Atlanta Uninsured Motorist Claims

Commonly known simply as UM coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is a form of insurance that covers drivers in the event that they are involved in an auto accident with another driver who does not have legal insurance coverage.

UM coverage is largely considered an optional insurance service. A few states require this form of coverage, with Georgia being one of them, but most do not. Like most forms of insurance coverage, UM coverage has minimum recommended policy limits, but many people find it helpful to increase the limits.

In Georgia, offering UM coverage is a requirement, and policyholders must reject UM coverage in writing at the time they initiate insurance coverage. If UM coverage is offered and rejected, then the policyholder will be held to their policy limits as written and cannot claim UM coverage after an accident if they did not already have UM coverage.

What is Covered

According to the U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), UM coverage will cover the insured driver and his or her passengers for the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

Under Georgia law, UM coverage should be at least equal to liability insurance minimum limits, which are:

• $25,000 for bodily injury or death
• $50,000 for bodily injury or death to two or more people
• $25,000 for property damage

You can learn more about Georgia’s UM insurance laws in Georgia Code Title 33 – Chapter 7: Section 11 (O.C.G.A. 33-7-11).

Importance of UM Coverage

According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), it is estimated that one out of every seven drivers on U.S. roadways is not insured. If you regularly drive around Metro Atlanta, then you know just how many drivers you are in contact with, and can imagine the odds of “bumping into” one of these uninsured drivers.

If you are in an auto accident with a driver who is not insured, you may find yourself in a battle to get the coverage you need to pay for medical expenses or property damage. When the other party in an auto accident is uninsured, there is no insurance policy for you to file a claim against. Depending on the accident and your coverage, your policy may or may not fully cover your expenses. This is where UM coverage steps in and covers you and your passengers.

Assistance with Uninsured Motorist Claims

If you or a passenger in your vehicle was injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, and you are struggling to sort through the complexities of your situation, contact our Atlanta personal injury attorneys. Our team can help you understand your coverage, work through the claims process, and, if needed, file a lawsuit on your behalf. Let us help you get the compensation you need.