Car accidents that occur in Dawsonville are stressful enough on their own. It’s even worse if you discover afterwards that the other driver doesn’t have insurance. You might worry about how this will impact your financial recovery for injuries or damage. In the state of Georgie, it’s illegal to drive without car insurance coverage, but many people still unfortunately do it. This can put you in an awkward and uncertain position, but there are solutions. The best place to start is speaking with a Dawsonville uninsured motorist accident lawyer.
At John Foy & Associates, our lawyers have more than 20 years of experience helping victims of an accident with an uninsured motorist. Even if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you may still be able to recover money—so don’t give up. Give us a call today for a FREE consultation to discuss your situation and what you can do next.
Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right for your free consultation.
The Driver Who Hit Me Isn’t Insured. What do I Do?
There are certain things you should do directly following a car accident, even if the other driver is uninsured:
- Call the local police. They will be able to come to the scene and make a report of the accident. This is very important for your case because it creates a record of the accident. Even if the other motorist tries to avoid getting police involved, call them anyway. Since they’re uninsured, they’ll likely try to avoid the penalties for breaking the law, but don’t let them prevent you from having a fair case. And if you need medical attention, get it immediately.
- If you can, exchange information with the other driver. Focus on the facts. Get their driver’s license number, their first and last name, phone number, and physical and email address. Some drivers don’t have insurance because they also have no license, but ask get what you can. Avoid arguing or engaging with the other driver for more than this information.
- Document the accident. Use your phone to take as many pictures of the accident scene as you can, including all damages to your car and any injuries you suffered from the wreck. If there were any witnesses to the accident, get their names and phone numbers. Your uninsured motorist accident lawyer will use this information for your case.
- Don’t speak with insurance right away. You do need to report your accident to your insurance company, but you don’t have to answer lots of questions or give a recorded statement. Most drivers like to believe that their insurance company is on their side, but they’re a for-profit business indwell still try to pay out as little as possible in most cases. Before you make any recorded statement to any insurers, contact a Dawsonville personal injury lawyer.
It’s so important to get legal help when you get into an accident with an uninsured driver because otherwise, you could find yourself with rising medical bills or vehicle damages without anywhere to turn for help. Contact a lawyer experienced in working uninsured motorist accident cases.
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What If the Other Driver Has Insurance, But that’s Not Enough?
There’s a difference between being uninsured versus underinsured. If a driver is underinsured, they have the minimal amount of insurance coverage but not enough too cover injuries or vehicle damage from the accident. In the case of an underinsured other drive, the case is different but similar to an uninsured motorist case, and an underinsured motorist accident lawyer can help you the same way.
The insurance company for the other driver may claim their client is only covered for a certain amount of money and try to offer you an amount. Don’t take that first offer. Once you agree to a settlement amount, you’ll remove any chance of getting more money for the accident.
Even if the amount seems like enough, you can’t know for sure how much your expenses will be. For example, your injuries may be most extreme than you realize and require ongoing medical treatment. Or, physical damage to your vehicle may be most costly than you’re expecting. Plus, there could be other policies you can receive financial recovery from but aren’t aware of right away. This is why it’s so important to speak with a lawyer who is experienced in these types of cases. Always contact them before taking any money from an insurance company.
How Much Insurance Are Motorists Required to Carry in Dawsonville?
In Dawsonville and all of Georgie, drivers are required by law to carry auto insurance. However, the minimum requirement is pretty low: $25,000 for Bodily Injury Liability of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per occurrence, and Property Damage Liability of $25,000 per occurrence. That may seem like a lot of money, but in an auto accident case, it doesn’t end up going very far, especially if you suffer personal injuries that are moderate to severe. That could leave you still paying tens of thousands of dollars even with coverage.
This is why we encourage all of our clients to include Uninsured Motorist (UM) Insurance in their coverage. In most cases, UM insurance will pay for your costs (up to a maximum) if you were hit by an uninsured driver. Thankfully, Georgia law requires all car insurance companies to include this UM coverage unless you opt out of it. You may already have it without even knowing it.
Talk to a Dawsonville Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer for Free
Don’t shut the door on the possibility of financial recovery following an accident with an uninsured (or underinsured) driver. You shouldn’t have to pay for their decision to break the law and avoid responsibility. And at John Foy & Associates, we want to help you. With over two decades of experience working with victims of an uninsured motorist, we know how to win cases. And working with us is risk-free, meaning you don’t pay unless we get you the money. Plus, we’ll offer you a completely FREE consultation call to discuss your case.
Just give us a call at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right for your free consultation.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form