Car accident victims can get uninsured motorist coverage

Many Tennessee drivers worry about the financial impact of getting involved in a car crash. This is a legitimate concern, particularly for drivers who may get into a car wreck with an uninsured motorist. The good news: States around the nation are starting to offer auto insurance that protects against underinsured motorist accidents.

The fact is that too many drivers go without auto insurance, meaning that they endanger other drivers on the road. You can protect yourself by considering uninsured motorist coverage to reduce the financial impact if you get in a wreck with an irresponsible motorist. This type of insurance is particularly useful if you are unable to successfully pursue financial damages from the at-fault party.

What happens when an at-fault driver does not have the resources to buy auto insurance? It is unlikely that they will also have the financial means to pay for victims’ medical costs, pain and suffering, and other elements of a civil car accident claim. Your attorney may take steps to recover damages — but, as the old saying goes, “you can’t get blood out of a turnip.” You may not be able to get the money from the at-fault driver if they simply do not have any assets.

Your personal insurance coverage is just one element that comes into play when you get into an underinsured motorist accident. Your legal team can help you decide on the best course of action, depending on the attributes of your specific case. Victims of car accidents deserve financial compensation from some source after they have been injured in a collision. Sometimes, attorneys can arrange for wage garnishments or settlements from the at-fault party, but it never hurts to have a second line of defense.

Source: Post-Crescent, “No insurance? No problem for thousands of drivers,” Andy Thompson, Jan. 01, 2017