Car accidents can be terrifying and bewildering experiences, particularly if they were not your responsibility. Georgia law allows you to file an insurance claim for the damages caused by others on the road; we explain here who pays and what compensation might be awarded after an auto accident occurs.
Typically, the insurance company of the person at fault will cover repairs for car damage; however, this depends on your state laws and policy details. A police report can often help to identify who caused a collision; however, in many cases a judge or jury must ultimately make this determination after hearing expert testimony from both sides.
Medical expenses are one of the primary forms of compensation following a car accident. These costs may include ambulance rides, hospital visits, diagnostic imaging tests, prescription medications and physical therapy sessions – depending on how severe your injuries are, this amount could increase accordingly from an at-fault driver’s insurance.
Accident-related expenses, such as lost wages if you can no longer work and other medical costs related to injuries sustained are also likely. With luck, the insurer of the person at fault should cover your losses and damages; but if this coverage falls short of meeting all your needs, uninsured motorist coverage (uninsured motorist coverage – required in most states) might provide another solution.
Your health insurance may help cover some of the expenses related to an accident; however, this should only be used after you have exhausted your no-fault coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage can also act as a supplement and help cover medical bills, income losses and damages in cases when an at-fault driver doesn’t carry enough coverage to fully compensate them.
Apart from insurance policies, if your injuries are severe enough you may also be entitled to sue for pain and suffering damages from the other driver if they contributed substantially to your accident-related injuries. Proving this fact may prove challenging and will require assistance from an experienced car accident attorney.
No matter what form of compensation you seek, the insurance company representing the party at fault will likely offer a settlement offer soon after your injury occurs. Once accepted, they will pay out according to their policy limits; if this offer seems inadequate for your needs, legal action can be taken against them to get what is owed to you; although most car accident claims tend to settle out-of-court; in fact a Martindale-Nolo study revealed that 98% of those receiving compensation through out-of-court settlement.
