What Should I Do If Think My Neighbor Sexually Abuses My Son?

Posted on January 5, 2012 by John Day

I have just discovered that my 10 year old son is being sexually abused by a neighbor.  What do I do?


Here are my thoughts:

  • Immediately report this matter to the police.  If there is any physical evidence of the abuse that you can readily put your hands on take it with you.  Do not confront the neighbor on your own - seek the help of the police first.
  • Cooperate fully with the police.  Your son will almost certainly need a medical examination. Cooperate with that effort.
  • Follow any reasonable instruction from the police department and the medical personnel. 
  • If there is sufficient evidence the police will probably arrest your neighbor immediately.  You will then be safe to go home.
  • Talk to a lawyer about getting a court order keeping your neighbor away from the house, you and the children of the event he makes bond and is able to get out of jail.  
  • Get your son (and perhaps your other children) counseling.   If you cannot afford private counseling the area rape trauma and sexual abuse center will give you a list of names of counselors who work for reduced rates.  Some centers even provide some level of free counseling.  You may need counseling yourself.
  • You may wish to talk to a lawyer about filing a civil lawsuit against your neighbor.  Sexual abuse is not only a crime but can also result in civil liability for the tort of battery.  "Civil liability" means that you may be able to collect money damages for the harm caused to your son.   The type of damages that can be collected include compensatory damages and punitive damages.  The Law Offices of John Day  is available for a free consultation on Tennessee sexual abuse cases.

 

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Do I Have To Repay My Auto Insurer If They Pay My Medical Bills?

Posted on June 23, 2011 by John Day

Do I have to repay my automobile insurance company if they pay my medical bills from my medical payments coverage and I recover a settlement from the at-fault driver? 

Probably.  Most automobile insurance policies that have medical payments coverage require that you re-pay them if you make a recovery from the at-fault driver.  Under certain circumstances you can force the company to reduce the amount of the re-payment.  Your lawyer can help you with this issue.

 

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What Is Medical Payments Coverage Under My Auto Policy?

Posted on June 22, 2011 by John Day

I was hurt in a car accident.  I do not have health insurance.  I heard that my auto insurer might pay some of my medical bills under what is known as "medical payments coverage."   What is that?

Many car insurance policies have medical payments coverage.  This insurance coverage pays your medical bills if you are involved in an incident covered under the terms of the policy.  There is a limit on the coverage provided, often $10,000 but it may be much higher.  

If you have this coverage you should definitely use it to get the medical care you need without paying the medical bills out-of-pocket.

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What Does "Policy Limits" Mean?

Posted on June 7, 2011 by John Day

I have heard about people seeking "policy limits" in car wreck cases.    What does that mean?

"Policy limits" refers to the sum total of liability insurance policy dollars that are applicable to a given case.

So, if a person has $300,000 of insurance on their car and they cause a wreck that injures someone else, a policy limits demand by the injured party is a demand that the insurance company pay $300,000 to settle the case.

The mere fact that there is $300,000 of insurance does not mean that the insurance company must pay that amount, regardless of injury.  Rather, it is the most the insurance company can pay - it is the "policy limit."

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What Does It Mean When You Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance Policy Limits of $50,000 / $100,000?

Posted on March 28, 2011 by John Day
I live in Tennessee.  I was in a car wreck in Clarksville and got hurt.  It was the other driver's  fault.  The other driver has no insurance.   I looked at my automobile insurance policy and it says that I have uninsured motorist insurance of $50,000 / $100,000. What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is the fault of another driver who does not have any insurance your insurance company will pay you up to $50,000 in losses and damages you suffer.   If more than one person in your vehicle is injured in the wreck, the company will pay up to $100,000 to all of the persons in your vehicle who were injured and covered under the policy but no more than $50,000 for any one person. 

 Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $50,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $50,000 each.

Your policy also provides your protection if the at-fault driver was underinsured.  For example, assume that the driver that hit you was from another state and had a liability insurance policy that provided the driver $10,000 / $20,000 in liability insurance coverage.  That means that for any one car wreck that was the other driver's  fault his insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $10,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on the at-fault driver's behalf, up to $20,000 but no more than $10,000 for any one person. 

If such a driver caused you $100,000 in damages, he would have insufficient insurance to pay you what you were entitled to receive under the law.  He is underinsured for your claim.  When it is proven that an underinsured driver caused your wreck, you have the right to insist that your uninsured motorist coverage to pay the rest of your damages up to the amount of your insurance coverage, minus the amount of liability insurance coverage from the at-fault driver.  So, under this hypothetical, you could collect $10,000 from the at-fault driver and $40,000 from your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage.  (Your uninsured motorist coverage is reduced by the amount of liability insurance of the at-fault driver.)   Unfortunately, you would be left with trying to recover the additional $50,000 from the at-fault driver personally.

Uninsured motorist coverage is a very complicated subject.   Tennessee has some very peculiar rules that govern uninsured motorist cases.  We offer a free consultation to people who have been involved in accidents and believe that they may have an uninsured motorist claim.  

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What Does It Mean When You Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance Policy Limits of $250,000 / $500,000?

Posted on March 24, 2011 by John Day
I live in Tennessee.  I was in a car wreck in Lebanon, Tennessee and got hurt.  It was the other driver's  fault.  The other driver has no insurance.   I looked at my automobile insurance policy and it says that I have uninsured motorist insurance of $250,000 / $500,000. What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is the fault of another driver who does not have any insurance your insurance company will pay you up to $250,000 in losses and damages you suffer.   If more than one person in your vehicle is injured in the wreck, the company will pay up to $500,000 to all of the persons in your vehicle who were injured and covered under the policy but no more than $250,000 for any one person. 

 Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $250,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $250,000 each.

Your policy also provides your protection if the at-fault driver was underinsured.  For example, assume that the driver that hit you had a liability insurance policy that provided the driver $100,000 / $300,000 in liability insurance coverage.  That means that for any one car wreck that was the other driver's  fault his insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $100,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on the at-fault driver's behalf, up to $300,000 but no more than $100,000 for any one person. 

If such a driver caused you $300,000 in damages, he would have insufficient insurance to pay you what you were entitled to receive under the law.  He is underinsured for your claim.  When it is proven that an underinsured driver caused your wreck, you have the right to insist that your uninsured motorist coverage to pay the rest of your damages up to the amount of your insurance coverage, minus the amount of liability insurance coverage from the at-fault driver.  So, under this hypothetical, you could collect $100,000 from the at-fault driver and $150,000 from your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage.  (Your uninsured motorist coverage is reduced by the amount of liability insurance of the at-fault driver.)   Unfortunately, you would be left with trying to recover the additional $50,000 from the at-fault driver personally.

Uninsured motorist coverage is a very complicated subject.   Tennessee has some very peculiar rules that govern uninsured motorist cases.  We offer a free consultation to people who have been involved in accidents and believe that they may have an uninsured motorist claim.  

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What Does It Mean When You Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance Policy Limits of $25,000 / $50,000?

Posted on March 17, 2011 by John Day

I live in Tennessee.  I was in a car wreck in Nashville and got hurt.  It was the other driver's  fault.  The other driver has no insurance.   I looked at my automobile insurance policy and it says that I have uninsured motorist insurance of $25,000 / $50,000. What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is the fault of another driver who does not have any insurance your insurance company will pay you up to $25,000 in losses and damages you suffer.   If more than one person in your vehicle is injured in the wreck, the company will pay up to $25,000 to all of the persons in your vehicle who were injured and covered under the policy but no more than $50,000 for any one person. 

 Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $25,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $25,000 each.

Your policy also provides your protection if the at-fault driver was underinsured.  For example, assume that the driver that hit you was from another state and had a liability insurance policy that provided the driver $10,000 / $20,000 in liability insurance coverage.  That means that for any one car wreck that was the other driver's  fault his insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $10,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on the at-fault driver's behalf, up to $20,000 but no more than $10,000 for any one person. 

If such a driver caused you $100,000 in damages, he would have insufficient insurance to pay you what you were entitled to receive under the law.  He is underinsured for your claim.  When it is proven that an underinsured driver caused your wreck, you have the right to insist that your uninsured motorist coverage to pay the rest of your damages up to the amount of your insurance coverage, minus the amount of liability insurance coverage from the at-fault driver.  So, under this hypothetical, you could collect $10,000 from the at-fault driver and $15,000 from your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage.  (Your uninsured motorist coverage is reduced by the amount of liability insurance of the at-fault driver.)   Unfortunately, you would be left with trying to recover the additional $75,000 from the at-fault driver personally.

Uninsured motorist coverage is a very complicated subject.   Tennessee has some very peculiar rules that govern uninsured motorist cases.  We offer a free consultation to people who have been involved in accidents and believe that they may have an uninsured motorist claim. 

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What Does It Mean When You Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance Policy Limits of $100,000 / $300,000?

Posted on March 11, 2011 by John Day

  I live in Tennessee.  I was in a car wreck in Nashville and got hurt.  It was the other driver's  fault.  The other driver has no insurance.   I looked at my automobile insurance policy and it says that I have uninsured motorist insurance of $100,000 / $300,000. What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is the fault of another driver who does not have any insurance your insurance company will pay you up to $100,000 in losses and damages you suffer.   If more than one person in your vehicle is injured in the wreck, the company will pay up to $300,000 to all of the persons in your vehicle who were injured and covered under the policy but no more than $100,000 for any one person. 

 Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $100,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $100,000 each.

Your policy also provides your protection if the at-fault driver was underinsured.  For example, assume that the driver that hit you had a liability insurance policy that provided the driver $25,000 / $50,000 in liability insurance coverage.  That means that for any one car wreck that was the other driver's  fault his insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $25,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on the at-fault driver's behalf, up to $50,000 but no more than $25,000 for any one person. 

If such a driver caused you $100,000 in damages, he would have insufficient insurance to pay you what you were entitled to receive under the law.  He is underinsured for your claim.  When it is proven that an underinsured driver caused your wreck, you have the right to insist that your uninsured motorist coverage to pay the rest of your damages up to the amount of your insurance coverage, minus the amount of liability insurance coverage from the at-fault driver.  So, under this hypothetical, you could collect $25,000 from the at-fault driver and $75,000 from your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage.  (Your uninsured motorist coverage is reduced by the amount of liability insurance of the at-fault driver.)

Uninsured motorist coverage is a very complicated subject.   Tennessee has some very peculiar rules that govern uninsured motorist cases.  We offer a free consultation to people who have been involved in accidents and believe that they may have an uninsured motorist claim.

 

                                                                

 

 

 

                                                                

 

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What Does It Mean When You Have Liability Insurance Policy Limits of $250,000 / $500,000?

Posted on March 10, 2011 by John Day

  I was in a car wreck yesterday.  It was probably my fault.  I looked at my automobile liability insurance policy and it says that I have liability limits of $250,000 / $500,000. What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is your fault your insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $250,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on your behalf, up to $500,000 but no more than $250,000 for any one person. 

So, if one person was hurt in the wreck, the insurer will pay no more than $250,000 in damages.  If two people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $500,000, but no more than $250,000 per person.  If three people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $500,000, but no more than $250,000 per person. Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $250,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $250,000 each.

To the extent that a person injured in the wreck has claim worth more than $250,000 you are personally responsible for the amount of damages over $250,000 if the wreck was your fault.

Your policy also has a separate provision for paying property damage to the other driver's car if it is determined that the wreck was your fault.

 

                                                                

 

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What Does It Mean When You Have Liability Insurance Policy Limits of $300,000?

Posted on March 1, 2011 by John Day

I was in a car wreck yesterday.  It was probably my fault.  I looked at my automobile liability insurance policy and it says that I have liability limits of $300,000.  What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is your fault your insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $300,000 in losses and damages they suffer.  This is true whether one person is injured or five people are injured: the most the insurance company will pay is $300,000.

To the extent that a person injured in the wreck has claim worth more than $300,000 you are personally responsible for the amount of damages over $300,000 if the wreck was your fault. Likewise, if more than one person is injured and the total damages caused by your negligence exceeds $300,000, you are personally responsible for the amounts over $300,000.

Your policy also has a separate provision for paying property damage to the other driver's car if it is determined that the wreck was your fault.

                                                            

 

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What Does It Mean When You Have Liability Insurance Policy Limits of $25,000 / $50,000?

Posted on February 21, 2011 by John Day

 I was in a car wreck yesterday.  It was probably my fault.  I looked at my automobile liability insurance policy and it says that I have liability limits of $25,000 / $50,000. What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is your fault your insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $25,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on your behalf, up to $50,000 but no more than $25,000 for any one person. 

So, if one person was hurt in the wreck, the insurer will pay no more than $25,000 in damages.  If two people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $50,000, but no more than $25,000 per person.  If three people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $50,000, but no more than $25,000 per person. Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $25,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $25,000 each.

To the extent that a person injured in the wreck has claim worth more than $25,000 you are personally responsible for the amount of damages over $25,000 if the wreck was your fault.

Your policy also has a separate provision for paying property damage to the other driver's car if it is determined that the wreck was your fault.

                                                                

 

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What Does It Mean When You Have Liability Insurance Policy Limits of $50,000 / $100,000?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by John Day

 I was in a car wreck yesterday.  It was probably my fault.  I looked at my automobile liability insurance policy and it says that I have liability limits of $50,000 / $100,000. What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is your fault your insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $50,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on your behalf, up to $100,000 but no more than $50,000 for any one person. 

So, if one person was hurt in the wreck, the insurer will pay no more than $50,000 in damages.  If two people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $100,000, but no more than $50,000 per person.  If three people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $100,000, but no more than $50,000 per person. Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $50,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $50,000 each.

To the extent that a person injured in the wreck has claim worth more than $50,000 you are personally responsible for the amount of damages over $50,000 if the wreck was your fault.

Your policy also has a separate provision for paying property damage to the other driver's car if it is determined that the wreck was your fault.

                                                          

 

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Why Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage?

Posted on January 10, 2011 by John Day

I live in Tennessee and I understand state law requires that everyone who owns a car or truck have liability insurance coverage on the vehicle.  Why should I spend money to purchase uninsured motorist insurance coverage if everyone already has liabilty insurance?

Because (a) some people don't follow the law; (b) some people buy liability insurance coverage but do not purchase an amount that will protect you from losses you sustain in a car or truck wreck; and (c) you may get hit by a hit-and-run driver (and unisured motorist coverage gives you some protection in such cases).

Despite the law that mandates insurance coverage, 20% of the people in Tennessee have no insurance on their vehicle.  That means that 1/5th of the people you meet on the highway have virtually no way of meeting their financial obligation to you if they cause an accident and you are hurt.  You need uninsured motorist coverage to protect you from that risk.

Second, you need uninsured motorist coverage to protect you from the driver who caused a wreck and has purchased an insufficient amount of insurance.  My guess (and it is only a guess) is that 30 or 40 % of Tennessee drivers have only $25,000 in liability coverage available to a person involved in a wreck.  That sum - $25,000 - will not cover an emergency room visit and three nights in an ICU.   Most of the drivers that have low coverage have poor driving records, and many have a history of past DUIs.   These are exactly the drivers more likely to be involved in accidents, and we have to protect ourselves from them.

Third, uninsured motorist coverage protects you (under some circumstances) from hit-and-run drivers.

Ask your insurance agent to show you exactly what uninsured motorist coverage costs - you will be surprised how inexpensive it is.  Then, buy as much as you can.  This is the least expensive insurance coverage you can buy given the risks you face on Tennessee roads every day.

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Can I Tell From How Much Insurance Someone Has By Knowing What Type of Car They Have?

Posted on December 4, 2010 by John Day

I was in a car wreck and was hurt bad.  The other driver was driving a new car.   I have been talking with the insurance company for the other driver.  I asked how much insurance was on the car and the insurance adjuster would not tell me.   I guess the other driver has lots of insurance because she was driving a new car, right?

Maybe.   There is no way to know for sure how much insurance someone has just by looking at the type of car they are driving.  It is reasonable to assume that a person who has a new car has enough money to purchase a responsible amount of liability insurance, but some people spend all of their money on their car and buy the minimum insurance they are required to have in Tennessee - $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident.

Because Tennessee has no formal way of insisting that insurance companies reveal how much insurance coverage they have until after a judgment is obtained, I often look at the type of car, the at-fault driver's home, the at-fault driver's job and other factors to make an educated  guess about how much insurance is available.  Sometimes my guess is  right, sometimes my guess is wrong.  At the end of the day, however, if my client has a case that is worth more than the offer the insurance company has given and has represented that no more insurance is available, I insist (with my client's permission) that the insurance company prove that the at-fault driver has no more insurance applicable to the claim.  The is accomplished by requiring a copy of the declarations page for the insurance policy and an affidavit from the insured stating that no additional insurance is available.

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What Does It Mean When You Have Liability Insurance Policy Limits of $100,000 / $300,000

Posted on November 24, 2010 by John Day

I was in a car wreck yesterday.  It was probably my fault.  I looked at my automobile liability insurance policy and it says that I have liability limits of $100,000 / $300,000.  What does that mean?

It means that for any one car wreck that is your fault your insurance company will pay a person injured in the wreck up to $100,000 in losses and damages they suffer.   If more than one person is injured in the wreck, the company will pay, on your behalf, up to $300,000 but no more than $100,000 for any one person. 

So, if one person was hurt in the wreck, the insurer will pay no more than $100,000 in damages.  If two people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $200,000, but no more than $100,000 per person.  If three people were hurt, the insurer will pay up to $300,000, but no more than $100,000 per person. Note that each person who is injured does not automatically get $100,000 - they must demonstrate amount of their damages and can recover up to $100,000 each.

To the extent that a person injured in the wreck has claim worth more than $100,000 you are personally responsible for the amount of damages over $100,000 if the wreck was your fault.

Your policy also has a separate provision for paying property damage to the other driver's car if it is determined that the wreck was your fault.

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Car Insurance In Tennessee

Posted on November 4, 2010 by John Day

When I complained about my car insurance rates my agent said that the reason rates were so high was lawsuits.  Is that right?

Well, it is true that insurance companies pay claims and, when they don't pay the claims they should or don't pay a fair amount lawsuits will be filed.   Of course, that is the business they are in.

The facts are that Tennessee consumers and juries are very conservative and our insurance rates reflect that.  While no one likes writing a check to an insurance company,  Insure.com tells us that Tennessee has the 8th lowest auto insurance rates in the nation.

The average Tennessee premium was $1,170.12 per year.  That puts us 42nd on the list of all states, with Louisiana having the highest average premium at $2510.87.    The national average is $1420.78.  We have lower rates in Tennessee than every other southern state except one - North Carolina - and its rates are only  less than $40 less per year than our rates.

 So - do lawsuits affect insurance rates?  Of course.  But we buy insurance to protect ourselves from personal financial loss in the event we negligently injure another, and we have a right to depend on fair treatment by insurance companies when we are injured by the negligence of others.  

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Discovery of the Amount of Liability Insurance in Cases Involving Trucks

Posted on November 3, 2010 by John Day

 I was in a  wreck with a tractor trailer several weeks ago.  The truck driver's insurance company called me and asked me some questions.  I then asked him how much insurance his driver had, but he refused to tell me.  He said that in Tennessee I could not find out how much insurance the other driver had, even if I filed a lawsuit.  Is that true?

Yes.  Tennessee is the only state in the nation that does not require an insurance company to disclose the amount of liability insurance in place for an accident.  This is a result of a powerful lobbying effort in the Legislature, led by Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.

Sometimes an insurance company will voluntarily disclose the amount of coverage it has.  However, in the ordinary situation, the only way you can discover how much insurance the other driver has is to win a lawsuit and start the process to collect the money you are due.

In trucking cases,  federal law requires a minimum amount of insurance coverage and there is a website from which one can get some indication of the amount of liability insurance available.  An experienced trucking accident lawyer can help you gather this information.

Let me add one thing.  The amount of insurance does not influence the value of your case. In other words,  the value of your case depends on the nature and extent of your injuries, the amount of your medical bills, and many other factors.  (Read more on the damages recoverable in personal injury cases in Tennessee here.)  The amount of liability insurance is not a factor and in fact the jury is never about the existence, much less the amount, of insurance.  The amount of insurance only determines the likelihood of being able to recover the full amount of the damages you sustained.  If there is an insufficient amount of insurance available, you will be forced to try to collect the excess from the driver and the trucking company.

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What Is Med Pay Coverage?

Posted on September 19, 2010 by John Day

I was hurt in a car wreck and told my insurance company about the wreck.  The claims adjuster said that I had $10,000 in medical payments coverage and that if I would send the bills in the insurance company would the bills up to $10,000.   Why should my insurance company have to pay for my medical bills when the wreck was not my fault?

Your insurance company will pay because you paid for this insurance coverage.  It can be very helpful to you if the wreck was your fault or if the you cannot find the driver who hit you.   It can also be helpful to help you pay co-pays and deductibles not covered by your health insurance.

The fact that your insurance company pays some or all of your medical bills does not let the other driver or that driver's insurance company off-the-hook.   You can still seek payment of the bills from your insurance company and, if the other driver is liable for the crash and the bills were reasonable and incurred for necessary medical services in connection with the wreck then you can collect them again from the at-fault driver and that driver's insurance company.  However, your insurance policy probably requires you to re-pay them if you receive payment for your medical bills from the at-fault driver and that driver's insurance company.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can guide you through your rights on these issues.

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Why Can't I Find Out How Much Insurance The Other Driver Has?

Posted on July 27, 2010 by John Day

 I was in a car wreck several weeks ago.  The other driver's insurance company called me and asked me some questions.  I then asked him how much insurance his driver had, but he refused to tell me.  He said that in Tennessee I could not find out how much insurance the other driver had, even if I filed a lawsuit.  Is that true?

Yes.  Tennessee is the only state in the nation that does not require an insurance company to disclose the amount of liability insurance in place for an accident.  This is a result of a powerful lobbying effort in the Legislature, led by Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.

Sometimes an insurance company will voluntarily disclose the amount of coverage it has.  However, in the ordinary situation, the only way you can discover how much insurance the other driver has is to win a lawsuit and start the process to collect the money you are due.

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What is Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage and Why Do I Need It?

Posted on April 28, 2010 by John Day

I talked with my insurance agent today and she said I could save money on my auto insurance  if I reduced my uninsured motorist coverage to the minimum amount.  She said that in Tennessee everyone is required to have auto insurance so this coverage doesn't do me much good.  Is she right?
 

Well, she is partially right, but the advice she gave you is wrong.  

Uninsured motorist insurance coverage protects you if the driver of another car causes a wreck and have no insurance coverage or does not have sufficient insurance coverage to pay for the harm they cause.   Tennessee does require every car to have liability insurance coverage, but the law is relatively weak in that you just have to have proof of liability insurance coverage if the police pull you over, usually for something else.  In states that are really serious about it, such as North Carolina, you have to have proof on insurance coverage to get a license plate for your car, and if the insurance expires the State is notified and the police come out and take the tags off your car.

Thus, in Tennessee,  15 to 20% of all drivers are uninsured and in some cities, like Memphis, the number is even higher.  It is easy to see that you are at risk for being hit by a negligent uninsured driver and therefore will have to rely on your uninsured motorist coverage to protect you from medical bills, loss of income, and other damages from the accident.

I always recommend to my clients that they purchase as much uninsured motorist coverage as they can purchase given their family income.  You cannot buy more uninsured motorist coverage than the amount of liability coverage you have on the vehicle. 

You will be surprised how little it costs to purchase more coverage.  As your agent to give you a quote for various levels of liability insurance and various levels of uninsured motorist coverage.  I think you will find that uninsured motorist coverage is very affordable.

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Ask A Question Case Evaluation About John A. Day

I am a fifty-three year old lawyer who is fascinated by the law of torts. I have studied the field for over twenty-nine years. I represent plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

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