Gatlinburg Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
Getting injured in a car accident is devastating under any circumstances, but it can be particularly angering when the collision is caused by another driver, and that driver is uninsured. While all motorists in Tennessee are required to have auto insurance coverage to have a vehicle on the road, there are a variety of reasons that individuals fail to have valid auto insurance, from intentionally failing to pay due to job loss to merely forgetting and allowing the coverage to lapse. No matter what the reasons are for a motorist being uninsured, it is important to do everything you can to make sure that you are eligible for financial compensation for your losses.
An experienced Gatlinburg uninsured motorist lawyer at our firm can speak with you today about your options for seeking coverage for your losses.
What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Gatlinburg?
If you were recently injured in an auto accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you may have a couple of different options for filing an insurance claim. First, you may be able to file a first-party claim through your own auto insurance policy in order to seek compensation for your losses. While you will need to pay your deductible up front, you will likely be able to get some compensation in a relatively timely manner.
More importantly, if you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, you may be able to file a claim through this portion of your policy. It is important to know that uninsured motorist coverage is optional under Tennessee auto insurance law, which means that it does not come standard with an auto insurance policy. However, if you added on this coverage, you may be able to rely on it for compensation.
What to Do If You Do Not Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Gatlinburg
If you do not have UM coverage, or if an insurance payout is unlikely to cover your losses, you should begin working with an experienced uninsured motor vehicle accident lawyer in Gatlinburg to determine whether any other parties may be responsible for the accident so that you can file a claim against them to seek damages. While you can likely sue the uninsured motorist, most uninsured drivers do not have the ability to pay a damages award even if you win a claim against them.
Instead, it may be possible to file a lawsuit against another party who bears responsibility for the crash, such as another motorist involved in the collision, the owner of the premises where the accident occurred, or the manufacturer of a defective vehicle part that played a role in causing the crash.
Filing a Lawsuit When You Are Injured by a Gatlinburg Uninsured Motorist
In order to file a lawsuit against a responsible party, you must do so before the statute of limitations runs out. The statute of limitations in most Tennessee personal injury lawsuits is only one year from the date of the injury, so you should act quickly.
Contact Our Gatlinburg Uninsured Motorist Lawyers Today
If you or someone you love sustained injuries in a collision caused by an uninsured motorist, one of our experienced Gatlinburg uninsured motorist attorneys can speak with you today about your options for seeking compensation for your losses. Contact Fox Farley Willis & Burnette for more information.