In all 50 states, drivers are required to purchase automobile insurance and Georgia is no exception. According to the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, “Georgia consumers must have automobile liability insurance for at least the minimum limits required by law to drive on the Georgia public roads and highways.”
the Minimum Liability Limits For Georgia Are As Follows:
- $25,000 per a person and $50,000 per an occurrence for Bodily Injury Liability.
- $25,000 per an occurrence for Property Damage Liability.
How does this coverage work? Generally speaking, these policies provide coverage when the insured is at fault for causing bodily injury or damage to property of another person. Damages payable under the bodily injury part of the coverage includes things like the injured person’s past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, physical limitations, and lost wages. The property damage part of the coverage pays for the costs and expenses in repairing the other person’s vehicle and personal property inside the car, or the fair market value of the vehicle if it is deemed a total loss.
Collision/Comprehensive Damage Insurance
You can protect yourself from costly vehicle damage repair bills by including collision and comprehensive damage insurance on your insurance policy. These are not required by law, but banks and finance companies in Georgia usually require you to carry it in order to protect their investment in your loan. Collision coverage helps pay for the repair or replacement of your vehicle if it is damaged in a car accident you cause or incidents involving no other cars. Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, pays for the repairs or replacement of your vehicle if damaged due to things like theft, fire, vandalism, hitting a deer, and natural disasters. Typically, a deductible of your choosing will apply to this coverage.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
All Georgia drivers are legally-required to purchase liability insurance, but unfortunately that doesn’t stop some drivers from driving without it, in effect placing others at financial risk for dealing with medical bills and repair costs on their own. Sometimes it’s intentional, while other times the insurance policy lapsed and the driver was simply didn’t realize it.
If you’re in a crash with an uninsured driver, Uninsured Motorist Insurance can provide you with a source of recovery for your losses. This coverage can also apply to situations in which the at-fault driver has some coverage but not enough to satisfy your entire claim. It is important to know there are two types of Uninsured Motorist coverage: “excess” (also known as “add-on”) and “reduced” (also known as “difference in limits”). For more information on which we suggest you get, click here.
In Georgia, Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required by law, but insurance companies are required to offer and provide it to you unless you reject it. As many times as we have seen people injured by others with no or very little insurance, we strongly encourage everyone to purchase as much Uninsured Motorist Coverage as you can afford.
Looking for a Smyrna car accident attorney to file a claim on your behalf? Contact Jones & Swanson for a free case evaluation.
Categories: Auto Insurance, Georgia Laws, Insurance Claims, Medical Bills, Statute of Limitations
