Car insurance is a necessity for operating a motor vehicle in the state of Georgia. Most of us pay our bill and keep a copy in our vehicle, but rarely take the time to understand the terms and conditions contained in our policies. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that motor vehicle crashes are the top killer of people between ages 5 and 34 in Georgia. In 2010 alone, approximately 2.2 million people were injured in car accidents as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Traffic Safety Facts Research Note. Based on these statistics, car accidents are a deadly, and fairly common occurrence in Georgia; therefore, having the right insurance policy in place can make all the difference in recovering compensation for injuries sustained to you and your property in case of a car accident.
Georgia Auto Insurance
Georgia imposes minimum insurance requirements on drivers so they can drive on Georgia public roads and highways. Minimum requirements for liability insurance are:
Bodily injury liability coverage of $25,00 per person, $50,000 per occurrence; and
Property damage liability of $25,000 per occurrence.
Typically, liability coverage includes coverage for legal defense should you be sued as a result of an accident covered by your policy.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
Sometimes other people on the road do not have car insurance because they failed to obtain it, or they allowed their insurance to lapse. Uninsured motorist insurance is designed to protect you when uninsured drivers cause an accident that leads to the damage of your vehicle, or causes injury to you or passengers in your vehicle.
Physical Damage Insurance
Physical damage insurance is intended to pay for damage or losses with respect to your own vehicle. Two major types of insurance exist under the physical damage category.
Comprehensive coverage – pays for damage to your vehicle including contact with animals, fire, vandalism, glass break, and theft, to name a few; and
Collision coverage – this is used to repair your vehicle when physical damage is caused due to collision with another vehicle or object.
Reach Out to Us for Help
While the information above is certainly helpful at explaining insurance policy coverage, it is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how insurance works in a car accident. Make sure to discuss your policy in detail with your insurance agent. And remember, guidance from an experienced personal injury attorney is always important to help you navigate the waters of car insurance, car accidents, and the law. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact Goldstein Hayes & Lina, P.C. in Atlanta to discuss your case and insurance coverage.