Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

Many Georgia car accidents result in the accident victim suffering severe injuries which can require hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. Unfortunately, some at-fault parties may have only $25,000 in insurance liability coverage. This presents a challenge to Atlanta auto accident lawyers. However, there are many other sources of recovery that can be used to compensate the client, the trick is being diligent and finding the money. Because someone is seriously injured, the incentive is great to do all we can as lawyers to find these extra sources and ensure that our clients are adequately compensated.

One source of extra insurance is uninsured/underinsured ("UM") motorist coverage. This coverage will apply for all of the client's insurance policies. It is possible that UM coverage may be available under the client's umbrella policy. It should also be noted that UM coverage will be deemed to exist if the automobile insurer did not comply with OCGA 33-7-11 and produce evidence that the insured rejected UM coverage. Additional source of UM coverage may be found on other cars or other vehicles (such as motorcycles) owned by the client (in which case the coverage would "stack").

If the injured client lives with a resident relative who is insured and has a UM policy, the client is covered under the resident relative's UM under OCGA 33-7-11(b)(1)(B). Finally, if the injured client was in a work vehicle at the time of the accident, the employer's automobile insurance policy may provide UM coverage as well.

Issues related to insurance coverage are complex. If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious automobile accident in Georgia, you should contact an experienced injury attorney as soon as possible. A thorough investigation of the facts of the case can often lead to more available insurance coverage.