Uninsured motorists in Tennessee

Tennessee currently ranks among the top five states with the highest number of uninsured motorists. A 2014 report claims that there are approximately 1.2 million uninsured motorists in the state. California has 4.1 million uninsured motorists, accounting for the highest total in the country. The report also indicated that Tennessee ranked among states with a high ratio of uninsured motorists to bodily injury claim frequency, which could be associated with the state’s high unemployment rate.

The report claims that the cost of being an uninsured driver has increased in the past 10 years, although the amount of people on the road without insurance has declined. From 2003 to 2012, the total amount of uninsured motorists in the country decreased by about 3 percent, but the amount to cover uninsured motorist claims increased by 75 percent. The research only tracked payments for bodily injury; property damage was not a part of the findings. The report claims that 12 percent of U.S. drivers are uninsured, totaling 30 million.

According to the report, uninsured motorists are a concern for the general public, including auto insurance policy holders, regulators and insurers. Uninsured motorist coverage is a part of the fees that most insured motorists are required to pay, which could become a considerable expense for most insurers.

Plaintiffs in personal injury cases involving car accidents may be entitled to seek compensation to help offset medical expenses, repair costs and loss of income. In order to warrant restitution, lawyers may need to prove that the defendant is liable for the damages suffered by the plaintiff. The legal strategy in these types of cases may center on identifying whether driver negligence was a contributing factor in causing the resulting injuries.

Source: Body Shop Business, “Report Reveals Uninsured Motorists Still a Persistent Problem”, Aug. 14, 2014