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Anyone in an auto accident, especially one caused by an uninsured driver, knows how difficult it can be to recover for injuries and property damage. Car wrecks involving an uninsured, at-fault driver may give the insurance adjuster an excuse to try to deny your claim. An experienced car wreck attorney who understands how to handle claims involving uninsured motorists can help injured victims.
Mandatory Insurance in Georgia
Any resident in Georgia who drives on Georgia public roads and highways must have auto insurance with liability coverage. Should you cause an auto accident, the liability insurance is available to pay for the damages to others. The following are the minimum amounts of liability insurance you must purchase, which is the maximum amount your policy will pay if you cause an accident. Policyholders may be given the option to buy more coverage by increasing their limits.
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per occurrence for bodily injury (this applies to each accident in which multiple people are injured)
- $25,000 per occurrence (or accident) for property damage
Options for Recovery
Even though liability insurance is mandatory in Georgia, there are still drivers who are illegally driving without insurance. It may be that they haven’t registered their vehicle and never purchased the coverage, their insurance policy has lapsed, or their policy has been cancelled. If you are injured by a negligent, uninsured driver, you typically have two options:
- Sue the at-fault driver for injuries caused to you by their negligence. This is great if the person you’re suing has money to pay for your damages. Unfortunately, most uninsured drivers can’t afford to pay insurance premiums, which makes it difficult or impossible to get a judgement against them and actually collect the money owed to you.
- File a claim under your policy’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This is an optional coverage you can purchase under your own insurance policy. It protects you if you are injured in an accident and the at-fault driver is driving without insurance. It may also pay if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for your injuries, or if they hit you or cause you to wreck and flee the scene of the accident.
As a personal injury car wreck attorney, I encourage everyone to purchase UM coverage. Generally, it does not cost much to add it to your policy, and the benefits can outweigh the cost. It can cover medical bills for injuries to you, and it may reimburse you for lost wages, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses.
Car Wreck Attorney in Macon
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Georgia, we’ll take care of everything. We will talk with insurance adjusters, we will collect evidence to prove your case, and we will work to get you fully and fairly compensated for your injuries. We know how difficult it is after being injured in an auto accident, and we know how to help. Contact car wreck attorney Jarome Gautreaux today for a free consultation. Call us at 478-238-9758.