In Tennessee, like in most other states, car insurance depends on fault. The person who causes the crash has liability for the injuries that other people suffer and any property damage that occurs. Their insurance policy will reimburse the other people involved in the crash for vehicle repair expenses, medical costs and lost wages.
After a crash, you may have a totaled vehicle and injuries that require medical care. You could even be off of work for weeks until you recover. How much insurance coverage can you expect to be available after a car crash in Tennessee?
The state requires at least minimum coverage
Every driver carries a slightly different insurance policy. Those with more assets and income may carry more coverage to protect themselves from big claims. Those with nicer cars may carry more forms of protection in case their vehicle gets damaged.
Every driver on the roads in Tennessee should have at least $15,000 worth of property damage liability coverage. They should also have $25,000 worth of bodily injury liability coverage in case one person gets hurt and $50,000 of bodily injury coverage for a crash where two or more people suffer injuries.
The victims of a crash will be able to claim up to the maximum coverage amount offered by a policy. Still, they will not be able to claim losses over that amount, even if the other driver does not have enough insurance. The insurance company may also offer them less compensation than the maximum amount available.
Realizing when you might need to file a civil lawsuit after a car crash requires an understanding of insurance and how much your injuries will cost you.