Finding the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Coverage After a Car Accident
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Finding the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Coverage After a Car Accident
When a car accident leaves you facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing pain, understanding the full scope of available insurance coverage becomes essential to your recovery. The attorneys at Burnside Law Firm have spent over 30 years helping injured clients throughout Georgia uncover every potential source of compensation — a process that requires far more than simply filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance company.
Why Insurance Coverage Discovery Matters
Before agreeing to any settlement, understanding the full amount of insurance available is critical. Accepting an offer without knowing all applicable policies could leave you personally responsible for unpaid medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and other accident-related damages — particularly in cases involving serious or catastrophic injuries.
Many accident victims assume the at-fault driver’s basic liability policy represents the only available coverage. In reality, multiple insurance sources may exist, including umbrella policies, commercial coverage if the accident occurred during work-related driving, underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy, and additional policies held by other household members. Identifying these sources requires a thorough investigation that most injured individuals are not equipped to conduct on their own.
Georgia Law and Your Right to Insurance Information
Georgia law provides a legal mechanism for obtaining insurance coverage information from at-fault parties. Under O.C.G.A. § 33-3-28(a), an injured person has the right to request disclosure of the responsible driver’s liability insurance details. However, most drivers will not voluntarily share their policy limits — and the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance actually advises motorists against doing so.
Successfully obtaining this information through formal legal channels requires knowing the correct insurance company, sending requests to the proper address, and providing sufficient detail about the accident for the insurer to make complete and accurate disclosures. Even when an accident report lists an insurance company, that information may not tell the whole story. There can be multiple policies or additional coverage sources that are not immediately apparent without a comprehensive investigation.
What to Expect During the Coverage Discovery Process
The process of uncovering all available insurance begins immediately after an attorney takes your case. This involves reviewing the accident report, identifying all potentially liable parties, sending formal coverage disclosure requests under Georgia law, and investigating whether additional policies — such as commercial coverage, umbrella policies, or underinsured motorist protection — may apply to your situation. Throughout this process, your legal team handles all communications with insurance carriers, protecting you from tactics designed to minimize your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Coverage After Car Accidents
- Georgia's insurance commissioner advises drivers not to disclose their coverage amounts to other parties involved in an accident. This protects drivers from being targeted for the maximum value of their policy, but it can make it difficult for injured victims to evaluate settlement offers without legal assistance.
- While Georgia law allows injured parties to request coverage information, the process requires specific legal procedures and proper documentation. Insurance companies are more likely to respond completely and promptly when requests come from experienced personal injury attorneys who understand their legal obligations.
- When the responsible party's coverage is insufficient, additional sources may be available — including your own underinsured motorist coverage, umbrella policies, or coverage from other liable parties. A thorough investigation often reveals compensation sources that victims would not identify on their own.
- Insurers typically have 30 days to respond to formal coverage disclosure requests under Georgia law. However, complex cases involving multiple policies or commercial coverage may require additional investigation time to ensure all available sources are identified.
- Accepting any settlement without understanding the full scope of available insurance could leave you responsible for expenses that exceed the initial offer. This is particularly important in cases involving serious injuries that may require ongoing medical treatment or result in long-term disability.
- Beyond the at-fault driver's basic liability policy, coverage sources may include commercial auto policies, umbrella or excess liability policies, your own underinsured motorist coverage, and policies held by other members of the at-fault driver's household.
Why Choose Burnside Law Firm
The attorneys at Burnside Law Firm bring over three decades of collective experience investigating insurance coverage and advocating for injured clients throughout Georgia. Our approach ensures that every potential policy is identified, every carrier is placed on proper notice of your claim, and every available dollar of compensation is pursued on your behalf. We understand that insurance companies are sophisticated entities with their own legal teams and financial interests — and we work to level that playing field for the people we represent.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Augusta and Athens Attorneys
If you were injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, you have the right to pursue compensation — and knowing the full extent of available insurance coverage is essential to protecting that right. Contact Burnside Law Firm today for a free consultation to discuss your auto accident claim and learn how our experienced Georgia personal injury attorneys can help you move forward with confidence.
