Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of severe injuries, including spinal cord injuries. They are also consistently among the top causes of death for people of all ages in Georgia and across the United States. While most people can travel in vehicles for years without an incident, it only takes a moment for someone’s poor driving habits to cause massive issues for others.
Someone involved in a Georgia car crash may have numerous major expenses to cover. They may also be unable to work because of their injuries. Who typically pays for the costs generated in a car crash?
Fault determines financial liability
Most of the time, the main factor that influences financial responsibility after a collision is fault for the wreck. The car insurance program in Georgia requires liability coverage. Licensed drivers typically need to maintain a policy that can reimburse others if they are at fault for a crash.
Those injured in a crash may be able to file an insurance claim requesting compensation for property damage, medical expenses and lost wages. However, they can typically only receive, at most, the amount set as the policy limit.
Frequently, drivers in Georgia may not carry enough coverage if they cause a major collision. In fact, some drivers don’t have any insurance at all. According to insurance industry data from 2019, approximately 12.4% of drivers in Georgia don’t have proper insurance coverage. Those involved in a crash have more than a one-in-ten chance of the party who caused their crash having no coverage available.
Insurance issues may lead to civil court
After a collision puts someone in the hospital, totals their vehicle or otherwise generates massive expenses, they may need to consider taking legal action. For some people, a personal injury lawsuit could be the only realistic means of recouping the losses generated in a collision. When a driver does not have insurance or does not have enough coverage, the other people involved in the crash could potentially take direct legal action against them in pursuit of compensation.
Occasionally, it may be possible to request compensation from a third party rather than the motorist at fault for the wreck. An employer might be responsible if a worker on the clock causes a crash. Businesses could also be liable in scenarios involving defective vehicle components.
Determining who is liable and taking action in civil court may help those negatively impacted by a recent Georgia wreck reduce the financial impact the crash has on their lives.