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Car Accident Lawyers in Atlanta, GA

Why Is the Insurance Company Disputing Your Car Crash Injury Claim?

There are several reasons the insurance company may be denying or challenging your claim. Their policyholder may be arguing that you were at fault for the crash. They may question the severity or source of your injuries. There could be disagreements regarding your inability to work due to your injuries.

Whether these are valid arguments or simply a convenient excuse depends on your situation. In these cases, it often helps to have a personal injury attorney on your side for negotiations.

Insurance companies generally try to avoid litigation when it’s cheaper to simply pay injured motorists and passengers what they need to recover. One of the best ways to put the fear of litigation into the insurance companies is by obtaining legal representation from a personal injury lawyer.

Our team understands how insurance companies think. Some of our car crash lawyers previously worked for insurance companies on the other side of the court room. We’re familiar with the common mistakes claims adjusters make as well as insurance company negotiation strategies.

Do You Need a Car Crash Lawyer?

Whether you need a personal injury lawyer depends on your situation. If your injuries are minor, you don’t miss work and the other driver’s insurance company is honoring your claim and covering your medical costs, you likely don’t need to call a personal injury lawyer.

Not every car accident scenario is that tidy or straightforward. It may be in your best interest to consult with a car crash attorney if:

• Your injuries are serious, and you have a lengthy road to recovery
• You’re missing work due to your injuries and are unable to cover your costs of living
• The insurance company has unfairly denied or undervalued your claim
• The other driver is alleging that you were at fault and their insurance company is delaying your claim payment while they “investigate”
• The other driver was drunk or high when they caused your auto accidents

Those are just a handful of situations in which you may benefit from the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. While the insurance claim process works fine for many people, there are situations where errors, dishonesty or unclear situations require investigation, negotiation and even litigation to resolve. A skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer can help you through the process.

Sources of Car Crash Injury Compensation in Georgia

Georgia requires all drivers to carry minimum auto insurance coverage of:

• $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident bodily injury liability
• $25,000 per accident property damage liability

If you’re injured in an auto accident caused by another person, the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage should pay for your medical care, as well as other economic and non-economic damages such as lost wages and pain and suffering.

Legally required auto insurance – and the entire auto insurance system – is designed to prevent Georgia drivers from having to pay out of pocket for someone else’s mistake or negligent actions. In actual practice, the system often falls short in a variety of important ways, leaving many injured people with an array of financial losses, from uncompensated lost wages and pain and suffering to significant medical expenses and car repair or replacement costs.

Some of the most common issues injured motorists and passengers face when seeking compensation include:

• Being struck by someone who is uninsured
• Having medical costs and lost wages that exceed the per person or per accident bodily injury liability limit of the at-fault driver
• Having fault for the accident contested, leading to delays in claim payment or outright claim denial

Unfortunately, none of these issues are uncommon after Atlanta car accidents. Working with a car crash lawyer is one of the most reliable ways to increase the likelihood you will receive the compensation you need to recover, but taking legal action isn’t always the only option. There are some other important ways you can protect yourself and find alternative means to cover costs while your claim is being negotiated or litigated.

Carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage typically mirrors the minimum insurance amounts (25/50/25) of traditional auto insurance, but you can pay more for higher policy limits. This means if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver (which is estimated to be 12 percent or more of Georgia drivers), you can file a claim with your own UM/UIM coverage instead of the other driver’s non-existent bodily injury/property damage liability coverage.

UM/UIM coverage is not a requirement in Georgia, but it is a smart and affordable endorsement for many drivers. The premium increase for the coverage varies based on factors like your age, driving history, past traffic infractions and the amount of coverage you’re purchasing. The typical driver with a good record may only have to pay an extra $50 to $150 per year for the coverage. 

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage can ensure that, regardless of who was at fault, your insurance will pay for your vehicle repairs or replacement. This can be vital if you’re at fault or fault is being disputed after a crash.

The investigation and claims process can be long and arduous if there are initial disagreements about who caused the crash. While the investigation is ongoing, your collision coverage will pay for your vehicle repair or replacement. If an investigation shows the other driver is at fault, your insurance company will then be responsible for pursuing reimbursement (also known as subrogation) from the other driver’s company. 

Medical Payment Coverage

This type of coverage only comes into play in injury accidents, as it pays for injuries suffered by you or your passengers, regardless of who was at fault. If liability is being contested, your MedPay will pay for immediate out-of-pocket costs.

If the insurance company or your legal team proves the other driver was responsible for the crash, it will then be the insurance company’s responsibility to recoup what they spent on your care from the other driver or their insurer – you won’t have to worry about it. 

The cost of adding MedPay to your policy will vary based on the traditional auto insurance factors. Per person/per accident policy limits can vary based on what you want to spend (typical MedPay limits range from $1,000 to $25,000).

If you’re at fault for a crash or you’re struck by an uninsured motorist, you could use MedPay compensation to pay for your own health insurance deductible/co-pays, then just rely on your health insurance to avoid medical debt.

Traditional Health Insurance

Having health insurance through an employer or a standalone plan can help protect you from medical debt after a serious car crash injury. You will still have to pay an out-of-pocket deductible or co-pay if you have no other recourse for compensation, but once those obligations are met, your medical care will be covered. As a fallback, having health insurance is absolutely vital in the event of a car accident.

Unfortunately, health insurance will not cover your property damage, lost wages or pain and suffering – only your medical care. 

Fighting for the Compensation You’re Owed Is Important

While all the above types of insurance can help protect you after auto accidents and injuries, none are necessarily the preferred path to fair compensation after a crash that wasn’t your fault.

If the system always worked as intended, the other driver and their insurer would automatically be held financially responsible for the totality of your damages, including your medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. Many of the previously listed insurance solutions will only cover property damage or medical costs (the exception being UM/UIM coverage, but that can only be used in specific circumstances).

Other drivers and their insurance companies have an incentive to push a narrative in which you were fully or partially to blame for your own injuries. Our car accident lawyers are committed to helping you clearly establish fault and maximize your recovery.