Cordova Uninsured Motorist Lawyer

Reviewed by Larry Peters, Attorney licensed in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, and Georgia · Last reviewed: June 2026.

In Cordova’s busy retail and apartment corridors, one of the worst things a crash can reveal is that the driver who hit you has no insurance, too little insurance, or fled the scene. It happens far more often than most people realize: an estimated 21.3% of Tennessee drivers were uninsured in 2023 — the fifth-highest rate in the country. Hit-and-run crashes are common in crowded lots around Wolfchase Galleria and along Germantown Parkway, where a driver can disappear into traffic.

When that happens, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage becomes your most important protection — but the moment you use it, your own insurance company effectively becomes your opponent. Southern Injury Attorneys are Tennessee-licensed lawyers who handle UM/UIM claims, push back when your insurer undervalues your case, and pursue full compensation on a contingency fee, with no fee unless we win.

Sources: Insurance Research Council (2023); Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104.

What UM and UIM coverage do

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or cannot be identified, as in a hit-and-run. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has some insurance, but not enough to cover your losses. Both come from your own auto policy, and both are designed to stand in the shoes of the driver who should have paid. In Tennessee, insurers must offer UM/UIM at limits matching your liability coverage unless you reject it in writing — so you may have more protection than you think.

The scale of the uninsured problem

Tennessee’s uninsured-driver rate of 21.3% means roughly one in five drivers on the road around you carries no liability insurance at all. The national average is 15.4%. In the Memphis metro, with its heavy traffic on I-40, Germantown Parkway and the Wolfchase corridor, the odds of being hit by an uninsured driver are real. Even drivers who are insured often carry only Tennessee’s bare minimum 25/50/15 limits, which a serious injury can exhaust in days — leaving a gap that UIM coverage is meant to fill.

Hit-and-run crashes

A hit-and-run is treated as an uninsured-motorist claim, because the at-fault driver cannot be identified. These crashes are common in Cordova’s crowded parking lots and on busy arterials, where a driver can flee before anyone gets a plate number. To preserve a UM claim, it is important to report the crash to police promptly and to your own insurer, and to gather any available evidence — witness accounts, surveillance video, debris. We help track down that evidence and handle the claim so a fleeing driver does not leave you without recourse.

When your own insurer becomes the opponent

Here is the part that surprises people: a UM/UIM claim is made against your own insurance company, and despite years of premiums, the company has a financial incentive to pay you as little as possible. The same adjuster who was friendly when you bought the policy may now dispute your injuries, question the treatment, or argue the other driver was not really at fault. Having a lawyer levels the field — we handle the claim as the adversarial matter it really is and hold your insurer to the coverage you paid for.

Stacking and multiple policies

Depending on your policies, you may be able to stack UM/UIM coverage — combining the limits of multiple vehicles or policies to increase the total available. Whether and how stacking applies depends on the policy language and the circumstances of the crash. We review all of the coverage that might apply — your policy, a family member’s policy in the same household, and others — to maximize the funds available to compensate you. This analysis is easy to overlook without experience reading insurance policies.

How UIM works with the at-fault driver’s insurance

When the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough, your UIM coverage can make up part of the difference — but the rules matter. Generally you pursue the at-fault driver’s policy first, and your UIM applies on top, subject to credits and notice requirements. Missing a step or failing to notify your insurer properly can jeopardize the claim. We coordinate the liability and UIM claims so the pieces fit together and you recover the maximum available.

Tennessee’s 50% fault rule

Even in a UM/UIM claim, Tennessee’s modified comparative fault with a 50% bar (McIntyre v. Balentine) applies. Your insurer may argue you were partly responsible to reduce what it owes, just as a liability insurer would. You can recover only if you are less than 50% at fault, with damages reduced by your share. We build the liability case against the uninsured driver so your own company cannot use the comparative-fault rule to shortchange you.

Where these crashes happen in Cordova

Uninsured and hit-and-run crashes cluster where traffic is heaviest and drivers can slip away. The lots and access roads around Wolfchase Galleria, the stop-and-go stretch of Germantown Parkway, the I-40 interchanges, and the apartment corridors along Macon and Houston Levee all see their share. Late-night crashes and parking-lot collisions are especially prone to hit-and-runs. Knowing the local pattern helps us find the evidence — like nearby store cameras — that can support your claim.

Tennessee’s one-year deadline

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, you generally have only one year from the crash to file suit, and UM/UIM claims also carry their own notice requirements under your policy. Missing either can end your claim. Because hit-and-run evidence disappears quickly and policy deadlines are strict, getting a lawyer involved early is especially important in these cases.

What to do after an uninsured-driver crash

Call 911 and make sure a police report is filed — it is essential for a UM or hit-and-run claim. Get whatever information you can about the other vehicle, even a partial plate, and collect witness contacts. Report the crash to your own insurer promptly, but do not give a recorded statement or accept an offer before speaking with a lawyer, even though it is your own company. Get medical care, and then call us so we can protect the claim and deal with your insurer.

How we handle your UM/UIM claim

We identify every policy that might apply — yours, a household member’s, and any others — and analyze whether stacking increases the available coverage. We build the liability case against the uninsured or fleeing driver, document your injuries and losses in full, and present the claim to your insurer as the adversarial matter it is. If your company refuses to pay the coverage you bought, we are prepared to file suit or pursue arbitration as the policy requires. You pay nothing unless we win.

In short: If an uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run driver caused your Cordova crash, your own UM/UIM coverage is your protection — but your insurer becomes your opponent. We hold it to the coverage you paid for. Most claims must be filed within one year. Call 800-224-5546.

Frequently asked questions

Do you handle uninsured and hit-and-run accident claims in Cordova?

Yes. We are Tennessee-licensed lawyers handling uninsured, underinsured and hit-and-run claims throughout Cordova, Wolfchase, Bartlett, Collierville and the rest of Shelby County, including crashes on Germantown Parkway and around Wolfchase Galleria.

What is the difference between UM and UIM coverage?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance or cannot be identified, such as in a hit-and-run. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the driver has some insurance but not enough to cover your losses. Both come from your own policy.

A hit-and-run driver hurt me. Can I still recover?

Often, yes. A hit-and-run is treated as an uninsured-motorist claim. It is important to report it to police and your insurer promptly and to preserve evidence. We help gather witness accounts and surveillance video to support the claim.

Why would my own insurance company fight my claim?

A UM/UIM claim is made against your own insurer, which has a financial incentive to pay as little as possible. It may dispute your injuries or argue about fault. Having a lawyer levels the field and holds the company to the coverage you paid for.

Can I combine coverage from more than one policy?

Possibly. Depending on the policy language, you may be able to stack UM/UIM coverage across multiple vehicles or household policies to increase the total available. We review all potentially applicable coverage to maximize your recovery.

How long do I have to file an uninsured-motorist claim in Tennessee?

Generally one year from the crash under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, and your policy may impose additional notice requirements. Because deadlines are strict and evidence fades, contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

What should I do right after an uninsured-driver crash?

Call 911 and ensure a police report is filed, gather any information about the other vehicle and witnesses, and report the crash to your insurer — but avoid giving a recorded statement or accepting an offer before speaking with a lawyer.

How much does a Cordova uninsured-motorist lawyer cost?

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee and are paid only if we win. The consultation is free and available 24/7. Call 800-224-5546.

About the author: Larry “Jimmy” Peters

Founder & Personal Injury Attorney, Southern Injury Attorneys

Licensed in Tennessee (BPR #37889), Mississippi, Arkansas (#2020103), Texas (#24113438), Kentucky, and Georgia (#936535).

Jimmy Peters founded Southern Injury Attorneys with one mission: maximizing compensation for people injured in car, truck, and premises-liability accidents across the Mid-South. He and his team handle auto and 18-wheeler crashes, slip-and-fall and other injury claims on a contingency fee — no fee unless the firm wins — and he personally reviews the firm’s legal content for accuracy. ★ 4.8/5 from 96 verified Google reviews. If you were hurt in Cordova or anywhere in Shelby County, the consultation is free.

This article provides general information about Tennessee personal injury law for Cordova and Shelby County residents and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts, and deadlines such as the one-year statute of limitations can be shorter in some situations. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney. Call Southern Injury Attorneys at 800-224-5546 for a free consultation.