Injured By An Uninsured Driver In Atlanta? We Can Help.
Georgia law requires drivers to have at least a minimum automobile liability insurance. Unfortunately, if you are severely injured in a car accident with a driver who only has the minimum required coverage, that amount of insurance will not come close to covering the cost of your medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering or other accident-related expenses.
That is why many people purchase uninsured motorist insurance coverage, commonly called UM coverage. At the Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C., we strongly encourage you to add UM coverage to your auto insurance policy if you haven’t already. If you are unsure of whether you have this type of insurance coverage after a crash, our attorneys can review your policy, determine whether you have uninsured motorist coverage and use the additional coverage to increase your compensation.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is a nuanced area of law. If you have questions, contact us today at 404-692-7474 for a free consultation. We represent injury victims in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia.
How UM Coverage Works
In our view, anyone who has automobile insurance should have UM coverage. It is not mandatory to have it, but if you don’t get it, you could be very sorry if you suffer injuries in a hit-and-run or a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Generally, UM coverage can be added to an insurance policy for a minimal additional cost that you pay in your premium. This type of coverage allows you to recover compensation for bodily injury after an accident in which the at-fault party has no insurance or does not have enough insurance. You can also use your UM coverage for a physical injury claim if the at-fault party is a hit-and-run driver who leaves the accident scene.
Typical Coverage Amounts
In Georgia, the minimum required auto insurance amounts are as follows:
Bodily injury liability: $25,000 for one injured person
Bodily injury liability: $50,000 total for multiple people injured
Property damage liability: $25,000
Considering that one hospital visit or surgery could quickly exceed $25,000, you see the importance of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
When you purchase UM insurance coverage, we recommend getting at least $100,000/$300,000 in bodily injury coverage. Also, make sure it is the add-on kind of UM coverage. This means that you are covered for up to $100,000 in UM coverage per person in an accident in addition to whatever amounts of liability coverage that the at-fault driver has. In this case, if multiple people are injured in the accident, the maximum paid out in UM coverage would be $300,000, which is far more helpful than dividing up the minimum UM coverage limits of $50,000 between multiple people.
Sometimes, people have UM insurance coverage but are not aware of it. If you are unsure about these matters after a crash with an uninsured driver, contact our lawyers as soon as possible.
There are two kinds of UM coverage:
Add-on UM coverage: This type of coverage adds to the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, providing additional protection. For example, if the at-fault driver has $25,000 in liability coverage and you have $100,000 in add-on UM coverage, you could potentially receive up to $125,000 for your injuries.
Traditional UM coverage: This coverage only protects up to the limits of your UM policy and does not add to the coverage of the at-fault driver.
Other Uses For UM Coverage
If you live with someone who has uninsured motorist insurance, you may be able apply their coverage, helping you cover more costs from the accident.
If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver or involved the victim of a hit-and-run, you can use your own UM insurance. But you can also use a relative’s UM insurance with if you were living with that person at the time of the accident. You can stack yours and their policies if you and the resident relative both had UM insurance.
This is the same if you were driving a company vehicle at the time of the accident. You can use any UM coverage available on the company vehicle’s auto insurance policy. And you can use your own personal UM insurance on your policy even if you were not in your personal vehicle. Again, you could stack both policies, if there is UM coverage on both.
Finally, if you are a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, and you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, or a hit and run driver, you may use the UM coverage on the vehicle you were a passenger in at the time of the accident. And you can also use your own personal UM coverage as well. Again you can stack both policies.
Five Steps To Take After An Accident With An Uninsured Driver
These are similar to what should take place after an accident with a fully insured driver:
Seek medical attention: Your health is the top priority. Get medical help immediately, even if you don’t feel seriously injured.
Report the accident: Notify the police and file a report. This documentation can be crucial for your claim.
Collect evidence: Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries and any property damage. If possible, gather contact information from witnesses.
Contact your insurance company: Inform your insurer about the accident as soon as possible.
Consult with an attorney: An experienced attorney can help you navigate the complexities of UM claims and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About UM Coverage
Here’s a short list of questions we often answer during our free initial consultations:
Q: What happens if the at-fault driver is uninsured?
A: Your UM coverage will kick in to cover your medical expenses, lost wages and other damages up to the limits of your policy.
Q: Can I use my UM coverage if I was a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car?
A: Yes, UM coverage can apply if you were a pedestrian or cyclist involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Q: How do I know if I have UM coverage?
A: Review your auto insurance policy or contact your insurance provider to confirm if you have UM coverage.
Q: Can I purchase more UIM after an accident?
You generally cannot purchase additional uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage specifically for an accident that already occurred. However, you can review your current policy to ensure you are maximizing the benefits available under your existing coverage. If your current UIM coverage is insufficient, you can increase your coverage limits for future incidents.
Our Commitment To You
At the Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C., we are dedicated to helping you navigate the legal and insurance complexities following an accident with an uninsured driver. Our experienced attorneys will review your policy, investigate the accident and work tirelessly to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available.
Get A Free Consultation
To arrange a free consultation, please call 404-692-7474 or email us. Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C.‘s skilled and dedicated lawyers can handle your legal and insurance matters and help you get the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Injured By An Uninsured Driver In Atlanta? We Can Help.
Georgia law requires drivers to have at least a minimum automobile liability insurance. Unfortunately, if you are severely injured in a car accident with a driver who only has the minimum required coverage, that amount of insurance will not come close to covering the cost of your medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering or other accident-related expenses.
That is why many people purchase uninsured motorist insurance coverage, commonly called UM coverage. At the Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C., we strongly encourage you to add UM coverage to your auto insurance policy if you haven’t already. If you are unsure of whether you have this type of insurance coverage after a crash, our attorneys can review your policy, determine whether you have uninsured motorist coverage and use the additional coverage to increase your compensation.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is a nuanced area of law. If you have questions, contact us today at 404-692-7474 for a free consultation. We represent injury victims in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia.
How UM Coverage Works
In our view, anyone who has automobile insurance should have UM coverage. It is not mandatory to have it, but if you don’t get it, you could be very sorry if you suffer injuries in a hit-and-run or a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Generally, UM coverage can be added to an insurance policy for a minimal additional cost that you pay in your premium. This type of coverage allows you to recover compensation for bodily injury after an accident in which the at-fault party has no insurance or does not have enough insurance. You can also use your UM coverage for a physical injury claim if the at-fault party is a hit-and-run driver who leaves the accident scene.
Typical Coverage Amounts
In Georgia, the minimum required auto insurance amounts are as follows:
Considering that one hospital visit or surgery could quickly exceed $25,000, you see the importance of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
When you purchase UM insurance coverage, we recommend getting at least $100,000/$300,000 in bodily injury coverage. Also, make sure it is the add-on kind of UM coverage. This means that you are covered for up to $100,000 in UM coverage per person in an accident in addition to whatever amounts of liability coverage that the at-fault driver has. In this case, if multiple people are injured in the accident, the maximum paid out in UM coverage would be $300,000, which is far more helpful than dividing up the minimum UM coverage limits of $50,000 between multiple people.
Sometimes, people have UM insurance coverage but are not aware of it. If you are unsure about these matters after a crash with an uninsured driver, contact our lawyers as soon as possible.
There are two kinds of UM coverage:
Add-on UM coverage: This type of coverage adds to the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, providing additional protection. For example, if the at-fault driver has $25,000 in liability coverage and you have $100,000 in add-on UM coverage, you could potentially receive up to $125,000 for your injuries.
Traditional UM coverage: This coverage only protects up to the limits of your UM policy and does not add to the coverage of the at-fault driver.
Other Uses For UM Coverage
If you live with someone who has uninsured motorist insurance, you may be able apply their coverage, helping you cover more costs from the accident.
If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver or involved the victim of a hit-and-run, you can use your own UM insurance. But you can also use a relative’s UM insurance with if you were living with that person at the time of the accident. You can stack yours and their policies if you and the resident relative both had UM insurance.
This is the same if you were driving a company vehicle at the time of the accident. You can use any UM coverage available on the company vehicle’s auto insurance policy. And you can use your own personal UM insurance on your policy even if you were not in your personal vehicle. Again, you could stack both policies, if there is UM coverage on both.
Finally, if you are a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, and you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, or a hit and run driver, you may use the UM coverage on the vehicle you were a passenger in at the time of the accident. And you can also use your own personal UM coverage as well. Again you can stack both policies.
Five Steps To Take After An Accident With An Uninsured Driver
These are similar to what should take place after an accident with a fully insured driver:
Frequently Asked Questions About UM Coverage
Here’s a short list of questions we often answer during our free initial consultations:
Q: What happens if the at-fault driver is uninsured?
A: Your UM coverage will kick in to cover your medical expenses, lost wages and other damages up to the limits of your policy.
Q: Can I use my UM coverage if I was a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car?
A: Yes, UM coverage can apply if you were a pedestrian or cyclist involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Q: How do I know if I have UM coverage?
A: Review your auto insurance policy or contact your insurance provider to confirm if you have UM coverage.
Q: Can I purchase more UIM after an accident?
You generally cannot purchase additional uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage specifically for an accident that already occurred. However, you can review your current policy to ensure you are maximizing the benefits available under your existing coverage. If your current UIM coverage is insufficient, you can increase your coverage limits for future incidents.
Our Commitment To You
At the Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C., we are dedicated to helping you navigate the legal and insurance complexities following an accident with an uninsured driver. Our experienced attorneys will review your policy, investigate the accident and work tirelessly to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available.
Get A Free Consultation
To arrange a free consultation, please call 404-692-7474 or email us. Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C.‘s skilled and dedicated lawyers can handle your legal and insurance matters and help you get the full and fair compensation you deserve.
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