The Importance of Uninsured/Underinsured (UM) Coverage in Georgia

One trend that we notice at York Gaskill is that car insurance is being sold increasingly through the internet and over the phone to car owners. Fewer and fewer people rely on well-developed relationships with insurance agents which can make choosing the proper car insurance coverage difficult. As a result, many people choose their insurance coverage in a hurried manner that is based predominantly on price. Conversely, consulting with an agent in person allows an individual the opportunity to receive advice and counsel about the insurance they are purchasing. Many people do not realize that saving money on your monthly premium but not choosing the proper car insurance coverage may cost you dearly in the long run.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (UM) Coverage is an area in which people often choose to save money without understanding what they are giving up in coverage. Many individuals may not even understand what this type of coverage is. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage is defined as follows:

• Uninsured Motorist Coverage provides bodily injury coverage if an at-fault driver does not carry liability insurance coverage at all.

• Underinsured Motorist Coverage provides bodily injury coverage if the at-fault driver does not carry enough insurance to cover all injuries.

Georgia law only requires a driver to be insured for $25,000 to an injured person with an aggregate in a wreck of $50,000. For example, if you are a single occupant in your vehicle and are injured by a minimally insured driver and your bodily injury damages are $50,000, then the at-fault’s insurance would only cover $25,000 of those damages. Your uninsured motorist coverage would potentially cover the balance.

Unfortunately, many drivers in Georgia are not meeting the set insurance requirements. According to the Insurance Research Council, an average of 10% of Georgia drivers do not have the mandatory insurance required by law. Even those with insurance often only carry the minimum amounts.

When you are driving and are at-fault in an auto accident, your liability insurance will cover the damage and injury you caused in the accident. This is not necessarily the case if another driver hits you. You can’t assume they will have the proper coverage to pay you for your losses and injuries after the accident.

If the at-fault party in your accident doesn’t have the insurance or financial resources to pay for your damages, you will be on the hook for them. The medical expenses, loss of income, and property damages can be extensive after a bad accident. Your liability insurance will not protect you under these circumstances. This is why it is so important to protect yourself with Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage.

For a better understanding of uninsured and underinsured coverage, we recommend that you sit down in person with your agent and review your coverages. If you do not have an agent with whom you are able to meet, we highly recommend Joseph Mansour with Liberty Mutual(678.414.6241) in Gwinnett County or Bryan Hayes with State Farm (678.383.6549) in Cobb, Dekalb, North Fulton, and Forsyth Counties. Both regularly provide policy reviews for clients and potential clients. They are highly respected agents in the industry.

When you are the victim of another driver’s reckless or negligent driving, you need an experienced car accident attorney on your side. Sorting through the insurance coverage, legal ramifications, and liability issues require knowledge and expertise. At York Gaskill, we understand Georgia laws and how insurance coverage can impact your case. As with any Personal Injurycase, there are no fees unless you win. Call our law firm in Gwinnett at 678.697.6789 or send us a message for a free consultation.