Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your losses when you are involved in a Georgia car accident that is caused by a driver who lacks auto insurance liability coverage. You can file an uninsured driver claim through your auto insurance policy to cover medical bills, lost income, and other costs resulting from the accident.
Uninsured motorist is optional insurance in Georgia. You should have it unless you specifically declined it. An experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer can determine whether an uninsured motorist claim will cover your losses.
How Many Drivers in Georgia May Not Have Liability Insurance?
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), approximately 14 percent of drivers nationwide, or one in seven motorists, were uninsured in a recent year. Georgia is among the states with the highest share of uninsured drivers, the III reports. In a recent year, Georgia ranked 7th in the nation in the percentage of uninsured drivers, with 18.1 percent of motorists driving without auto liability insurance.
Uninsured motorist rates declined in most states between 2017 and 2019. Yet, they increased in almost all states during the pandemic. These uninsured driver rates continued to climb in many states from 2020 to 2022. By 2022, Georgia was among 19 states with uninsured motorist rates higher than the nationwide average.
According to the Federal Highway Administration’s most recent data, there are 7,691,537 registered drivers in Georgia. If 18.1 percent of those drivers are uninsured, that means nearly 1.4 million drivers are driving on Georgia roads without insurance.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Georgia?
No, Georgia does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. However, under Ga. Code § 33-7-11, insurance companies must provide this coverage when they sell you an auto liability policy. You should have UM insurance unless you rejected the coverage in writing.
Having UM coverage can give you more protection in a car crash. If someone hits you and doesn’t have insurance to cover your medical bills and car repairs, you can file a car accident claim through your uninsured motorist policy.
If there is a dispute about an uninsured motorist claim, an experienced car accident lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and pursue a fair settlement.
Are There Different Types of Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Yes, Georgia drivers may purchase UM coverage for bodily injury and UM coverage for property damage.
UM Bodily Injury coverage covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers. Insurers must provide at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 in bodily injury per accident. You can purchase higher amounts of coverage
UM Property Damage covers damage to your vehicle and other property. Policyholders can choose between “reduced-by” and “add-on” UM coverage. Both types apply if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your losses.
Reduced-by coverage subtracts the other driver’s liability limits from your UM limits. For example, if your UM limit is $50,000 and the other driver’s insurance company provides $25,000 in liability coverage, your UM coverage would only apply to the remaining $25,000.
Add-on coverage stacks on top of the other driver’s coverage. In the same example, you could get the full $50,000 from your UM coverage plus $25,000 from the other driver’s policy. Add-on coverage typically costs more and gives you more protection, especially in serious crashes.
Whenever you purchase an auto insurance policy in Georgia, be sure to ask what type of UM coverage it includes and whether it meets your needs.
What Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cover in Georgia?
UM coverage can help you pay for your losses if a driver without auto insurance causes a car accident in Atlanta. It also applies in hit-and-run accidents in which the at-fault driver flees the accident scene and remains unidentified.
UM coverage can pay your medical expenses and lost wages. It can also protect you if the at-fault party has insufficient insurance to cover all your losses. In that case, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage kicks in to cover the losses up to your policy limits. Georgia drivers can use UM and UIM coverage together if they choose the add-on option.
UM property damage coverage is also available. It pays for damage to your car if an uninsured driver hits you. If you want this kind of protection, make sure to ask for uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage when you sign up. Otherwise, your policy will cover only your injuries.
Who Is Covered Under Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
UM coverage doesn’t just protect you, the policyholder. In Georgia, it also covers:
- Family members who live in the same home as you
- Anyone driving your car with your permission
- You and your family members as pedestrians or passengers in someone else’s vehicle.
The specifics of your coverage may vary depending on how your policy is written. Some exclusions could apply, especially if someone uses your car without permission. If you lend your car often or live with other drivers, you’ll want to make sure your policy includes enough coverage for those situations.
It’s a good idea to review your policy to understand who is covered and when that coverage applies. If you have questions about an Atlanta car accident claim and how your insurance coverage applies, you should talk to a Georgia auto accident lawyer for clarification.
When Should I Make a Georgia Uninsured Motorist Claim?
If you’re involved in a crash with an uninsured driver in Georgia, you should report the car wreck to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible. Most auto insurance policies have deadlines for reporting your auto accident. Failing to report an accident in a timely fashion could result in the insurance company canceling your auto insurance. Some policies require you to file a claim within 30 days or another set period. Always check your policy for these details.
If you have serious injuries and are having trouble getting the money you need from the at-fault driver or your own insurer, you should consult an Atlanta auto accident lawyer to discuss the appropriate steps to take. Ga. Code § 9-3-33 gives you two years from the date of the injuries in your accident to file a car accident lawsuit. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to file a personal injury claim and seek money for your medical bills and related losses.
The best way to protect your rights is to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. An auto accident attorney can review your car insurance coverage, deal with the insurance company, gather records to support your claim, and file everything on time. The sooner you act, the more time your lawyer has to collect evidence and build a strong car accident case on your behalf.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer Today
If an uninsured driver has injured you in Georgia, don’t wait to seek knowledgeable guidance. Call the Atlanta car accident attorneys at Bayuk Pratt for a free consultation. Our law firm is made up of former defense attorneys who use their knowledge of how insurance companies work to advocate for car accident victims. Our personal injury lawyers know how to push back when insurers try to avoid paying a fair settlement. We have extensive experience taking accident cases to trial and winning. Contact us today so we can look at your case and explain your options.
