From time to time we are asked to represent people who are injured in a car accident but were driving illegally at the time of the wreck, that is, they did not have a valid license to operate a car or truck on Tennessee roads. These people are obviously concerned that their failure to have a driver’s license will affect their ability to recover damages for the personal injury car accident that was not their fault.
Tennessee law provides that the failure to have a driver’s license does not affect a person’s right to recover compensation in a car or truck accident that was not the driver’s fault. I am not saying that you should drive without a valid license, or if you have a restricted license that you should drive outside the proper scope of the restrictions. It is important to follow the law. My only point is that if you make a mistake and drive without a valid license or outside the scope of a restricted license and end up in an car or truck accident that is not your fault current law says that your mistake cannot be used against you.
Despite this law, I can envision several circumstances in which the failure to have a valid license at the time of the wreck might become relevant in a car, so I encourage you to tell your lawyer the truth about the status of your license during your initial meeting with the lawyer.
Do you have additional questions about Tennessee personal injury law or Tennessee wrongful death law? Call me at 866-812-8787 for a free consultation. Or, fill out the Contact Form and we will call you.