Underinsured Motorist Accidents

Georgia Vehicle Accident Law Firm

Atlanta car accident lawyer Stephen M. Ozcomert is dedicated to helping victims of negligence recover compensation from all responsible parties, including underinsured motorists (UIM). From advising new car owners to representing injured parties, Mr. Ozcomert personally handles every aspect of your case. Rest assured that he will defend your rights against reluctant insurers and negligent drivers, and aggressively pursue the full damages to which you may be entitled under the law.

UM/UIM Statistics

Although most drivers fear being hit by uninsured motorists, studies by the Georgia Department of Transportation indicated that only 12% of drivers have no insurance. This means that personal injury victims are more likely to be hit by underinsured motorists. These drivers usually have:

• The cheapest required coverage
• Only minimum liability insurance
• $25,000 per person policy limit for bodily injury
• $25,000 policy limit for property damage
• $50,000 maximum payout per auto collision for bodily injury
• No coverage for collision or comprehensive
• No coverage for lost wages or medical bills

If the underinsured driver is indigent or “judgment-proof,” the injured party has little recourse to relief beyond the limited insurance coverage the underinsured motorist has purchased. Uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage allows insured parties to pursue the at-fault driver’s financial liability from their own insurance company. Atlanta underinsured motorist attorney Stephen M. Ozcomert has the experience needed to fight for your full compensation.

UM/UIM Coverage

Insurance companies charge higher rates to unsafe drivers with prior collisions on their record. As a result, far greater numbers of bad drivers also carry the minimum policy limit required by law. These underinsured motorists are only liable up to this limit. This means that the insurance company only has to pay $25,000 for bodily injury. This amount will likely not be sufficient to cover:

• Surgeries
• Hospital bills
• Medical devices
• Physical therapy
• Lost work income
• Physician follow-up
• Expensive car repairs
• Excess property damage
• Serious accidental injury
• Pain and suffering damages

Georgia’s UM/UIM laws allow covered drivers to stack their UIM limit with the other driver’s limit. If, for example, the other driver has a $25,000 policy limit and the injured party’s losses total $55,000, the first $25,000 would come from the at-fault driver’s policy and the next $30,000 would come from your UIM coverage. This can make a huge difference in you getting the compensation you deserve.

Understanding Insurance Coverage

Under Georgia law, your insurer cannot raise your rates nor cancel your policy if the collision with another vehicle is not your fault. Folks commonly worry that making a UIM claim will raise their rates, but this is not the case. UM/UIM coverage is critical to compensating victims for serious injuries. But understanding the difference between types of coverage and policy limits can be challenging. Georgia drivers generally have to opt-out of UM/UIM coverage in writing. Everyone should be aware of how UIM coverage benefits them in the event of a collision and buy the amount they can afford. Even with UM/UIM coverage, the advice of an experienced car accident lawyer is crucial to handling statements and disclosures with insurers. There are also written notice requirements in many policies and thus it is essential to contact an Atlanta underinsured motorist lawyer as soon as possible to protect your right to access your coverage (which can be lost if you don’t follow the policy requirements for providing notice).

Recovering UM/UIM Benefits

If you were injured in an underinsured motorist accident, Atlanta personal injury attorney Stephen M. Ozcomert can help. For over 20 years, he has successfully recovered UM/UIM benefits from adversarial insurance companies and negligent drivers. Mr. Ozcomert is devoted to maximizing your compensation as allowable under the law through an insurance settlement or at trial. Call (404) 370-1000 or contact us online today.