Tag Archives: car insurance
How Much Auto Insurance Should I Have?
My insurance agent called me the other day for my yearly review of my auto insurance coverage. The discussion we had reminded me that many of my clients and other drivers in Tennessee do not have sufficient coverage to protect themselves in case of injuries from a car wreck. There are a great number of people in Tennessee that are driving without insurance even though it is required by law.
Tennessee requires that a driver have $25,000/$50,000 in liability coverage. Remember that liability coverage only covers other people who are injured and not the at-fault driver. $25,000 covers one injured individual and $50,000 would cover all injured parties who were hurt in a car wreck. $25,000 is not very much money to cover severe injuries and resulting medical bills from car wreck. So, how do you protect yourself if someone hits you with minimum or no coverage? Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is the answer. Tennessee law does not require UM/UIM coverage but it will cover you in the event that you are injured in a wreck with an uninsured or underinsured driver. UM coverage can be purchased on your policy and can be used in place of the insurance of the other driver when that person does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your damages. UM/UIM coverage is the best way to assure that you can protect yourself in the event that you are in car wreck with an uninsured/underinsured driver.
As a driver, you also want to have a policy that protects you and your family if you are at fault in a car accident. You do not want to be driving with minimum policy limits and risk losing your personal assets, including your home, because you don’t have enough car insurance. If you do not have enough automobile insurance, an injured person can come after your personal belongings to recover for his or her damages. The safest and most financially sound decision you can make is to have higher than required liability coverage and UM/UIM coverage. Here is what I would recommend that you have for insurance coverage:
- A minimum of $250,000/$500,000 in liability coverage to protect your personal assets.
- A minimum of $250,000/$500,000 in UM/UIM coverage to protect yourself in the event that you are injured by an uninsured/underinsured driver.
- A $1,000,000 liability and UM/UIM umbrella policy to serve as a back up to your liability and UM/UIM policies in case of a very serious injury.
In the case that you cannot afford these amounts, I would still never carry a policy lower that $100,000 in liability and UM/UIM coverage. It is always a good idea to call your insurance agent and check what type of coverage you have and make sure you are taking the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family.
If you have any questions regarding insurance or have been hurt in a car wreck, call Paul at 615-256-4747 or contact him online to schedule a free consultation. The Paul D. Jeter Law Firm is located in the Historic Washington Square Building in Downtown Nashville and Paul has represented clients from all over Tennessee, including: Nashville, Franklin, Memphis, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Lebanon, Columbia, Murfreesboro, Brentwood and Dickson.
Medical Treatment After an Injury
I am continually running into problems in my cases where an injured client does not continue medical treatment or has large gaps in treatment after an injury. Insurance companies and defense attorneys are using this against injured to claim that they were not hurt “that bad” or that they are just going back to the doctor to raise the amount of medical bills. Here a re a few tips to keep in mind if you have been injured at work or due to the negligence of another party:
1. Go To The Emergency Room Immediately
When you are injured, it is important to seek immediate medical treatment to determine the extent of your injuries. If possible, be sure to tell the treating physician exactly what part of your body is pain. This will help immediately document what and where is hurting.
2. Follow Up With a Primary Care Doctor or Specialist
The ER doctor will usually advise you to follow up with a specialist or primary care doctor. It is important to schedule these appointments as soon as possible if you are still in pain.
3. Attend All of Your Physical Therapy Sessions
When a doctor prescribes physical therapy, it is a good idea to attend all the visits and not to skip any sessions. Even if you are feeling better toward the end of therapy, continue to go to all the sessions that your doctor prescribed.
4. Avoid Large Gaps in Treatment
If you continue to have pain from your injuries, do not wait several months to go back to your doctor. Try to see your doctor at least once a month if you continue to have problems.
5. Do Not seek Pain Medication Refills Without Consulting your Doctor
Pain medication can be very helpful for serious injuries but doctors and medical offices will document if you are frequently using more than is prescribed and are seeking refills before the prescription has run out. Use only the amounts that your doctor has advised and talk to the doctor, in person, to discuss other options if the medication is not helping.
6. Complete Your Treatment Before Settling Your Case
In Tennessee, you only have one chance to settle your case, so it is important for you to have all your treatment completed before you consider a settlement offer from an insurance company. There are some injuries that will require future medical treatment and that can be calculated with the help of your attorney and doctors. If you do not require future medical care, be sure that your doctor has released you from care before you think about settling your case.
Call Paul at 615-256-4747 or contact him online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your injuries and medical treatment. The Paul D. Jeter Law Firm is located in the Historic Washington Square Building in Downtown Nashville and Paul has successfully represented clients from all over Tennessee, including: Nashville, Franklin, Memphis, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Lebanon, Columbia, Murfreesboro, Brentwood and Dickson.