What are some critical additional coverages needed for my Georgia auto policy?

In my last post about car wrecks and car insurance in Georgia, I walked you through an automobile insurance policy and discussed my thoughts on coverage types and amounts. Today I’m going to go over a couple other types of coverage and weigh in on the merits of those.

First up is Uninsured/Under-insured Motorist coverage. This type of coverage is incredibly important and could make the difference in whether or not you are in a poor position financially post-accident. Historically speaking, the accidents that cause the most damage physically and financially typically arise from collisions with uninsured and under-insured drivers. The reason behind this is fairly simple:  people with poor driving skills tend to have a higher overall number of speeding tickets and prior collisions. This makes insurance rates more expensive, and decent coverage may take a back seat to affordability. A lack in the other guy’s coverage probably means you don’t get your costs anywhere near covered by the under-insured party.

Most Georgia drivers drive with the minimum mandatory limits of $25,000. When you factor in the costs of most basic care (ambulance ride, ER fee, physician fee, all applicable tests or scans) in the form of a visit to the emergency room, that $25,000 might be sufficient. If you add in an injury that requires a specialist or any long-term care, $25K will likely be woefully short of the medical expense mark. Keep in mind, we’ve not even considered things like downtime and related loss of income yet. Thus the term ‘under-insured’: the other driver isn’t insured enough, and under-insured motorist coverages bridges the gap.

Also keep in mind that some drivers break the law and don’t carry insurance on themselves at all. Can you imagine having to pay out of pocket on an accident that isn’t your fault? That’s where the words ‘uninsured coverage’ enter your life.

In a case with substantial injury, Georgia uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance plays a huge role. These coverages step in and take over where the other driver’s insurance leaves off (or, in some cases, is nonexistent). I suggest carrying a minimum of $100,000 in UM coverage on yourself.

A second type of coverage I feel strongly about is known as medical payments insurance. Most savvy agents will suggest you include this, but in case yours hasn’t, I urge you to look into it. This coverage directly benefits you and your passengers if you or they are hurt in an accident. It pays out no matter who caused the wreck and doesn’t have to be paid back if you recover funds from an at-fault party. It’s pretty inexpensive, and I recommend a minimum of $5,000 per person.

As always, the Georgia accident lawyers at Moebes Law, LLC are available to answer your questions about your case and your rights under Georgia law. Get in touch with us!

(photo source here)