In Augusta, all car owners are required to have insurance. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean everyone follows the law. Statewide approximately 12% of drivers are not insured—that’s nearly 1 in 8 cars on the road. Many others are “underinsured,” meaning they may have an insurance policy but not enough to cover the typical costs of a car accident. If you are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you still have legal rights. You should speak to an Augusta uninsured motorist accident lawyer.
John Foy & Associates can help. We are one of the largest, most experienced car accident law firms servicing the Augusta area. Our firm began over 20 years ago as a small local law office, and has now become one of the most respected law firms in the country. We make it our mission to explore every legal avenue for getting you the financial recovery you need—even if the other driver is not insured.
With the help of a car accident lawyer in Augusta, GA, you can seek compensation for your injuries and hold the guilty party accountable. Let us give you a free consultation to discuss your legal options. There is no fee until we win. Contact our legal team now to get the support you deserve.
I Was in an Accident in Augusta and the Other Driver Had No Insurance. What Should I Do?
The most important thing to do at any car accident scene, if you do not need emergency medical attention, is to be your own best advocate. This means taking basic steps to protect yourself and gather the information you’ll need for your case.
Our personal injury lawyers in Augusta will tell you everything you need to know about how you can protect the value of your claim.
Some ways you can do this include:
- Always call the police. The other driver may offer to work this out just between the two of you—especially if they’re not insured. But you have a much stronger claim if there is a police report on the accident. Call the police immediately.
- Get the other driver’s information. Exchange information with the other driver, and ask to see their driver’s license so you know their real name. Even if they aren’t insured, you or your lawyer will need to be able to contact them later.
- Be the calm one. The other driver may lose their cool at the accident scene, especially if they have no insurance. They may even try to blame you. Do your best to be calm, and do not admit fault or try to justify yourself. Wait for the police.
- Talk to witnesses. If anyone else saw what happened, ask them for their contact information. Their statement could be invaluable later.
- Take pictures. The best thing to do while waiting for the police to arrive, after checking that everyone is okay, is to take pictures of what happened—including the cars, close ups of damage or injuries, and a zoomed out picture of the accident scene.
- Go to the doctor. Many accident victims don’t go to the doctor unless they feel they absolutely have to. But even minor injuries should be looked at as soon as possible. Go to a doctor right away.
You should also speak to a car accident lawyer. You are entitled to recover the full cost of your injuries or damages, but you need a legal professional on your side from the beginning—particularly if the other driver is not insured.
What Sorts of Damages Could I Recover from an Uninsured Motorist?
You are entitled to the same financial recovery whether they have insurance or not. This includes costs such as:
- Doctor/hospital visits
- Medication
- Physical therapy or rehabilitative treatments
- Compensation for serious injuries or disabilities
- Car repairs
- Lost wages
How Can I Recover Money If the Other Driver doesn’t Have Insurance?
It depends on how much (if any) insurance they have. In the City of Augusta—and statewide—all drivers are supposed to carry insurance including:
- $25,000 or more bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 or more bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 or more property damage liability
Even if a driver carries this insurance, however, it’s often not enough. Medical bills can easily exceed $25,000—or even $100,000. If your car is totaled, the property damage insurance may not be enough either.
At John Foy & Associates, we urge all of our clients to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance, so that your own insurance company will pay if the other party cannot. But if you’ve already had an accident, we realize it may be too late. Fortunately the law gives you the right to recover your costs whether they are insured or not, and we have a number of tools we use to help you do this:
- The driver may have other insurance policies that could cover part of the cost
- Another party involved in the accident may have insurance
- Your own insurance policy could potentially cover part of the cost
- The other driver can be forced to pay your costs out of pocket
- If they cannot pay out of pocket, they may be able to sell some assets or even have their wages garnished
We realize that no one wants to take action against another driver. But you cannot afford to be tens of thousands of dollars in debt because someone else was irresponsible. We will help you get the money you are entitled to.
Atlanta Roots, Nationwide Reach.
Distance is no obstacle. We work with clients across the country and make sure every one of them feels taken care of, no matter how far the call travels.
The Insurance Company Says Their Client Is Only Insured for a Small Amount. Should I Take Their Offer?
No, you should never agree to an insurance settlement without talking to a lawyer first—especially if their offer doesn’t cover all your costs. In order to claim the money, you will have to sign away your right to any further recovery. It’s not worth it.
When you contact us, we will examine both your insurance policy and the other driver’s, if they have one, and find any clause or option that might cover part of your cost. We will also have our investigator see if there are any other policies that could possibly cover the accident. You could get far more than the insurance company originally offered.
How Much Time do I Have to File a Claim for My Car Accident in Augusta?
The local courts in Augusta follow statutes of limitations set by both Georgia law and US law. These statutes set strict deadlines for all car accident claims—and you need to act fast. At the absolute most you have up to two years to file your claim, but in some cases you may have only weeks. And if you miss the deadline, you give up your right to a financial recovery forever.
Talk to an Augusta Car Accident Lawyer for Free
John Foy & Associates was founded to help accident victims put their lives back together. We offer a free consultation with some of the most experienced car accident lawyers in the state. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Call us at 706-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
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