Bainbridge
Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

Car accidents in Bainbridge are troubling enough, but what happens if you also find out the other driver doesn’t have insurance? Although anyone who owns a vehicle in Georgia is legally required to carry car insurance, many drivers still try to get away with not having it—leaving car accident victims without effective coverage after an accident. 

If you were hit by a driver who is uninsured (or underinsured), know that you still have the right to FULL recovery of your costs like medical bills, vehicle repairs, and more. An experienced Bainbridge car accident lawyer can help you get the recovery you need and deserve. 

For more than 20 years, John Foy & Associates have been helping victims of accidents seek the financial recovery needed to recover and move on from the accident. We have a strong history of success with uninsured driver claims so the victims can get the money they’re entitled to for an accident they didn’t cause.

Don’t assume financial recovery isn’t an option just because the other driver has no or insufficient insurance coverage. Call us today for a FREE consultation where we’ll hear about your situation and explore your options. For the free consultation, call us today at 404-400-4000, or complete the form to the right.

How do I Know If the Person Who Hit Me Has Insurance?

After a car accident in Georgia, along with calling the police and taking pictures of the scene, you’ll want to exchange insurance information with the other driver. This is a good time to find out about the other driver’s policy. Many times, uninsured or underinsured drivers will use tactics to try and avoid calling the police and reporting the accident. They might ask to handle the accident just between you two or even try fleeing the scene. 

If the other driver refuses to share insurance information with you, the chances are good it’s because they can’t have any coverage. Mention this to police, and call an uninsured motorist accident lawyer who can help you with the next best steps. 

What Is Uninsured Motorist Insurance?

Uninsured Motorist Coverage, also known as Uninsured Motorist (UM) Insurance, is a type of insurance that will pay for your damages if the other driver in the accident:

• Doesn’t have insurance
• Doesn’t have enough insurance
• Fled the scene after the accident
• Can’t be found or identified
• Or hit you when you were walking or on a bicycle if your car insurance wouldn’t usually apply

In Georgia, car insurance companies must offer you this coverage—so unless you opted out of it when signing up for insurance, you likely have it already it even if you didn’t realize. In most cases, UM Insurance will cover your costs up to a maximum amount if you were injured in an accident with an uninsured driver.

There are two different types of Uninsured Motorist Insurance:

1. The traditional kind: “Reducing” or “non-stacking” where the total policy amount is reduced by any insurance the other driver carries. For example; if the other driver is underinsured and has $75,000 coverage and you have $100,000 coverage through your UM insurance, the other driver’s insurance will pay out first and your coverage will pay the $25,000 difference.
2. The newer “add-on,” “excess,” or “stacking” insurance: Since 2009, this insurance has been offered as the better option, when available. Under this insurance, your coverage amount is added to any coverage the other driver might have. In the above example, you would get your UM coverage plus the other driver’s coverage, totaling $175,000.

What Damages Can I Recover from an Uninsured Driver?

If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you’re entitled to recovery for the FULL costs of your accident. This includes:

• Medical costs: doctor visits, medical bills, hospital stays, prescription medications, and ongoing treatment for injuries
• Lost wages from time taken off work because of the accident
• Vehicle repair costs from the accident, including replacement if your vehicle was totaled
• Physical therapy or other long-term costs related to getting better, such as rehabilitation
• Wrongful death costs if you lost a loved one in the accident
• Pain and suffering damages

An experienced lawyer will help you calculate these damages to see exactly what you have the right to recover, even when the other driver is uninsured.

In Bainbridge, anyone who owns a car is responsible for carrying a minimum insurance coverage:

• $25,000 in bodily injury insurance (per victim)
• $50,000 in bodily injury insurance (total)
• $25,000 in property insurance

Keep in mind that these are minimum amounts. Many times, they won’t cover all costs associated with an accident. This is where UM insurance can be helpful in covering your costs, but the local courts may order the other driver to pay money owed to you in other ways.  Working with an uninsured motorist accident lawyer is highly recommended because they can help you look for other ways to pursue damages, including:

• Looking for other insurance policies that could apply to the accident
• Seeking a court order for the other driver to pay you out of pocket—either all at once or over time through a payment plan
• Putting a lien on the driver’s home, car, or other types of property until they pay you

Talk to a Bainbridge Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer for Free

Don’t let the fact that the other driver lacks insurance scare you away from seeking the financial recovery you need to treat your injuries, cover repair costs, and deal with any other damages from your accident. You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence in upholding their duties as a car owner.

You need an uninsured motorist lawyer on your side who understands this type of case and can help you take the more efficient action against the other driver. 

At John Foy & Associates, that’s what we’re here to do. We’ve been working on uninsured motorist cases for more than two decades, and we’re dedicated to getting accident victims the money they need to recover and move on. For a FREE consultation to discuss your case and your best options, give us a call today.

Dial 404-400-4000, or fill out the form to the right for your free consultation.