Liability insurance exists to compensate individuals who get hurt in a car accident that wasn’t their fault. The at-fault driver’s insurance pays for property damage and costs associated with personal injury. Georgia law requires all drivers in the state to carry liability insurance, and the state mandates minimum amounts that must be carried. Not everybody obeys this law, however. In fact, 12% of drivers on Georgia roads don’t carry insurance. That means that if you get into an accident, the odds are greater than one in ten that the driver who hit you isn’t covered. This is where you may need an Atlanta uninsured motorist accident lawyer.

What are your options when you get hit by an uninsured driver in Atlanta? Thankfully, you likely have other choices that will allow you to secure compensation for your injuries and other legal damages. The Atlanta uninsured motorist accident attorneys at Durham Law Group can help. Call us for a free consultation after a crash. Your Atlanta uninsured motorist attorney will investigate every avenue available and fight to see that you are compensated to the maximum extent for a crash that wasn’t your fault.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage Can Pay for Your Damages

Georgia law requires drivers to carry automobile liability insurance coverage in case they cause an accident. At a minimum, this coverage must be enough to pay for $25,000 in personal injury damages if one person was injured in the accident or $50,000 if more than one person was injured, plus $25,000 to cover property damage. It’s not uncommon for some people to carry ten times that minimum amount or more, because they want to protect their personal assets (home, cars) in case they are sued by an accident victim with severe and costly injuries.

Some people don’t bother with liability insurance at all, though, thinking they will save money by not having to pay for insurance and taking the chance that they won’t get into an accident that is their fault. These people might purchase liability insurance long enough to renew their vehicle registration but then drop it as soon as they get their tag. If this happens, you’ll want an Atlanta uninsured motorist attorney to fight for you.

If you get hit by an uninsured driver, you can file a claim with your own insurance company under your Uninsured Motorist (UM) policy. By law, every auto insurance policy must come with a UM provision that will pay the insured’s damages if they get hit by an uninsured driver. The policy must provide UM coverage in at least the 25/50/25 minimum amounts of liability insurance required. If you purchased liability coverage above the minimum, you can have UM coverage that matches those higher amounts, or you can choose to only carry the minimum amount of UM. You can also decline UM coverage by rejecting it in writing when you purchase your liability policy, but given the fact that 12% of Georgia drivers are uninsured, it is probably worth it to accept at least the minimum amount of UM coverage. The UM portion of your premium is small compared to your overall policy, and you will be glad you have it if you get hit by an uninsured driver.

Uninsured Motorist Insurance Comes With Underinsured Coverage as Well

Another reason to have UM insurance is that it typically also comes with Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage. With a UIM policy, if you get hit by a driver who only carries the minimum amount of liability coverage and your damages exceed the policy limits on the negligent driver’s insurance, your UIM coverage can help make up the difference and more fully compensate you for your damages. If this happens, contact an Atlanta uninsured motorist accident attorney at Durham Law.

Get Legal Help With an Atlanta Uninsured Motorist Claim

If you end up filing a claim under your UM/UIM policy, you can still benefit by having Durham Law Group represent you. Even though you are dealing with your insurance company and not the other driver’s, you could still wind up getting underpaid by an insurance claims adjuster who tries to settle your claim for a lowball amount that doesn’t meet your needs. Our Atlanta auto accident lawyers handle car accident cases every day. We know what your claim is worth and can make sure the insurer is treating you fairly.

If both you and the other driver are uninsured, we might be able to help you file a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver. If successful in obtaining a judgment, we can go after any valuable assets they own and make them pay for the damages they caused by their negligence. For more information, contact an Atlanta uninsured motorist accident lawyer.

For the Best Atlanta Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorney, Contact Durham Law Group

If you’ve been hurt by an uninsured driver in Atlanta, call the Durham Law Group at 404-845-3434 to discuss your options. We bring together a diverse group of auto accident attorneys with a wide breadth of experience and are capable of getting compensation for you through whatever legal means exist. Call your Atlanta uninsured motorist attorney today!