What is Uninsured or Under-insured motorist coverage:  Uninsured motorist coverage and Under-insured motorist coverage can be added to your auto policy and cover you for your personal injury claim if you are hurt due to the negligence of an uninsured or under-insured motorist.  The damages that are covered are your compensatory damages which include your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Do Uninsured or Under-insured motorist policies cover punitive damages?  No.  Uninsured or Under-Insured motorist coverage (UM coverage) does not cover punitive damages in Georgia.   Punitive damages are damages meant to punish a negligent driver who is guilty of bad conduct such as DUI or hit and run.  When an injured party can’t use his or her Uninsured or Under-insured motorist coverage to cover punitive damages, then the injured party often feels very frustrated.  Often the injured party is unable to recover for huge damages when they are relying on UM coverage for personal injury claims that have punitive damage exposure.

Does every auto policy in Georgia have Uninsured or Under-insured motorist coverage?   No.  Uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Georgia, but it is very, very important to have.  If you don’t have it and need it, then you are faced with the dilemma of either having no personal injury settlement or attempting to recover against the personal assets of the uninsured negligent driver.

 

 

 Free Personal Injury Evaluation:  Attorney Richard Griffin and his Atlanta personal injury claim firm will gladly evaluate your personal injury claim for free if you call the Griffin Law Firm at 877-724-6529 or 877-PAIN-LAW .  Some of the useful information you can receive includes:

  1. What auto insurance policies cover your claim?
  2. How can we verify the policy limits of each insurance policy that covers your claim?
  3. How can you get the medical treatment you need?
  4. How can you be paid for your lost wages?
  5. How much is your personal injury claim worth?