What Happens If You’re Injured by an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver in Georgia?

What Happens If You’re Injured by an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver in Georgia?

Auto insurance exists so that drivers who cause accidents can afford to pay for resulting injuries and property damage. So what happens if you’re in an accident with a driver who lacks this state-mandated coverage? Here’s what you can expect, and how a Georgia car accident attorney can help.

Options to Recover Compensation After an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Accident

Your best bet to recover compensation after an uninsured or underinsured motorist accident is to file a claim with your insurance company using your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage compensates you if the other driver has no insurance. You could file a lawsuit against an uninsured motorist to see if they have any assets you could use to cover your losses, but uninsured motorists rarely have assets you can claim. However, your uninsured motorist coverage will cover your losses from the accident up to your policy limits.

If you have uninsured motorist coverage, it usually matches your liability coverage. The minimum liability insurance requirements in Georgia are:

• $25,000 for injuries to one person in an accident
• $50,000 for injuries to multiple people in a single collision
• $25,000 in property damage coverage

So, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, you likely have at least $25,000 in injury coverage and $25,000 in property damage you can use to cover your losses from the accident.

Underinsured motorist coverage works similarly to uninsured motorist coverage, in that it protects you if another driver can’t cover your losses. But underinsured motorist coverage only kicks in if the driver’s liability coverage is insufficient to meet your needs.

For example, suppose your injury-related expenses from a crash add up to $40,000, but the other driver’s liability coverage is only $25,000. If you have underinsured motorist coverage, it could cover the $15,000 difference.

If you don’t have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you will need to find other ways to recover compensation. Your health insurance might cover your medical expenses, and there might be another party involved in the crash you can file a claim against. For example, you could file a claim against a vehicle manufacturer if a defective component contributed to the accident. A Georgia car accident lawyer can investigate an accident to help you identify additional sources of compensation.

Does Georgia Require Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Some states require motorists to carry uninsured/underinsured coverage. Georgia is not one of them. However, state law requires insurers to provide uninsured coverage unless the policyholder rejects such coverage in writing. So, if you’re not sure whether you have uninsured motorist coverage, there’s a good chance you do.

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to carry both of these optional insurance coverages. You might pay more upfront in premiums, but you’ll be glad you have the coverage in the event of a crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Contact Our Georgia Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Attorneys

Kaufman Injury Law can identify all your potential sources of compensation after an uninsured/underinsured motorist accident. We can also investigate the accident to see if anyone besides the uninsured or underinsured driver contributed to your injuries so you can file a claim against them. Call now or complete our contact form to get started with a free consultation about your case.