Understanding Your Georgia Auto Insurance Coverage

In Georgia, vehicle owners are required to maintain continuous auto liability coverage on their actively registered vehicles. What this coverage looks like, however, will vary depending on the type of policy in question. Unfortunately, when people buy auto insurance, they don’t always receive a clear explanation from their insurers on what they are actually getting. To help, we’ve provided a breakdown of the basic auto insurance policies in Georgia.

Car Insurance Basics

 Car insurance policies are contracts between a vehicle’s owner and an insurer, wherein the insurance company agrees to pay for any financial losses resulting from a car accident in exchange for a monthly or yearly premium. These policies typically cover physical damage and bodily injury resulting from traffic collisions, although many policyholders still have to pay what is known as an out-of-pocket deductible before insurance will actually kick in to cover the remainder of the losses up to the limits of the policy.

Types of At-Fault Insurance Policies 

Georgia is an at-fault auto insurance liability state, which means that drivers who cause accidents (and their insurers) can be held financially responsible for the injuries and property damage resulting from those crashes. Basically, drivers purchase insurance to protect themselves in the event that they cause such an accident. There are a variety of at-fault insurance policies that Georgia motorists can purchase, including:

• Liability coverage, which pays for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and legal fees, as well as vehicle damage when the policyholder is deemed to be at fault for a crash;
• Collision coverage, which pays for repairs to or the replacement of a policyholder’s own vehicle regardless of who actually caused the crash;
• Comprehensive coverage, which applies in non-crash-related cases involving theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and collisions with wildlife;
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which protects policyholders who are involved in accidents with motorists who lack sufficient coverage, or who don’t have insurance at all; and
• Medical payments coverage, which pays for a policyholder’s medical bills (as well as those incurred by their passengers) regardless of fault for the crash.

The types of coverage that a person has will largely dictate how he or she goes about pursuing compensation after an accident, so having a thorough understanding of what your own auto insurance covers is extremely important.

Reviewing and Adjusting Your Coverage 

Although it can be easy to forget about things like auto insurance, it’s important for those who purchase it to regularly review their policies (at least once a year). This gives policyholders the opportunity to ensure that their coverage is adequate and that they aren’t overpaying. Policyholders should also consider reviewing and adjusting their policies when they experience significant changes in their lives, including a change in income, the purchase of a new vehicle, or the addition of a new driver in their household. When you periodically assess your coverage, you can adjust your policies to fit your family’s current situation and better protect your financial interests.

Here to Help After Your Georgia Car Crash 

If you were involved in a car accident in Georgia for which you were not at fault, please call Shiver Hamilton Campbell before filing your insurance claim. We can walk you through your coverage and handle communications and negotiations with your insurer on your behalf. Call our experienced Marietta car accident lawyers at 404-593-0020 to get started.

Sources:

 dor.georgia.gov/motor-vehicles/vehicle-insurance-requirements

forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/types-of-car-insurance/