect insured people when they are injured by drivers who do not have applicable liability insurance. Tennessee automobile insurance policies include uninsured motorist coverage unless it has been rejected in writing as permitted by law. The amount and availability of coverage depend on the policy and circumstances.
This means the first question after discovering that the other driver is uninsured should not necessarily be, “How will I ever recover anything?” Instead, one important question is, “What coverage applies to this accident?”
Weir & Kestner can review the relevant insurance policies and determine whether uninsured motorist benefits may be available.
An Uninsured Motorist Claim Is Still an Injury Claim
UM coverage does not mean that your insurance company simply writes a check because the other driver lacked insurance. The underlying personal injury claim still matters. You will still need to establish the legal responsibility of the uninsured driver and the damages resulting from the collision. Those damages can include losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The amount available can also depend on the terms and limits of the applicable insurance coverage. This is why uninsured motorist cases should not be treated merely as paperwork disputes. For someone with a serious injury, the outcome can have a substantial effect on their financial future.
Your Insurance Company Does Not Become Your Advocate
People are sometimes surprised by the nature of an uninsured motorist claim. You have paid premiums to your insurer, perhaps for years. When an uninsured driver hurts you, it is natural to expect your insurance company to simply take care of you. But an uninsured motorist claim can place you and your insurer on opposite sides of a financial issue.
The company may question the value of your injuries, dispute whether all of your medical treatment resulted from the accident, challenge future medical needs, or disagree about the compensation you should receive. In other words, the fact that you are dealing with your own insurance carrier does not mean you have identical interests.
Both partners at Weir & Kestner began their legal careers representing insurance companies. We understand how insurers approach injury claims and make decisions about what they believe a case is worth. Today, we use that experience to help injured people pursue the benefits and compensation available to them.
Hit-and-Run Accidents May Involve Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist issues can also arise when the driver who caused the accident cannot be identified. A hit-and-run driver may flee before providing a name, insurance information, or any way for the injured person to pursue that driver’s liability policy. Depending on the circumstances and applicable policy, uninsured motorist coverage may provide a potential avenue for compensation after certain accidents involving unidentified motorists. These claims can have specific legal and policy requirements, making it important to obtain legal advice promptly. Nevertheless, you should not assume that there is no possible recovery simply because the other driver disappeared.
Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers Present Different Problems
An uninsured driver has no applicable liability insurance. An underinsured driver, on the other hand, has insurance, but not enough to compensate the injured person fully for the covered losses. The distinction becomes particularly important after a serious accident.
For example, a driver may comply with Tennessee’s minimum insurance requirements but cause injuries that result in surgery, months away from work, and long-term physical impairment. The driver’s liability limit may be far below the value of the resulting claim. In that situation, underinsured motorist coverage may become relevant.
The details depend on the applicable insurance policies and Tennessee law. Weir & Kestner can evaluate the available coverage and pursue the sources of compensation that apply to the particular accident.
Serious Injuries Make Available Coverage Especially Important
A relatively modest liability limit can disappear quickly after a severe car accident. Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and time away from work can create substantial losses before future medical needs are even considered. Someone with a permanent injury may also face reduced earning ability, chronic pain, additional treatment, and limitations that affect everyday life for years.
When damages are substantial, identifying applicable insurance coverage becomes an important part of obtaining a meaningful recovery. Our focus is not simply on determining whether a policy exists. It is on pursuing the compensation available under that coverage for the client who needs it.
Personal Service During a Complicated Insurance Claim
An uninsured driver accident can leave you with questions you never expected to face. Why does your own insurance company need information about your injuries? What does your policy cover? Who pays if the person who hit you has nothing? What happens if your insurer disagrees about the value of the claim? You should have someone you can turn to for answers.
At Weir & Kestner, every client receives a dedicated case manager and has access to a lawyer from the beginning. We handle the insurance issues while keeping our attention on the result that matters to you: recovering compensation for the harm you suffered.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murfreesboro Uninsured Driver Accidents
What happens if the driver who hit me has no car insurance?
You may still have options for recovering compensation. Uninsured motorist coverage under an applicable automobile insurance policy may provide benefits when an at-fault driver has no liability coverage. An attorney can review the relevant policies and circumstances to determine what coverage is available.
Will making an uninsured motorist claim mean I am suing my own insurance company?
Not necessarily. The process depends on the circumstances of the claim and how the insurer responds. However, your insurance company can have a financial interest in limiting what it pays, which is why having your own attorney can be valuable.
Can uninsured motorist coverage help after a hit-and-run accident?
Potentially. UM coverage can apply in certain accidents involving unidentified motorists, subject to Tennessee law and the requirements of the applicable policy. Because hit-and-run claims can involve particular requirements, you should speak with an attorney promptly.
What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage addresses situations involving a driver without applicable liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage can become relevant when the at-fault driver’s available liability coverage is insufficient in relation to the injured person’s compensable losses. The specific coverage available depends on the policy and circumstances.
Can I recover pain and suffering through an uninsured motorist claim?
Potentially, yes. An uninsured motorist claim can involve more than reimbursement of medical bills. Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include lost income, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and other losses that could have been pursued against the responsible driver.
Contact a Murfreesboro Uninsured Driver Accident Lawyer
Learning that the person who caused your accident has no insurance does not necessarily mean you have to bear the financial consequences yourself.
Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers can review the available coverage, deal with the insurance companies, and pursue compensation for the medical, financial, and personal losses caused by your injuries. Throughout the process, you will have a dedicated case manager and access to an attorney who can answer your questions and protect your interests.
Contact Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation with a Murfreesboro uninsured driver accident lawyer. You pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.