Many of our clients have been involved in accidents caused by drivers who are either completely uninsured or carry only the minimum limits of automobile liability insurance, and the situation may be getting worse. According to a study by the Insurance Research Council,thousands of drivers dropped their car insurance as the economic crisis worsened and others reduced their coverage, opting for the lowest limits legally available (Georgia currently mandates liability coverage of at least $25,000). Most expect this problem to get worse before it gets better. Unfortunately, people who demonstrate such irresponsible behavior usually are irresponsible drivers and you may find yourself involved in an automobile accident with such a person. Where there is not enough insurance coverage and the other driver has no assets, you could be left paying for all of your expenses out of your own pocket, even though the wreck was not your fault.
It is therefore imperative that you protect yourself by making sure that you carry adequate uninsured/underinsured coverage on your own automobile policy. If you don’t currently have such coverage, you should add it to your existing policy. Then, if you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver your insurance company, in effect, will provide coverage for the other driver and pay for the losses and damages you incurred up to the available limits.
In Georgia you can purchase standard UM which is offset by available liability coverage or Add-On UM which stacks on top of the liability coverage. We recommend Add-On coverage to our clients. Uninsured motorist coverage is very affordable and we encourage our clients to purchase as much as they can afford. You will be thankful you did if you suffer catastrophic injuries at the hands of an uninsured driver.
If you have already been in a wreck with an uninsured/underinsured driver then it may be too late for you to take advantage of this advice. On the other hand, it may not. You should still consult a lawyer who can search for other available insurance coverage or file an insurance claim. Maybe you have other insurance policies which can be stacked to provide additional benefits, or maybe a third party with insurance can be held liable such as the owner of the vehicle or the other driver’s employer. If you have been injured on account of the negligence of an uninsured/underinsured driver, you should contact one of the attorneys at Burnside Law Firm LLP for a free initial consultation to make sure all avenues of recovery have been explored and pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
DISCLAIMER:Every automobile wreck presents a unique set of facts and circumstances. These suggestions, on the other hand, are very general in nature and may or may not be appropriate in your particular case. Therefore, these suggestions are not intended as legal advice for your case and should not be relied upon as such. For legal advice and a free initial consultation about your automobile wreck case, If you have been injured in an automobile collision in Augusta, Martinez, Athens, Evans or another city in Georgia, please contact one of the attorneys at Burnside Law Firm LLP for advice regarding your claim.
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