North Georgia Uninsured Motorist Attorney

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accidents in Georgia

For every 8 drivers on the road, 1 of them does not have car insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, approximately 12% of drivers in Georgia and 13% of drivers in the United States are uninsured motorists. If these drivers cause an accident, they may not be able to pay for the damages. As a result, many people pay extra for uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance.

Unfortunately, purchasing this coverage isn’t always enough. Insurance companies sometimes refuse to cover valid claims or undervalue injury claims.

If you need help dealing with your insurance company during an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, Pritchard Injury Firm is here for you.

Call us at (470) 577-8152 to get started today.

Georgia Car Insurance Laws

The state of Georgia requires all drivers to carry automobile liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries and at least $25,000 per crash for property damage. Laws for car insurance are outlined in Georgia Code Title 33. Insurance § 33-7-11. While these statutes don’t require it, Georgia Insurance and Safety Commissioner’s Office also recommends drivers carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to protect them from drivers who break the law.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

In Georgia, there are two types of un- and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. “Traditional” UIM coverage is designed to offset coverage the at-fault driver does not have, so it may not apply if the at-fault driver has some coverage – even if that coverage is not enough to fully account for your damages. “New” UIM, on the other hand, stacks your UIM coverage on top of the at-fault driver’s coverage.

New UIM is more expensive than traditional UIM, but it may be more useful. Make sure you specify which type of coverage you want when purchasing insurance and know what type of coverage you have when speaking with insurance companies after an accident.

Note: We mention the “at-fault driver” a couple of times above. That’s because Georgia is a “fault” state for car insurance, and the person who causes the accident will be liable for any associated damages.

Our experienced Georgia uninsured motorist lawyers can help you navigate the fault system and deal with insurance companies.

Does UM/UIM Coverage to Hit and Run Accidents?

Yes. If you cannot identify the driver who hit you, you cannot make a claim against their insurance policy, so uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) should kick in. Even when hit-and-run drivers are identified and arrested, they rarely have insurance, nor enough money to account for your damages, so UM and UIM coverage applies. Because of the many unknowns surrounding hit and run accidents, some insurers deny valid UM and UIM claims. Our attorney can help make sure insurers honor their end of your agreement.