What happens if the other driver does not have insurance?

Being hit by a driver who has no insurance is a stressful situation, but if your own policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, you have a direct path to recovery without relying on the other driver’s finances.

Uninsured motorist coverage is designed specifically for this scenario. If the other driver is at fault and has no insurance, your coverage pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and in some cases pain and suffering, up to the limits you selected on your policy. Many states, including Georgia, require insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, though policyholders can sometimes waive it in writing. Checking whether you have this coverage before an accident happens is one of the most useful things you can do as a driver.

Some policies also include uninsured motorist property damage coverage, which handles repairs to your vehicle when an uninsured driver is at fault. If you do not have that but you do carry collision coverage, collision can serve a similar function, though your deductible will apply and a claim may affect your rate at renewal.

Underinsured motorist coverage is a related protection. It applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their liability limits are too low to cover your actual losses. If the other driver carries the minimum required by Georgia law and your medical costs exceed that amount, your underinsured motorist coverage can pay the difference up to your own policy limits.

In Georgia, the minimum liability limits required by law are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. Those amounts can be exhausted quickly in a serious accident, which is one reason carrying adequate uninsured and underinsured motorist limits matters.

Your agent at Olive Cover (operated by Olive Insurance Services, LLC) can review your current limits and recommend adjustments based on your situation.