Everyone who drives in Georgia is required to carry auto insurance. However, this doesn’t mean everybody does. Despite this requirement, a lot of drivers simply can’t afford insurance or don’t care about having it.
This can create a problem for people who get hit by uninsured drivers. If you get into a crash in Atlanta and suffer serious injuries, you’re going to need someone’s insurance to cover your injuries. You should be able to expect the other driver to carry insurance. If they don’t, you could run into a problem.
Atlanta car accident lawyers handle cases like this from time to time. There are a few options if you get hit by someone who doesn’t have car insurance:
- File a claim under your uninsured motorist’s policy
- File suit against the driver personally
- Look to see if there are other potential defendants
Since most car accidents only involve two (2) drivers, the third option may not be available. Your accident lawyer in Atlanta will help you decide what the best way to proceed may be.
What is the Law in Georgia for Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Unlike regular car insurance, Georgia does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist’s coverage. It’s simply an option when you purchase your standard auto insurance policy. Most people don’t even realize they have it.
Most insurance companies make uninsured motorist’s coverage part of their standard policies. When you sign up for insurance, unless you opt out of having this additional coverage, your company may assign it to you.
This can be good news for a lot of drivers. When you find out the person who caused your crash isn’t insured, this coverage will come in handy. Your Atlanta injury lawyer will help you file a claim against this policy. Keep in mind, however, it doesn’t always cover all of your damages.
What are the Limits for Uninsured Motorists Insurance in Atlanta?
Georgia does require that all drivers carry a certain amount of liability insurance. This is the insurance that is used to pay claims for other drivers. Most drivers like to carry comprehensive coverage. This means their insurance will pay for injuries to other drivers but it will also cover damages suffered by the policyholder.
The law in Georgia requires that you carry the following minimum amounts of liability coverage:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage.
The problem is, about 10% of all drivers in Georgia don’t actually carry the required amount of insurance. When this happens, you need to turn to your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
The amount of coverage you have depends on what you signed up for when you got your insurance. Usually, the limits for this kind of coverage are lower than liability or comprehensive policy limits.
The amount of actual coverage you are entitled to depend on how much insurance the other driver carries. Whatever money their policy does cover will be subtracted from your uninsured motorist coverage.
For example, if you carry $50,000 in uninsured motorist insurance and the other driver’s policy pays $25,000, you’ll have $25,000 in coverage left. If, however, the other driver has no insurance, you’ll have the entire $50,000 available.
What Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover?
If you did opt to carry this coverage, there are certain things it will cover. This can vary depending on your policy. Most uninsured motorist coverage will pay for the following types of coverage:
- Drivers who carry no insurance at all
- Damages that exceed the amount of coverage a driver does carry
- Hit and run accidents when you can’t identify the other driver
- Pedestrian and bicycle accident victims
Your Atlanta car accident attorney will help you file your uninsured motorist claim. They’ll try to get you as much compensation as possible. And whatever isn’t covered by your policy can be pursued in a lawsuit.
Your attorney can file suit against the other driver for whatever damages weren’t covered by insurance. This may include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
Call and speak with an experienced injury attorney in Atlanta as soon as possible after your crash.
Contact an Experienced Injury Lawyer in Atlanta Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you should call an injury lawyer in Atlanta at the Law Office of John B. Jackson right away. They can review your claim and let you know what it may be worth. They can also deal with the insurance adjusters and attorneys on your behalf.
Call today and schedule your free initial consultation.