How Car Accident Compensation Works in Tennessee

When it comes to car accidents, Tennessee is a fault state. This means that the driver or party at fault for the accident is responsible for covering the injury victims’ accident-related expenses. However, fault is often disputed, which is one reason why it’s important to contact a car accident attorney.

Every state has its own car insurance requirements. Tennessee law requires all registered vehicles in the state to have the following coverage:

• Bodily Injury (BI): BI insurance pays for injuries sustained by others in an accident you cause. The minimum coverage is $25,000 per injured person and $50,000 total per accident.
• Property Damage (PD): PD coverage pays for damage to another vehicle or other property in an accident you cause. The minimum requirement is $15,000.

Tennessee drivers are also able to purchase certain types of optional insurance, including:

• Collision: This coverage pays for vehicle repairs if the damage was caused by colliding with another vehicle or object.
• Comprehensive: Any damage to your vehicle caused by anything other than a collision is covered by comprehensive. This includes damage caused by weather conditions, theft, and animal accidents.
• Medical payments: This covers medical and funeral expenses for you or any passengers in your vehicle.
• Uninsured motorist coverage (UM): This type of insurance is available to cover your costs in case the other driver is uninsured or doesn’t have enough liability insurance.

The amount of available insurance plays a significant role in your case. An attorney can review the applicable insurance policy language and determine how much coverage is available to pay for your accident.

If you were hurt in a car accident in Tennessee, you have the right to file a lawsuit. If you are unsure what your legal options are, contact an experienced car accident attorney.

Tennessee has one of the shortest statutes of limitations (legal deadline) for car accidents in the country. In most cases, you have one year from the date of the accident to bring a lawsuit to court. If you lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, the statute of limitations is generally one year from the date of death. However, deadlines can vary depending on the situation, so it’s always best to talk to an attorney as soon as possible.

There are also practical reasons to take action sooner. This is because successful car accident claims rely heavily on hard evidence, and as time goes on this evidence is more likely to be lost or even destroyed. That’s why it's crucial to contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible.

Different factors determine the value of your car accident injury claim. Things like your injury’s severity, the effects your injury have had on your life, and your insurance coverage will all influence your claim’s worth.

Your claim should include both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are any damages that you can put a specific dollar amount on. This can include both present and future expenses. Common economic damages include:

• Medical expenses. Surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and other treatments are all economic damages.
• Lost income. Recovering from an injury can cause you to miss work, and therefore miss out on income. You can be compensated for this type of loss.
• Property damage. This includes costs of repair to vehicles or other property.

Non-economic damages do not have a fixed dollar amount. Some common non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering. This describes the pain of “getting through” any physical injuries you sustained. Pain and suffering also includes any pain associated with necessary medical treatment, such as surgery, and any ongoing symptoms like chronic pain.
• Emotional distress. Sometimes referred to as mental anguish, this is the emotional toll caused by your accident.
• Loss of consortium. After an accident, it is possible that the injured victim cannot provide their loved ones with comfort, companionship, and intimate relations.

Even though you can be compensated for non-economic damages, they are often hard to prove. This is why it’s important to have a car accident attorney by your side. They have experience investigating accidents and confirming damages you deserve to be compensated for.

It depends on the situation. If you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, you can file a UM claim with your own insurance company. You can also file a collision and/or MedPay claim if you have those types of insurance. Depending on the circumstances, there may be other sources of compensation as well. An attorney can investigate and help you find your path forward.