Brunswick
Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

In Georgia, many drivers on the road are either uninsured or underinsured. While there is a mandatory auto insurance law for all drivers in Georgia and in most other states, some do not carry sufficient insurance coverage. When this is the case, the possibility exists for an uninsured motorist accident to occur. 

A Brunswick car accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates can guide you through the claim process and ensure you get the right compensation.

What Is an Uninsured Motorist? 

An uninsured motorist is someone involved in a car accident who does not have auto insurance coverage. In the auto insurance policy, there is a component that gives coverage to the policyholder if he or she is involved in an accident where the other person does not carry insurance or is not having sufficient insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage is more of an add-on to the existing policy that will help the policyholder pay for his or her damages and injury caused by an accident involving an uninsured driver.

10 Things You Should Know About an Uninsured Motorist Accident

If you are hit by an uninsured motorist, then the situation can be overwhelming, and it can leave you perplexed. The harsh reality is that around 13% of drivers are not carrying insurance, and 12% of drivers in Georgia are uninsured. Here are 10 things that you should know if you are in an accident that involves an uninsured motorist

1. How to obtain compensation after the accident: Post the accident, the situation can be very traumatic with injuries and piling up medical bills. Do you know that you can actually go ahead and file a claim if you are involved in such a situation?
2. Personal Injury Protection Insurance: If we look at states like New York and New Jersey, the no-fault laws state each one has to pay their own bills. However, with PIP, in some states, minor accident coverage is taken care of.
3. Uninsured motorist coverage: Uninsured motorist coverage is a subsection that provides good coverage to the policyholder if he or she is involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. This coverage will take care of the damages to the vehicle as well as personal injuries.
4. Collision insurance: In case the policy linked to your vehicle is a liability-only one, then chances are that you are not covered in case there is an accident involved. Most drivers use this component to cover the damages to vehicles in an accident.
5. Health insurance: Depending upon the severity of the accident, one might suffer injuries that can be covered by the PIP section in the auto insurance policy. However, if the injuries are severe, then one might want to seek the help of their health insurance to cover the expenses.
6. Lawsuit: If the accident involves an uninsured driver, then you might want to file a lawsuit so that you are compensated for the current damages and expenses and future ones too.
7. Vehicle manufacturer: If the accident was caused by a defect in the vehicle, which the manufacturer did not address, then you can file a claim against the manufacturer of the vehicle. It is the job of the manufacturer to ensure that each vehicle that is used on the road is safe and ready to use and does not have any defects.
8. The mechanic who repaired the vehicle: Usually, mechanics are responsible for taking care of complex repairs in a vehicle. If there is an accident due to the callousness of the mechanic, then it can lead to a severe accident. In such cases, one can file a claim against the mechanic as well.
9. Owner of the vehicle: If the owner of the vehicle allowed an uninsured driver behind the wheels on purpose, then it is also the fault of the owner. It is also the responsibility of the owner to maintain the vehicle in proper condition. 
10. The company that employs the driver: If the driver who was involved in the accident is working for a company, then the company can share the liability in case the driver is involved in the accident.

5 Steps to Take if You’re in an Uninsured Motorist Accident

Here are five steps you need to take once you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist.

1. File a report with the police: Many times, the uninsured driver may request you not to report for many reasons, but in the end, you must ensure that your damages are covered, and filing a report with the police is the first step. If you don’t file the report, chances are that your insurance company will not process your claims.
2. Do not accept full or partial liability: Under no circumstance should you accept any liability, not even a partial liability. If you do, then your insurance company not only has to pay for your damages but also for the other driver’s damages
3. Get a medical evaluation: Even though you may feel that there are no injuries at the time of the accident, some of these injuries resurface after a few days. Hence, it is important to immediately seek a medical assessment.
4. Contact your insurance company: If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, then it is important that you reach out to your auto insurance company and your health insurance company.
5. Obtain an experienced Brunswick uninsured motorist accident lawyer: If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, then the process can be a bit tedious, and if you are not sure of how to go about it, it is better you sign up a good attorney who can help you in this process.

Uninsured Motorist Accident Compensation 

There are different types of compensation to consider for an uninsured motorist accident. Four main categories fall into this group. 

1. Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM or UMBI). Pays when the driver that causes the accident is at fault.
2. Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD). Covers damages to your car if it is caused by an uninsured driver.
3. Underinsured motorist bodily injury (UIM or UIMBI). Pays when the other driver is not carrying sufficient liability coverage to cover your medical and other expenses.
4. Underinsured motorist property damage (UIMPD). This covers the damage to your car if the other driver is not having sufficient liability insurance.

Usually, UM coverage is reflected in two numbers – 10/30. What does this mean?

• $10,000 bodily injury coverage per person
• $30,000 bodily injury coverage per accident

So, if four people are involved in an accident, then the UM coverage will be capped at $30,000. However, you can switch to your health insurance in case expenses are beyond the UM coverage.

How a Lawyer Can Help You File a Successful Claim

Seeking legal intervention is important and having a good lawyer is critical as he or she can help you in various ways, such as:

• Review your insurance policies and guide you
• Negotiate with your insurance company if required
• Be your support throughout the claim process
• Prepare your claim file for compensation

Contact a Brunswick Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Today

If you are in or around Brunswick and have been involved in an uninsured motorist accident, it is important to have a good lawyer by your side. An experienced and knowledgeable Brunswick uninsured motorist accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates can help you in the claims process and guide you through the process of obtaining compensation. They will also work with the insurance companies to cut through the jargon and give you clear direction. 

Get a case evaluation by reaching out to John Foy & Associates today.