No one expects to get into a car crash, but wrecks still injure thousands of people in Georgia every year and even kill some people. The consequences of a car crash can be expensive and far-reaching.
Losing a family member will mean a permanent loss of income and support for the rest of your family. Having a family member hurt in a car crash could lead to hospital bills and more household responsibilities for the uninjured family members.
Thankfully, there are laws in place to help protect individuals from the expensive consequences of car crashes. What kind of compensation can you receive after a Georgia car crash?
Insurance payments
Every driver in Georgia should have liability coverage on their vehicle, and how much they carry is largely a personal decision. Everyone needs to have a minimum amount of coverage, and they can pay for additional protection beyond that.
Their policy should include at least $25,000 each of property damage and bodily injury liability coverage. In crashes where two or more people suffer injuries, the bodily injury coverage minimum increases to $50,000 that all injured parties must share
In a crash where you are not at fault, you make a claim against the other driver’s coverage. If the other driver invested in extra coverage, there may be higher coverage limits. You may also be able to make a claim against your own policy if you carry comprehensive or collision coverage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist protection can also help reimburse you after a crash.
Compensation from civil lawsuits
When someone doesn’t have an active insurance policy or they caused massive injuries that insurance doesn’t fully cover, the Georgia civil courts offer support for the affected individuals.
Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits brought after car crashes can compensate those affected for the full amount of the losses they suffered. Documentation of the costs of medical care and the expenses to repair a vehicle can contribute to such claims, as can proof of lost income because of someone’s injury or death.
Some drivers feel rather surprised when they learn that the other driver isn’t the only one with possible civil liability. There may also be third parties who have some responsibility for the crash and whom you could hold accountable through a separate lawsuit.
Knowing the compensation options available after a motor vehicle collision can help you get the reimbursement you need for the financial impact of the crash.
