If you’ve been in a car accident in Jonesboro, you might assume the worst is over once the vehicles have come to a stop. Unfortunately, many accident victims are soon met with a sinking feeling as it becomes clear that the other driver is uninsured.
Driving without insurance is illegal in Georgia, but that doesn’t stop many people from doing it—and it can put you, the accident victim, in a very difficult position. Don’t give up. Take the time to talk to a Jonesboro uninsured motorist accident lawyer.
In Jonesboro, you may be able to recover money even if the other driver is uninsured. But it’s often difficult to do without legal assistance. The lawyers of John Foy & Associates have over 20 years of experience fighting uninsured motorist cases and bringing back money for those who were injured. Let us give you a FREE consultation to help you get started.
Give us a call at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
How do I Recover Money in an Accident With an Uninsured Motorist?
Most people assume that if the at-fault driver is uninsured, the victims are out of luck. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Georgia law is clear that the driver is still liable, and the law includes a number of protections for people in your situation.
In some cases you will still be able to recover a large portion of the money you are owed, and in many cases you will be able to recover all of it.
There are two main ways you can recover money when the other driver was uninsured:
- Uninsured motorist coverage, which is a line of insurance on your own policy designed to protect you if an uninsured driver hits you.
- A claim against the driver themselves. These claims may take time to pay you the full amount you’re owed, but they can help make you whole when there is little or no insurance money available.
Depending on your situation, either or both of these may be an option for you.
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How does Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance Work? Am I Covered?
Most accidents involving an uninsured driver end up turning to a type of insurance called uninsured motorist/under-insured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This is a line of coverage on your own policy that pays you money for your damages if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance (or not enough insurance). There are two kinds:
- Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage protects you if the driver has no insurance at all.
- Underinsured Motorist (UIM) protects you if the at-fault driver has some insurance, but not enough to cover your costs.
If you have one type of coverage you typically have both. For most people, they are virtually the same thing in most circumstances.
In Jonesboro, there’s both good news and bad news about this coverage:
- The good news is Georgia state law says that your insurance company MUST offer you UM/UIM coveragewhen you sign up for car insurance. You can turn down this coverage, but unless you actively chose to do so, you’re already covered. Many people have this coverage without even realizing it.
- The bad news is that UM/UIM policies are very complex, and your insurer may not make it easy for you to collect. In fact, many UM/UIM policies are designed to pay out much less than you might expect—especially if you don’t have legal help negotiating your claim.
Despite this complexity, UM/UIM insurance is typically your first line of defense in a claim involving an uninsured motorist. A good car accident lawyer can help you understand your policy, file your claim in the most effective way, and recover the largest amount possible.
What If I Need to Get Money from the Driver Themselves?
Even with UM/UIM coverage, there are many situations where your costs and damages will be greater than the amount your insurance will pay. You do NOT have to be left paying the difference—but you will need to file a legal claim and seek damages from the driver themselves.
We usually recommend this only as a fallback option if the UM policy and other relevant policies are tapped out.
In order to recover money from the driver, you’ll likely have to file a lawsuit against them in the county courts. This is not something you should do on your own; both the legal system and the process of negotiating an outcome are extremely complex.
However, it’s a relatively straightforward process for an experienced attorney, and in many cases you will resolve it without ever having to go to trial.
Here’s what you can expect if you go this route:
- The other driver may be able to pay some amount out of pocket. This can help you cover immediate expenses like medical bills that have come due.
- Next, the court may order that the driver’s wages be garnished. That means you receive money every few weeks when they get paid, and it comes out of their check before they get a chance to touch it.
- Finally, the court may also put a lien on any large asset they have, like a home. If they ever sell the asset and still owe you money, your money comes off the top of the sale.
This process can be slow, and it may take months or years to get all the money you’re owed—but in many cases, you will get it. And you don’t have to struggle with bills the whole time.
We may be able to help you defer medical costs or other accident-related expenses until the money from the driver becomes available.
No matter how your accident happened, never give up just because the other driver is uninsured. You do NOT deserve to walk away with tens of thousands of dollars of debt for an accident you didn’t cause. Take the time to talk to a lawyer—it’s worth it.
Talk to a Jonesboro Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer for Free
John Foy & Associates has the experience to win cases—and we always work for the victim. We charge you NOTHING if we don’t recover money for you. Let us give you a free consultation and help you get the money you deserve.
Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to schedule your FREE consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
