All licensed drivers with a registered vehicle are required by law to carry minimum insurance coverage. However, despite the fact that this is a legal requirement, there are still drivers out there who drive without insurance. If you’re a victim of an accident involving an uninsured motorist, contact the police to file a report then call an uninsured motorist accident lawyer near McDonough as soon as possible.
Getting involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist can be very frustrating. You pay for insurance and drive safely, and then an uninsured motorist ignores the rules of the road, drives illegally and causes an accident. This can be very difficult to deal with. You may feel defeated. What do you do?
You may have heard that somebody who is not paying insurance may be doing so because they cannot afford it. But this means you’re in an even worse situation. If you do sue, who can you go after in a lawsuit? Will you ever receive compensation for the property damages, medical bills, and emergency expenses that you have incurred because of the accident you had with an uninsured motorist?
To find the answer to many of these questions, you need the advice of an uninsured motorist lawyer. An uninsured motorist attorney can thoroughly examine your case and deliver advice on how to proceed in a way that is best for you. Keep in mind that despite the fact that insurance is a legal requirement, there are many drivers on the road who fail to abide by the law. An uninsured motorist lawyer will be in the best possible position to advise you as to how you should proceed based on the specifics of your case.
How Many Uninsured Drivers Are on the Roads in Georgia?
Research shows that about 12% of all drivers in the state of Georgia don’t have insurance. This percentage is slightly less than the national average of 13%. But the fact is that there are drivers who are out on the road, driving their vehicles without insurance. For those who are unfortunate enough to get involved in an accident with such a driver, there is a significant hassle in receiving compensation for any damages they might incur because of the accident.
What to Do After an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist: Call an Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer
The very first thing you should do after an accident with an uninsured motorist is to contact the police. The police will arrive at the scene and will quickly determine who is insured and who is not. The state of Georgia requires a minimum of liability insurance for all licensed drivers. You don’t have to worry as far as that aspect is concerned. However, if you have suffered significant bodily injury or property damage, you do need to contact an uninsured motorist lawyer to determine how you can seek compensation since the other driver has no insurance.
At the scene of the accident, you can also help your uninsured motorist lawyer by collecting as much information as possible. This is only applicable if you are not hurt and if you do not require immediate hospitalization. Be cautious as many uninsured drivers also do not have a valid driver’s license. Ask for key information such as their name, address, and phone number, and take down the car’s information.
These can all be helpful pieces of information in case there is difficulty reaching the driver after the accident. If the other driver refuses to provide their personal information, contact the police department and inform them of the situation. Be very cautious when speaking with uninsured motorists who refuse to provide information. You don’t want any unnecessary confrontation. Just call an uninsured motorist accident lawyer for help.
You should also Inform both your insurance company and your personal injury lawyer that t the other motorist is not insured. Take a lot of photos and record the names and contact information for any witnesses. These witnesses are exceptionally valuable if your claim goes into litigation.
Are You Protected from Uninsured Motorists?
Drivers are always encouraged to do a few things. First, get good insurance. Second, get uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. Third, hope you never get in an accident with someone who is un- or under-insured.
If you have uninsured motorist coverage your coverage through your own policy still might not cover everything. If you don’t have uninsured, or underinsured motorist coverage, you don’t have that safety net at all. That is why it’s always encouraged to have additional insurance. Even though you’re paying the extra cost, it can pay off big time if you end up in an accident with an uninsured driver. However, keep in mind that just because you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage in your auto insurance policy does not mean there is no way you can recover the damages that you incur from the accident. The only thing is that the process of getting compensation is slightly different as compared to a case where the other driver is insured. In the worst-case scenario, you can file a lawsuit against the other driver, and they will have to pay you compensation out-of-their pocket. In case they are unable to do so, the legal system has certain stipulations that could help you out. Discuss these options with an uninsured motorist accident lawyer.
Settlements for Uninsured Car Accidents
If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can simply file a compensation claim with your insurance company. However, keep in mind that the ultimate goal of your insurance company will be to minimize their payout. They might offer you a quick settlement. Make sure you do not sign any settlement offers without discussing them with your car accident lawyer. The insurance company may not be giving you a fair amount. Discuss all the aspects of the offer with your uninsured motorist accident attorney before you sign on the dotted line.
By offering a low settlement, you will be creating problems for yourself. For example, if you have long-term medical treatment bills, you may not be able to pay them all with the low settlement. Similarly, if your car needs replacement or has experienced severe damage, you may not receive enough compensation from your insurance company to repair or replace it. What do you do then? You consult with uninsured motorist accident attorneys that can help you work with your insurance company for all the expenses and damages they should recover for you. That is why it is not a good idea to accept the very first offer they make.
These are not rare cases, and it is even more difficult to recover losses such as lost wages or pain with a low settlement. Why pay for the additional coverage if when you need it the most, you’re left out in the cold? The coverage is great because of the protection it offers you. The point of having uninsured motorist coverage is that it would protect you if you ever get involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
Partial Fault for Georgia Car Accidents
What happens if you’re at partial fault when an auto accident in McDonough occurs with an uninsured motorist? What does that mean for you? You can be considered to be partially at fault if you were not completely compliant with safety expectations, or if you violated the rules of the road. As a driver in McDonough, GA you must follow all road signs, construction notices, and the standard rules of the road. If you fail to meet any of these expectations, it can come up during your case that you were also an unsafe driver.
This is a particularly difficult issue with uninsured motorist cases. After an investigation is complete, the evidence gathered, the police report filed, and the case brought forward, the courts will evaluate both sides of the story. There is no doubt that the other driver who is uninsured was driving illegally. But your compensation claim will be reduced by the level of your fault as well. Discuss this with your uninsured motorist accident lawyer. Remember, you should always tell your uninsured motorist accident attorney the truth. There is really no point in concealing your role in the accident. It is bound to come out at a later stage anyway.
Usually, with partial fault cases, a judge or jury will determine a percentage that will indicate to what degree you’re at fault for the accident. If you merged lanes without a signal, the partial fault is a possibility. Similarly, if you were driving while distracted, that could also be considered a partial fault. Whatever percentage they assign to your actions as partially liable, you typically absorb responsibility for that percent of the total amount of damages.
It’s not what most people like to hear. However, the partial fault is a large part of many uninsured motorist accident cases. When you are in an accident, take a lot of pictures and identify if there is any possibility that you missed a safety standard when driving. Be upfront with your uninsured motorist accident attorney regarding any concerns you had with street signs, construction signs or defects with your car that need correcting. Think of broken turn signals, missing tail lights or damaged side-view mirrors. Provide your uninsured motorist accident attorney as much information as you possibly can.
If you are completely innocent, then you are even more deserving of fair compensation. Call an uninsured motorist accident lawyer to find out how you can recover your losses.
Consult with an Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Near McDonough, GA
If you are a victim of an accident involving an uninsured driver, contact an uninsured motorist accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contacting an uninsured motorist accident lawyer near McDonough, Georgia is your first step towards correcting the wrongs that come with an accident with an uninsured motorist. Whether you currently hold uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage with your insurance company is one thing; identifying all possible legal options specific to your case is another thing.
Call the offices of The Weinstein Firm to consult with an uninsured motorist accident lawyer to increase your understanding of the different options available to you. Our legal team is well-versed with the laws in McDonough, GA and we will provide you with the best possible legal representation. We realize that being in an accident with an uninsured driver can be very frustrating, especially because you have been paying your dues and you are the one who ends up suffering when you don’t get any compensation from that driver. We will not let that happen. Our uninsured motorist accident attorneys have dealt with numerous such cases and are aware of how insurance companies can minimize payouts, how the other driver could try to put most of the blame of the accident on you and how recovering your losses could be time-consuming and frustrating.
Call us today, and our lawyers will be happy to assist you in this difficult time. A compensation case with an uninsured motorist is relatively different from a regular accident case where all parties have insurance. As it is, dealing with insurance companies can be quite challenging. In this case, there is no insurance company, and a driver who is irresponsible enough to be on the road without insurance will most likely be irresponsible enough to refuse to pay any compensation. There are legal ways around this situation. We will outline the measures that we could take to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call our office and book your first consultation today, which is absolutely free. We will gather all the details from you, and you can answer any questions that you might have regarding your case. Together, we can work to ensure that the illegal driver pays for their negligence and is held accountable for their irresponsible behavior.
