Navigating Complex Issues around Car Wrecks and Atlanta Auto Insurance
Having Atlanta auto insurance is required by state law, and if you get into a wreck, it is one of the first pieces of information for which you will be asked.
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What Atlanta Auto Insurance Do You Require?
Auto insurance is a policy that motor vehicle owners purchase to help protect them from the costs they may incur from an accident. Namely, instead of paying for an accident, they pay monthly premiums to the insurance company and, in turn, the company covers the risk and most or sometimes all of the costs of an accident and the damage done to the other vehicle.
Insurance rates in Atlanta depend on several factors. These include the policy holder’s gender (women receive lower rates), age, driving experience, and accident history. Not all states require drivers to have insurance, but many mandate that motorists have the minimum coverage to protect themselves. The minimum insurance varies based on the state, but many people opt for full coverage in case of an accident. Also, if you are leasing a car, you may be required to have certain insurance in Atlanta, GA.
A bad driving record or choosing maximum coverage will lead to higher car insurance rates in Atlanta. Minimum coverage means you are assuming risk, which means your deductible will increase. If you have had a car wreck in Atlanta GA and are concerned about paying for the damages or future care insurance increases, reach out to The Orlando Firm to explore your options.
What Do Atlanta Auto Insurance Companies Cover?
When you pay a premium, Atlanta auto insurance companies agree to pay losses as outlined in your policy. Car insurance in Atlanta, GA may include:
- Property – Theft of your vehicle or damage to it.
- Liability – Legal responsibility for injury to others or damage to others’ vehicles.
- Medical – The cost of hospital visits, rehabilitation, loss of wages, and funeral expenses.
Policies are priced in such a way that lets you customize a plan to fit your budget and needs. The cheapest car insurance coverage will provide the least coverage in case of an accident. They usually last six to twelve months and can be renewed. The policyholder will be notified by the Atlanta GA car insurance company when it is time to renew.
Atlanta Auto Insurance Agent Covers the Following
Even if your state does not require minimum insurance, an Atlanta auto insurance agent will explain that nearly every state requires drivers to have bodily injury liability. This will cover the costs of injuries or death you cause or someone driving your car may cause.
States may also require property damage liability, which reimburses others for damage you cause. Atlanta, GA attorneys can help if you require assistance litigating or obtaining damages for:
Many states require you to have coverage for medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP) to help with injuries suffered by you or your passengers. This also covers the loss of wages and other expenses. Although Georgia is not amongst the states that require drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, it is a good idea to purchase a plan if your budget allows. PIP also covers your medical bills or wages if you are the passenger in a car that is involved in an accident. PIP is sometimes known as “no-fault insurance,” and it extends to situations such as if you are hit by a car as a pedestrian or cyclist.
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you when you are in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance in Atlanta, Georgia.
What Does an Atlanta Auto Insurance Quote Cover?
An Atlanta auto insurance quote will cover anyone on the policy regardless of who is driving the car. Car insurance in Atlanta, GA will cover the life and products of someone not on your policy, too, if they are driving your vehicle.
Personal insurance covers private driving and will not cover the operation of a vehicle for commercial use. This means you can not use it to make business deliveries or drive for Uber or Lyft. If you want, you can search for available offers that allow for a work type of coverage, which can be purchased for an additional rate.
Understanding Atlanta Auto Insurance Fraud
Atlanta auto insurance fraud happens when someone seeks to benefit financially by deceiving the insurance company. While some cases of fraud are more severe than others, fraud is not a victimless crime and costs about $40 billion a year, according to the FBI.
Different Types of Automobile Insurance Georgia Fraud
If you are in an accident and the other party wants to commit insurance fraud, you should be prepared with your automobile insurance Georgia. Here are a few examples, so you can immediately report it to your insurance company:
- Jump-ins – When people claim they were injured in the accident, but they were not in the car.
- False or catastrophic injury – The other party reports injuries that did not occur and tries to make a claim against you.
- Owner give-up: A policyholder abandons their car or sets fire to it then reports it stolen.
- Claims padding: A policyholder claims more happened than did.
- Hard fraud: The term “hard fraud” refers to a situation where an individual either plans to stage an accident resulting in loss or simply claims a loss occurred when it did not. This type of fraud can result in jail time and other severe penalties. Individuals committing hard insurance fraud may try to force another driver into a collision and plant a “witness” who will claim that the other driver caused the collision. In another common example, an individual will have a partner “steal” their car and then report the car to their insurance company as stolen.
- Soft fraud: The term “soft fraud” can refer to a variety of methods used to deceive an auto insurance company. Here are a few examples:
- Missing drivers: A driver who is purchasing coverage may report to his or her insurance company that there are fewer individuals driving the car (or cars) covered by the policy than there actually are. This results in cheaper coverage for the purchaser.
- Claiming a false location: An individual purchasing coverage may report an address other than their true address when applying for coverage. Because auto insurance rates vary by location, the individual may be able to obtain a lower rate than they would be required to pay if they reported their actual address.
It is important to know that all forms of auto insurance fraud are criminal offenses.
Contact your agency for Atlanta, GA car insurance quotes to discuss affordable car insurance rates and policies and find the best cheap car insurance service in your area that still offers satisfactory coverage.
Georgia Auto Insurance Laws Require the Minimum Coverage
Georgia auto insurance laws require that drivers/policyholders must have the minimum insurance coverage for their vehicle. Although many agents offer free estimates so you can compare the cheapest car insurance rates, when choosing a provider for traffic and auto insurance coverage, you should request quotes and compare customer service options. Remember, cheap car insurance equals minimal coverage and comprehensive coverage will be far more expensive.
- Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury*: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured Motorist Property Damage*: $25,000 with a $250, $500, or $1000 deductible
Because of the ever-increasing cost of healthcare and auto repair, your agent may recommend higher limits to protect your interests. This can be advisable since injuries and even wrongful death charges are potential results of a car accident. Be sure to discuss your options with your agent to see which coverage option is best for you.
Additional Information Regarding Georgia Auto Insurance
Although most of Georgia insurance laws are straightforward, some are dependent on the age and driving history of the operator. In Georgia, fifteen-year-old teenagers can get a permit to drive upon passing a written exam. This means they can only operate a vehicle under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least twenty-one years of age.
After having a permit for at least one year and one day, meeting driver’s education requirements, and passing a driving test, teens between sixteen and eighteen can get a Class D driver’s license. This means they cannot drive between midnight and six a.m. Also, for the first six months, they cannot have any passengers who are not immediate family members. From six to twelve months, they can only have one passenger under the age of twenty-one who is not a family member. After twelve months, they can have up to three unrelated passengers who are under twenty-one in the vehicle.
Beginning in 2007, Georgia enacted Joshua’s Law, which requires that all sixteen-year-old teenagers apply for their license to complete a driver’s training course and have forty hours of supervised driving, including six at night. For teens who are seventeen, the driver’s education course is not required. However, they must still have multiple hours of supervised driving that must be verified.
Hire an Atlanta Attorney if You Have Questions about GA Car Insurance Laws after a Wreck
As comprehensive as GA car insurance laws are, unfortunately, car accidents happen. Auto insurance is a great way to protect yourself and other drivers. In Georgia, the law requires drivers to have an insurance policy. The best thing you can do is inform yourself about Georgia’s insurance requirements and what will happen if your insurance lapses.
The state of Georgia requires the owner or operator of a vehicle to have minimum insurance just in case of an accident. Anyone driving – whether they own the vehicle or not – should have insurance. Borrowing a car is not an excuse to not have insurance. If you are facing problems with Atlanta auto insurance, especially after a car accident, contact a local lawyer for assistance.
The Orlando Firm are your personal injury attorneys with the experience to win.