Tennessee Ranked 46th When it Comes to Car Accident Insurance

By Thomas Greer | January 26, 2015

Tennessee has some of the most beautiful roads and highways in the country – but if you get into an accident on one of those roads, you may be in more trouble than you think. WalletHub’s assessment of which states are riskiest for drivers based on the states’ insurance requirements placed Tennessee squarely in the 46th spot.

What does that mean for drivers? According to their rankings:

  • About 20.1% of drivers in Tennessee are uninsured
  • The state requires only liability insurance
  • The minimum coverage required is low, at 25/50/15 – or $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 for any and all property damage within the accident

In other words, if you are in a car accident and lose your legs but the other driver does not have any additional insurance, you may not be able to recover the compensation you need for medical treatment and cost of living expenses.

Staying safe on the road

One of the steps you can take to help protect yourself is to always maintain uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This type of coverage will protect you when the other driver is at fault but does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance.  Also, if you can afford it, always maintain more than the minimum amount required by law.  We recommend a minimum of $100,000 in liability and UM/UIM

You can also practice safe driving habits to minimize your risk of being injured, such as:

  • Turning off your cell phone or electronic devices, so you won’t be distracted
  • Making sure your tires are full, which will lessen your chance of a blow-out and give you greater control over your car
  • Avoid driving late at night or during weather that lessens your visibility, such as hard rain or foggy mornings
  • Keep your seatbelt on whenever you drive, and make sure children are properly restrained based on the law’s requirements
  • Remove obstructions from your windows so you can see clearly from every angle
  • Avoid speeding, swerving through lanes or tailgating other drivers

Car accidents are serious no matter how “minor” they may seem. An injury after a car crash may not appear right away, and even seemingly small bruises or cuts may prove more severe later on. It is very important that you see a doctor after you have been in a crash, to ensure that you haven’t suffered any damage that isn’t visible to the naked eye.

If you are involved in a car crash where the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance, you don’t have to face it alone. The personal injury lawyers at Bailey & Greer, PLLC may be able to help. Please contact our firm to tell us your story.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Blog