If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, the first thing you should do is begin to document the accident. If your crash was serious or anyone was injured, it’s important to contact law enforcement and ensure a police report is filed. Gather as much information as possible to provide evidence for your insurance claim. This can include:
Visit a doctor to have injuries diagnosed and begin treatment, then contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Failure to receive prompt medical care can complicate an injury claim.
An estimated 12.4 percent of drivers in Georgia are uninsured, so this scenario is more common than you might think. Speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer may be in your best interest if the driver who caused your crash tells you they don’t have insurance or if the driver flees the scene.
Uninsured accidents are a little different, and some attorneys may not want to take your case depending on the circumstances. People who are uninsured may not have many assets. If they had money, they’d likely have insurance.
Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they are compensated when they successfully negotiate your claim, settle your case or win a verdict at trial. If the person who caused your crash has no money and no insurance, there may be nothing to gain by suing them.
This is where uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage comes into play. It is specifically intended to pay for your medical costs and property damage in the event that you are involved in an accident caused by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured.
Just because you’re dealing with your own insurance company after a crash with an uninsured driver doesn’t necessarily mean you will be treated fairly. There may be scenarios where working with a personal injury lawyer can be beneficial, even if you’re negotiating with your own insurer.
If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, you have the option to file suit in an attempt to collect damages from them directly. These types of cases can result in damages being awarded for medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. However, it can be difficult or impossible to collect damages from a person with no real property, minimal income and no assets to speak of.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) includes bodily injury and property damage coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) serves to cover costs if you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver. In normal circumstances, you would file an insurance claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company. If the driver is uninsured, UM auto insurance policies allow you to file a claim with your insurance to cover the accident damages up to your policy limit.
Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is helpful if you’ve been hit by a driver with only limited liability coverage. The at-fault driver may be held liable for damages up to their policy limits, and UIM coverage can cover the rest (up to the policy limit).
Having uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is beneficial for most Georgia drivers. UM/UIM coverage protects motorists from:
While uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not required for most vehicles in Georgia (unless you have an auto loan or leased vehicle and the contract requires UM/UIM coverage), there are many advantages to adding it to your policy.
It also provides coverage when the at-fault driver cannot be identified, like after a hit and run. There is a one in eight chance that a car accident in Georgia involves an uninsured driver. Even if the at-fault driver has the minimum insurance required by law, you could still be unnecessarily saddled with expenses beyond your means.
Zdrilich Injury Law is here to help. We’ll negotiate on your behalf and gather information to aid in your claim. For a free case evaluation, call us at (770) 931-9604 or contact us online.
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Zdrilich Injury Law is committed to helping injured Georgians receive the money they need to recover physically and financially after an accident.
Zdrilich Injury Law, LLC providers one-on-one representation to car accident, truck accident and workers’ compensation clients in Georgia.
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Phone:
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Pooler, GA 31322
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