Like other states, Georgia requires that motorists purchase insurance before they register their cars. Insurance provides an available pool of money to pay compensation for a variety of losses, including damage to someone’s vehicle or medical bills when another motorist suffers from bodily injuries. When someone is hurt in an accident, many questions arise over how to submit an insurance claim. Contact our law firm for help. A Georgia car accident lawyer with Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys is available to help answer questions.
Required Insurance: Liability Coverage
Georgia is a “fault” state for car accidents, which means injured victims turn to the insurance for the motorist who is at fault for the crash. This insurance is called “liability” coverage. A driver has liability when they are to blame for the crash.
As of 2025, Georgia requires 25/50/25 coverage:
- $25,000 for bodily injuries or death to one victim in an accident.
- $50,000 total available for bodily injuries or deaths when two or more people are injured in a crash.
- $25,000 in property damage coverage, which can pay to repair a car.
If you are injured in a crash, you do not make a claim on your own liability coverage. Instead, you submit an injury claim to the at-fault driver’s policy. Call our office for help finding out who is at fault for the accident. This is often a major issue in dispute.
What if You Lack Required Liability Insurance?
Some people cancel their liability insurance or let it lapse for various reasons, including trouble keeping up with premium payments. However, there are some consequences if you are caught without coverage:
- Suspension of license or registration. The state may suspend or revoke your ability to drive legally in the state.
- Criminal charges. Under Georgia Code § 40-6-10(4), failure to comply with the insurance requirements is a misdemeanor offense.
- Personal liability in a crash. If you are liable for an accident, you are fully responsible for paying compensation to injured victims, who might even try to foreclose on your property to satisfy a court judgment against you.
These are some of the most common headaches drivers confront when they drive without required insurance.
Optional Insurance Coverage in Georgia
Georgia requires liability coverage, but other insurance products can provide protection and peace of mind. Let’s look at a few.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage, called UM coverage, is insurance you purchase. If the at-fault driver lacks insurance, or if they flee the scene, then you could end up receiving nothing in compensation. That’s where UM insurance comes in. You can submit a claim when the motorist responsible is without coverage
Georgia law requires that your insurance provider offer UM coverage when you buy liability coverage. However, you could decline it in writing. Few drivers reject it, so you should be covered.
We highly recommend that you do not decline UM insurance, because you never know when you will need it. UM coverage is a life saver for people who are hurt by a fleeing motorist or someone who cancelled their policy because they could no longer afford it.
UM coverage has two components:
- UM bodily injury insurance. You tap these benefits to cover medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
- UM property damage. You can use these benefits to pay for car repairs.
Collision Coverage
This is optional car insurance in Georgia. Collision coverage will pay to repair or possibly replace a damaged car. It is no-fault insurance, so you can use it even if you are responsible for the accident.
Collision is often required by car lenders, so you should have it if you are still paying on a car loan. This insurance is helpful because of the skyrocketing cost of car repairs. Look through your papers to see if you carry it.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Called UIM insurance, this policy will kick in when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are too low. You can submit a claim on your UIM insurance for losses related to the crash, provided you are not at fault.
For example, a driver from another state might hit you. They only carry $15,000 in liability insurance, which is less than your policy limits. So you can receive additional compensation if you bring a successful UIM claim.
Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay)
This optional insurance will pay for medical care to treat accident injuries. This is no-fault insurance, so you may use it regardless of who is responsible for the crash.
Typically, Georgia motorists carry a small amount of coverage, around a few thousand dollars, but it can pay for co-pays and deductibles, as well as ambulance transportation, if you or a passenger is hurt.
We Can Help with a Car Accident Claim in Atlanta
Injured victims are often confused about how to submit insurance claims. We’re here to help. We can:
- Help gather and analyze evidence to determine fault. Fault matters when making a claim on another driver’s liability coverage or your own UM or UIM insurance.
- Determine how to submit claims. We can maximize the amount of compensation you receive by reviewing all relevant policies. For example, you might receive more if you submit a claim first to your med pay insurer.
- Negotiate with an insurer. Disagreements crop up whenever liability is in dispute. Your own UM insurer might refuse to pay out on a claim if they believe you are responsible for your accident. Let us negotiate with them to hammer out liability, as well as the value of your injuries.
- File a personal injury claim. We can also decide whether to file a lawsuit against the driver for compensation. We will get it filed before the statute of limitations expires.
Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys today. A member of our team can listen to you describe the accident and how it has impacted you. Based on your story, we can provide a preliminary estimate of the strength of your legal claim.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Call (404) 529-3476 or submit your personal details confidentially online. We have helped hundreds of motorists over the year with accident claims, and we are proud to make our services available to the entire Atlanta community.