If your trip to Tennessee ends in an accident, it may do more than ruin your vacation. You may suffer injuries that require ongoing medical treatment. How do you handle filing a claim when you live out of state?
There are a few options available for dealing with a crash as a non-resident. Discover how the insurance company works and why you may consider getting help to decide the proper path to take.
The assignment of blame
Tennessee is an at-fault car accident state. This means that the insurance companies will investigate and decide who caused the crash. A finding of negligence against the other driver implies that one or both insurers determined that the at-fault driver did something that made the accident more probable.
A personal injury lawsuit
The insurers may not pay for all the treatment your injury requires. You may also run out of medical leave and have to recover without a paycheck. For financial reasons, you may need to file a personal injury claim. This is a court action that helps you recover monetary damages for medical bills, lost wages and emotional distress.
The state to file legal action
When you file a legal action from another state, you have the option to do it in either the state where you reside or the one where the accident took place. Even if it is not convenient for you to file a lawsuit in Tennessee, you may want to consider whether the laws will work in your favor. Someone more familiar with the process in the state can help.
A car crash may lead to a lifestyle change that lasts a long time. Getting financial compensation from the negligent party may help you move forward through recovery.
