Macon Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

Why UM Claims Spike in Areas With High Commuter Turnover

The aftermath of a car accident can be painful, stressful and confusing. When the person who caused the crash does not have insurance, this adds a layer of complication to an already difficult situation.

There often are mounting medical bills to pay and vehicle damage to address. If the driver at fault is uninsured – or underinsured – there also are questions about who will pay for all of it. The good news is that you do not need to figure it out on your own.

The Macon uninsured motorist accident lawyers at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm help people and families who have been injured in a wide range of vehicle collisions. Our attorneys understand the pain and stress that can come with being involved in an accident, both for the person injured and his or her family. We are experienced attorneys who have dedicated our careers to getting our clients the full compensation available under the law.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you are not alone. Our Macon uninsured motorist accident lawyers are just a phone call away. Call us today at 478-845-6464 to speak with an attorney about your rights and options.

Uninsured Drivers Hit the Road Across Georgia

Georgia is home to one of the highest rates of uninsured motorists nationwide. More than 15% of drivers in the U.S. are uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The rate is 19% in Georgia, the seventh-highest of all states. In other words, nearly one in every five drivers on the road is not insured.

Like other states, Georgia requires drivers to have certain minimum insurance coverage. These requirements are intended to protect everyone else on the road when accidents happen. But the truth is that drivers hit the road frequently with less than the minimum required coverage or no coverage at all.

Liability insurance generally covers bodily injury and vehicle damage for car accidents caused by the insurance policyholder. State law requires drivers to have at least the following minimum coverage:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident
• Property damage liability: $25,000 per incident

These are the minimum liability insurance that drivers must carry. Anyone who is busted for driving without that coverage faces fines, license suspension and even jail time. These penalties are meant to deter uninsured driving, but they do not directly help people who are injured in accidents caused by uninsured drivers.

Why It Matters and What You Can Do

When car accidents happen, the driver who is at fault is typically liable for any injuries, vehicle damage and other consequences. Drivers in Georgia are expected to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. They are on the hook for any injuries or property damage they cause when they do not live up to that responsibility

Insurance acts as a safety net. The at-fault driver’s insurer steps in to pick up at least some of the tab.

The net does not exist when an at-fault driver is not insured. That does not mean that the driver can walk away without any responsibility, but it can make getting compensation more difficult for people injured in the collision.

If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, your own insurance policy may help.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is an optional part of your auto insurance policies that kicks in to cover some damages when the policy holder is involved in a crash with a driver who is not insured. It typically covers medical bills, missed wages and vehicle damage. UM coverage also often extends to accidents caused by hit and run drivers who flee the scene.

Georgia law requires insurers to offer UM coverage when you buy or renew your policy.

You can also go directly after an uninsured driver by filing a lawsuit. The problem, however, in many of these cases is that it can be difficult to collect. Many drivers who do not have insurance do not have the money or assets to satisfy judgments against them.

The Rise of UM Claims and High Commuter Turnover

Uninsured motorists are lurking across the state, but are increasingly likely to be found in areas with high commuter turnover. These are areas in which composition of drivers changes rapidly throughout the day as commuters travel into and out of urban centers for work and use major highways or intersections linking multiple regions.

Suburban sprawl and urban expansion have created larger commuter belts around major cities. Many working people are moving farther from urban jobs as housing costs rise, increasing the time they spend on the road and the number of commuters traversing tollways and highways daily.

The sheer volume of traffic in these areas is a big part of why uninsured motorist claims are common in these areas. More drivers on the road means more potential for accidents. In commuter hotspots, however, the volume of vehicles on the road is not just high. It is also varied and unpredictable.

An engine failure that causes a car to stall in a residential neighborhood at 7:30 a.m. on a weekday may inconvenience a handful of other drivers. If the exact same situation happens on a busy commuter route, it can trigger chain-reaction collisions involving dozens of vehicles. The more vehicles involved, the more likely one or more is being driven by someone who is not insured.

The wider range of people mixing in traffic in commuter areas also tends to boost uninsured motorist claim rates. Commuter turnover zones pull drivers from neighboring counties, states and even countries, not to mention from low-income areas farther away.

Some drivers who are new to the U.S. may not have valid licenses to operate vehicles in the country, let alone insurance coverage in the event they are involved in accidents. Other drivers may not be able to afford insurance coverage or let their policies lapse.

What Do I Do After a Crash With an Uninsured Driver?

There are a number of steps you can take in the aftermath of a crash to protect your rights. The key is to act quickly, document your case and understand your insurance and legal rights.

First, it is important to report the collision as soon as possible. If you do not need emergency medical treatment and your car can still be operated, move the vehicle to the shoulder or the side of the road and use your hazard lights to alert oncoming traffic. Then, call 911 or the local police department to report the accident and wait for an officer to arrive on the scene.

Do not take another driver’s promise to “just handle it.” Get the police involved and make sure a report is taken. The police report documents the collision, notes if the other driver lacked insurance and provides crucial evidence for later claims.

Get as much information as possible, if the driver does not immediately flee the scene.

Ask the driver for his or her full name, contact information and insurance details. Exchange your information with the driver. Take photos of the vehicles and the scene and jot down the other car’s license plate and vehicle identification number.

You should also seek medical attention, even for seemingly minor injuries. Some injuries do not fully develop right away. By seeing a doctor, you can ensure that injuries are addressed and that you have a medical record of the harm caused by the crash. That record is vital for insurance claims and lawsuits.

How Our Macon Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers Can Help

You are not required to have an attorney represent you if you are trying to hold an uninsured driver responsible for a crash or seeking to file a UM claim. There are several reasons why it is crucial to have a seasoned lawyer in your corner, however.

First, a lawyer can help you identify all responsible parties and determine how much insurance coverage they have. In addition to the at-fault driver, his or her employer, the car’s owner, its manufacturer and others involved in the crash may also share some or all of the liability.

An attorney also will work to ensure that you get the full insurance benefits for which you have paid. Insurance companies often try to settle these cases for pennies on the dollar. Our Macon uninsured motorist accident lawyers understand the strategies that insurers use to try to shirk their responsibilities and know how to make sure that they live up to their responsibilities.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Helps People Get Back on Their Feet

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our Macon uninsured motorist accident lawyers are dedicated to helping people and families who have been injured through no fault of their own. We fight diligently to protect and defend our clients rights.

Our goal is to help you move on with your life after an accident by getting the full compensation available under the law. Call our team at 478-845-6464 for a free, no-risk consultation.