Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Hopefully, you’ll never need to hire a car accident lawyer because a negligent motorist didn’t have enough insurance to pay your damages. However, the unfortunate fact is that this scenario is not uncommon. A car accident lawyer in Memphis TN can help victims get the compensation they deserve to cover their losses. In the event of a fatality, a car accident lawyer can represent grieving families in a wrongful death lawsuit to help them get justice on behalf of their loved one.

An experienced car accident lawyer can tell you that after a collision, if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, it can be catastrophic for the victim who deserves compensation for their damages. An experienced lawyer may be able to explore alternate options for recovering a client’s damages from the person responsible for causing the accident.

Though most states require motorists to carry auto insurance, many drivers ignore that law and drive without it. If they cause an accident with you that involves their vehicle, your own insurance coverage may have to pay for your damages. This part of your auto insurance is known as uninsured motorist coverage. It is intended to pay for damages that you, your passengers, and any authorized drivers of your vehicle sustain such as:

There will likely be a cap, or maximum, on the amount of compensation that you can receive through your uninsured motorist coverage. You can increase the cap by purchasing additional coverage. There will be a limit as to how much you can purchase, but talk to your insurance carrier for more details.

When a driver causes an accident and the resulting damage to the victims surpasses the amount of liability insurance that the driver carries, the victim’s underinsured motorist coverage can compensate them to make up the difference. Underinsured motorist coverage may include property damage but always includes bodily injury damages.

In certain instances, an accident caused by someone else without adequate insurance may result in more damage than your insurance will cover. In some cases, the shortfall is not substantial, but an accident that results in a catastrophic injury can be devastating for the victim. The medical expenses alone can be astronomical. The loss of income, perhaps permanently, can place a tremendous financial burden on the victim.

However, a Memphis TN car accident lawyer from Darrell Castle & Associates may be able to seek compensation on their behalf from the at-fault driver using alternative legal means. This may include the garnishment of their wages and the seizure of their assets. If they own a house, property, car or other vehicle, boat, etc. then they can be subject to liquidation in order to pay for your damages that they caused. A car accident lawyer Memphis TN clients recommend can review the circumstances of your case to determine if this is a viable option.