Although every driver on the road in Tucker, Georgia is required by law to have minimum levels of insurance, not everyone follows those laws. Someone may not carry insurance for a variety of reasons, from simple forgetfulness to not being able to afford coverage.
If the driver can’t pay for coverage, that makes it difficult to get them to pay for your damages and injuries if you’re involved in an accident with them as well. Nonetheless, you have legal options, even if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, and you should explore them with a Tucker uninsured motorist accident lawyer.
John Foy & Associates has been helping car accident victims get money for their injuries and damages for over 20 years. We take a great deal of pride in only representing victims. We won’t represent an insurance company to defend a car accident case. Instead, we put our knowledge and experience to work for victims just like you every day.
Let us give you a free consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What Happens When Someone doesn’t Have Insurance?
1. They May Not Want You to Call the Police
First, it’s important to note that not having proper insurance coverage is a crime in Tucker. That means that the other driver will get cited for not having it. It’s good to keep in mind for your sake, but it’s also important to note because someone that is involved in a car accident with you and doesn’t have insurance might try to talk you into not calling the police about the crash because they want to avoid a ticket. Don’t fall for this! It’s important to get the police involved in any type of car accident, and you have reporting requirements that you must fulfill as well.
2. They Can Still Be at Fault for the Accident but Getting Paid Might Be Harder
Just because someone doesn’t have insurance doesn’t mean that they can’t be at fault for an accident and still owe you money for your damages and injuries. The difference is that the insurance company would typically pay for those costs. If you don’t have insurance, then those expenses have to come out of your own pocket. But, if someone doesn’t have money for insurance, they also may not have money to pay you, either.
3. You May Need to Involve Your Own Insurance Coverage Instead
Although it’s not required in Tucker, Georgia, many people choose to also carry uninsured motorist coverage as part of their auto insurance. This coverage “kicks in” if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist. Instead of getting money to cover your expenses from the other driver, your own insurance company will provide it to you. Sometimes this coverage will also apply if the other driver has insurance, but it isn’t enough to address all of your losses. Check your policy—you may have this coverage and not even realize it.
4. Report the Accident to Your Own Insurance Company
Sometimes people overlook that they should report their accident to their own insurance company in addition to the other driver’s insurance carrier. It’s especially important to report the incident to your carrier if the other driver doesn’t have insurance. As soon as you realize or suspect that the other driver doesn’t have insurance, make a call to your carrier.
There are time limitations that apply to make uninsured motorist claims that vary by insurance company. Acting quickly will help you avoid any problems with these time limitations.
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How Much Insurance Are Georgia Drivers Required to Have?
Everyone in the State of Georgia is required to have minimum levels of liability insurance coverage. These minimums include:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per individual, and $50,000 per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per incident
Unfortunately, these minimums don’t go very far in serious accidents, and some minor ones. That means that even if the other driver carries these minimums, you may not have enough money available for you from their insurance company to address all of your losses.
Why do I Need an Attorney If My Own Insurance Company Is Going to Pay Me?
The goal of every insurance company is to make money. That means that they want to pay the least amount of money possible to make a claim go away—even if it’s for their own insureds. In some situations, your insurance company will only offer to pay you a portion of what your claim is worth, and you may not even realize it.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that their insurance company has their best interests in mind, even when they don’t, and that can have a serious negative impact on your claim.
You should always talk to an attorney before you accept a settlement, even if that settlement is coming from your insurance company. You don’t want to accidentally foreclose your rights when you only got a small portion of what your claim is worth.
Are There Other Situations Where Having Uninsured Motorist Coverage is Helpful?
Uninsured motorist coverage is helpful in four major circumstances:
- The other driver doesn’t have insurance
- The at-fault driver has some insurance coverage, but not enough to address your property damage and bodily injuries
- You were injured in a hit and run accident, and you or the police cannot identify the other driver
- You were hit while walking, cycling, or any other circumstance where you weren’t in your own vehicle
Some people make the mistake of thinking that there is nothing they can do after a hit and run or after an accident while you weren’t driving. But, you can actually look to your own insurance company to address losses and injuries after those types of incidents. You may not go to court for these types of claims, but you still have options for recovery. Don’t make the mistake of failing to report it to your carrier.
Talk to a Tucker Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer
Even if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you still have legal rights. Let the team at John Foy & Associates help you explore those with you. Let us give you a FREE consultation.
Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
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