Tennessee is a fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means whoever was mostly at fault for a crash is the one who is financially and legally liable for any injuries or property damage that occur as a result. The at-fault party (or his or her insurance company)
must provide compensation for losses associated with the crash.
In Tennessee, people injured in car accidents have several options for how to proceed. They may take the following actions:
- File a claim with their own car insurance providers, which will then usually seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider
- File a third-party claim directly with the at-fault driver’s car insurance company
- File a personal injury lawsuit in civil court to seek compensation from the at-fault driver for property damage and injuries
A person who suffers an injury as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist might choose to pursue all these options or only one or two, depending on the circumstances.
The process in Tennessee differs from no-fault states, in which there are limited options to hold liable parties accountable for the injuries and property damage they cause. Many people injured in car accidents in no-fault states must file a claim with their own insurance company and hope to receive enough compensation to cover their expenses and losses. Furthermore, noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium, are more difficult to come by in no-fault states, since all parties could ostensibly walk away from an accident without admitting to fault.
To learn more about auto insurance rules in Tennessee, meet with a skilled Bristol
auto accident attorney. Call Massengill, Caldwell & Coughlin, P.C. today at 423-797-6022 to schedule your free initial consultation, orÂ
contact us online.
