Table of Contents
- The Basics
- Determining The At-Fault Driver
- Getting Medical Expenses Paid For
- Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers
- Delays And Denials
- Have You Been Involved In An Accident
Insurance issues can get messy.
It seems like insurance is complicated for no reason.
You almost need a translator nearby to read your policy just like you’d need a translator to help you understand another language.
And that’s just the easy stuff.
That’s dealing with your insurance before anything goes wrong.
When things do go wrong, and multiple parties get involved, sometimes you feel like you’d make it to the top of Mt. Everest before you figure out what to do with your insurance.
If you’ve been in a car accident, the last thing you want to worry about is your car insurance.
Especially if you’ve been injured, the last thing on your mind is your insurance company.
However, insurance is critical during a car accident case.
There are several moving parts you need to take care of after your accident.
All of those moving parts need to be figured out and working together before any damages get paid and you get reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses.
In the article below, we’ll discuss insurance and any issues that can arise during your car accident case in Georgia.
I met with Harry Brown personally and he sat with me for 20 minutes at our initial consultation to explain everything. He even called after my surgery to see how I was doing. I met with him several more times after that and was kept informed about my case throughout. I highly recommend Harry Brown as an attorney.
STEVEN SWEENY, SAVANNAH
The Basics
If nothing else, car accidents will likely teach you how to manage your stress levels.
On top of physical injuries, missed work, damages to your vehicle, and emotional distress comes the task of figuring out your insurance.
There are a few basic questions that need to be answered so you can start to get things sorted.
- Who was the at-fault driver?
- How do you know you’re getting a fair settlement amount?
- How do you pay for your medical bills before the settlement is reached?
- What if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured?
- What if the insurance company unfairly delays or denies your claim?
Determining The At-Fault Driver
This is the most important aspect of your car accident claim.
You first have to decide who was at fault, and then you have to prove it.
Georgia is an at-fault state, which means the driver who caused it will be responsible for covering all damages such as medical expenses and vehicle damage.
Sometime’s it’s not clear who the at-fault driver is.
And even worse, sometimes the insurance company’s determination goes against what you believed happened.
This will make a significant difference in your case, as well as your insurance premiums moving forward.
The best thing you can do to protect yourself in these situations is to hire a lawyer immediately.
Your lawyer will protect you here, and he will also help you build your case to prove fault.
He will gather evidence, question witnesses, and completing a thorough investigation to solidify your case with the insurance company or in court.
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Getting Medical Expenses Paid For
This is where things can get really stressful.
Car accident claims can take months to settle.
The injuries you sustained, however, need to be treated right away.
So, how do you pay for your medical bills while you wait?
The short answer is that you pay for them using your insurance, or you pay out of pocket.
You will be reimbursed when your settlement is reached.
Your options until then could include:
- Med-Pay: This is an optional coverage included with some auto policies. If you have this you can use it to pay for medical bills, without deductibles, no matter who was at-fault. Your policy will explain the details.
- Health Insurance: This is the most common option. Your insurance policy is likely to cover your expenses from the beginning. However, you may have to sign a lien on your injury claim, which is an agreement to reimburse them once you’ve received your settlement. It’s very helpful to have a lawyer here so he can review the relevant documents before you sign anything.
- Payment Plan: This is where you pay for everything out-of-pocket until your settlement is reached. You can either pay everything as you go or set up a payment plan with the hospital. Some hospitals might even defer all payments if you sign a lien on your injury claim. Again, it’s important to have a lawyer with you here.
Related Post: How long do I have to make a claim after a car accident?
Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers
The state of Georgia requires that every car owner covers at least a liability policy for their vehicle.
That means if they damage someone else’s property, their insurance will take care of it.
However, not everyone abides by this rule, and some insurance plans don’t have enough coverage.
This also applies if you’ve been involved in a hit and run accident.
If you can’t find the at-fault driver, you can’t put a claim on his insurance.
In situations like this, you can look for coverage under your policy.
Georgia law requires insurance companies to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on all of their policies.
So unless you’ve rejected it, you will have coverage in situations where the at-fault driver has no insurance or inadequate insurance.
Delays and Denials
All the involved insurance companies are required to act in good faith when processing and deciding claims.
They can’t deny claims unless there are obvious and reasonable grounds for them to do so.
They also have to act quickly and can’t drag their feet when making their decision.
If an insurance company fails to conduct a meaningful investigation of your claim or delays it without reason, you can pursue accountability through a bad-faith insurance claim.
It’s important to keep in mind that insurance companies are always looking out for their best interests.
They are in the business of making money, so they look to minimize payouts and protect their bottom lines.
For this reason, and many other reasons, you should never accept a settlement without first speaking to a qualified attorney.
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Have You Been Involved In An Accident?
These are just a few of the issues that can pop up while you pursue your accident claim.
As we mentioned before, several factors can come into play during your claim.
Each of these factors needs to be handled with care so you can get everything you deserve in your settlement.
The best thing you can do is contact a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident.
The earlier you contact your lawyer, the sooner he can start building your case and gathering evidence.
If you need a lawyer to help you with your car accident claim in Georgia, the auto accident lawyers at The Brown Firm are ready to help.
They have helped countless people just like you, and they are ready to give you their full attention.
Click the button below to get started.
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