Insurance is necessary if driving a car. We’ve all loaned our car to someone at some point in our lives. Maybe your son or daughter needs to borrow your car to go to work. Or your brother-in-law asks to use your truck to pick up supplies from the hardware store. We never stop to think about what will happen if they get into an accident.
The good news is that Alpharetta car accident lawyers have dealt with these types of cases for years. The truth is that the insurance follows the car, not the driver. So even if the person who crashes into you doesn’t own the car, there’s a good chance your insurance claim will still be paid.
If for some reason your claim is denied, you need help. You can certainly handle the matter on your own. However, it may be a good idea to at least meet with a skilled attorney. They can review your case and let you know if you’re wasting your time. If you don’t have a valid claim, they’ll let you know. Ideally, it’ll be a simple matter of filing an appeal or initial claim and negotiating payment. Since you can enjoy a free consultation with one of our Alpharetta car accident lawyers, it makes sense to take advantage of it.
Did the Person Who Caused Your Accident Have Insurance?
Georgia law requires that all drivers carry auto insurance. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you can get a ticket. Depending on the circumstances, you can even get arrested. While this can be problematic, it’s nowhere near as dangerous as getting into a car accident without insurance. If you get hit by someone without insurance, you’ll have to pursue them personally. There’s too great a chance that you’ll end up with nothing. Yes, you’ll still be able to file a claim against your uninsured motorist’s policy but that rarely covers more than $10,000.
Things can get more complicated when the person who was driving the car isn’t the owner. They may have no idea if the car is insured. Or you may fear that the insurance company won’t cover your claim since a third party was driving the vehicle. The truth is that insurance follows the car. You’ll still be able to file a claim against their policy. If it comes back denied, your Alpharetta car accident lawyer can file an appeal. If that doesn’t work, you can always consider filing suit against the driver and the person who owns the car.
It Depends on Whether the Person Driving Had Permission to Drive the Car
There is an exception to the rule about insurance following the vehicle. If the person who crashes into you didn’t have permission to drive the car, you’ll have a problem. For example, if the driver had stolen the car, the owner’s insurance isn’t going to pay your claim. The owner of the car will have to verify that they gave the person permission to drive the vehicle.
There could be a case where the driver lies and says they didn’t give permission simply because they don’t want their insurance rates to go up. If you have a feeling they aren’t being truthful, your Alpharetta car accident lawyer can do some research to prove that this is the case. The bottom line is you want your damages paid. As long as this happens, you won’t really care who pays – the driver or the owner’s insurance company.
You Should Call an Experienced Alpharetta Car Accident Lawyer Right Away
If you get into an accident and the other person doesn’t have insurance, you still have options. Thankfully, if the person who owns the car was insured, you should be okay. It can be confusing and scary, especially if you suffered serious injuries. If your claim is denied or you don’t know who to file the claim against, you need help. An experienced Alpharetta car accident lawyer can help you figure out how to proceed.
The best thing to do is to call and set up a date and time to meet with one of our attorneys. They’ll sit down and answer any questions you may have. They’ll give you their honest opinion about whether you have a valid claim. The important thing is that you call as soon as possible. If you miss the two (2) year statute of limitations in Georgia, you won’t be able to file your claim.
