Since most car accidents are minor, we can sometimes forget that serious car accidents routinely occur. And, they can cause serious injuries that may prevent you from working for a short period, a long period or even permanently. If you are a Tennessee resident who has been injured in a car accident, you will wonder about your options, especially if you cannot work.
Your own insurance company
In Tennessee, the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying for the damages of the other parties involved. However, if you have certain types of insurance coverage, you may be able to file a claim with your own insurance company to cover some of your losses.
For example, if you have personal injury protection coverage, you can get reimbursed for your medical expenses and lost wages up to your policy limit. Your PIP coverage is regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
Another type of coverage that may help you is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This pays for your damages if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your losses.
The other driver’s insurance company
You can file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, etc. The minimum liability insurance requirements in Tennessee are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 per accident for property damage.
However, before you can get paid by the other driver’s insurer, you will need to prove that the other driver was at fault for the accident and that your injuries and losses are related to the accident.
A personal injury lawsuit
If you are not satisfied with the settlement offer from the other driver’s insurance company, or if they deny your claim altogether, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver in court. A lawsuit may allow you to recover more compensation than an insurance claim. In Tennessee, you have 1 year from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.