What To Do If You’re Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Georgia
Let’s say you are driving down Norwich Street and another driver suddenly t-bones your vehicle. The other driver tells you that they have no auto insurance. What legal recourse do you have for any injuries you suffered in this incident? This is where uninsured motorist coverage comes into play.
Uninsured motorist coverage in Georgia is codified in O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, titled “Uninsured motorist coverage under motor vehicle liability policies.” Simply put, in Georgia, you are required to carry, at minimum, automobile insurance liability limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Uninsured motorist coverage must be at least the same as your liability coverage. What most people are unaware of, however, is that Georgia law also offers three choices for uninsured motorist coverage, namely:
- stackable uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage;
- non-stackable uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage; and
- no uninsured motorist coverage.
Stackable uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is the best policy to have, by far. In this type of coverage, you have the ability to “stack” multiple policies in order to maximize the amount of available insurance coverage. For example, if you have $50,000 of stackable uninsured motorist coverage, this would be added on top of the at-fault driver’s liability coverage that is insufficient to cover your medical expenses. So, if they had a minimum $25,000 policy, that would give you a total of $75,000 in coverage. Yes, stackable coverage costs a bit more, but is well worth the investment, especially if you are the victim of a serious accident resulting in catastrophic injuries.
As for the second type, it does not stack or add up to the driver’s available coverage, as evident from the name. So, if you happen to have $25,000 of non stackable UM insurance coverage, you are limited to that $25,000 in coverage.
For the third type, it is crucial to remember that “full coverage” in Georgia automobile accident does not include uninsured motorist coverage. This means you can carry a liability-only policy, but you run the risk of being left holding the proverbial bag if you are hit by an uninsured driver.
Contact an Experienced Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer Today to Discuss Your Insurance Questions
As you can see, insurance coverage can get quite complex, especially if you are dealing with stackable uninsured motorist coverage through your policy. That is why you should contact Gillette Law, P.A. for a free consultation. Our highly experienced personal injury law firm is centrally located to serve clients throughout Georgia.
