Personal Injury Pointers for Auto Accidents

Driving is a part of our everyday lives for the average Georgia resident. So it’s no surprise that we don’t want to think about the risks every time we get behind the wheel. But these risks are real. And it’s important to have a plan in place in case you or your family are part of one of the 1,056 auto accidents per day that happen here in Georgia.*

The last thing you want to have to worry about when you or your loved one is hurt in a potentially life-threatening auto accident is whether your insurance will cover your lofty expenses. So to help you plan for the unknown, we’ve put together some personal injury pointers for auto accidents – to offer you and your family some piece of mind when you hit the open road.

Document the Incident

Document the incident as best as you can – a paper trail is important when it comes to fighting for insurance coverage and personal injury disputes.

• Names on Police Report: Be sure to request that the officer on the scene of the accident adds all the names of the passengers in your car. This way, if insurance claims or medical bill disputes come up in the future that are related to the crash – you and all your passengers can prove they were involved in the accident from the official police report. If the police report lacks details, the insurance company may not accept the claim. And if you attempt to track down missing details from the report later by contacting the police department, it’s often difficult to connect directly with the officer who was on the scene of the wreck. And even if you do reach them, they often can’t recall who was there as they respond to so many incidents and rely on the reports they file on scene for such details. In turn, you become stuck and it becomes difficult to get the claim approved. Key takeaway here: Be sure to get each and every passengers’ name on the police report.
• Take Photos: Snap photos of the accident or other relevant details like the condition of road or property that contributed to the wreck. The metadata in the photo (location, date, time, etc.) can also help document valuable details that come up in personal injury cases. A picture tells a thousand words, so photos can be a powerful compliment to detailed police reports to help your insurance claims go through without a hitch.

Understand Your Policy

Review your policy so you know what’s covered. After all, you’re paying for insurance every month – so you should be aware of what you’re getting and how that coverage translates to protect you and your family in the unfortunate event you’re in an auto accident.

While it’s always best to review your policy from top to bottom, it can be difficult to get through such a long document with unfamiliar terms. So to help you focus your efforts, we’ve listed some common terms that are misunderstood or overlooked:

Liability Coverage:

The liability coverage in most policies is broken into three parts: bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured motorist. Each state has their own minimum requirements to “help pay for injuries or damages you might cause to someone else as a result of a car accident.” In Georgia, the minimum coverage requirements according to DMV.org are as follows:

• Georgia Bodily Injury Coverage Minimum: $25,000 per person, or $50,000 for multiple people in an accident.
• Georgia Property Damage Coverage Minimum: $25,000 for one incident.

While “minimum” coverage requirements exist, that doesn’t mean it’s the right amount for you and your policy. Think of it this way, if you hit a Mercedes and the damage is deemed beyond repair (or “totaled”) you may be liable for anywhere from $35,000 to $320,000 depending on the model, condition, and age of the vehicle. Leaving you a coverage gap ranging from $10,000 to $295,000.

In this example of the $320,000 Mercedes Benz, it would, of course, be nice to have sufficient property damage coverage – but that kind of coverage can be costly. So to help you find the right coverage limits and negotiate the best auto insurance rates possible, we’ve also provided some suggestions and resources below.

Medical Payment Coverage:

An optional coverage item that is often overlooked – but can be a big value-add for you and your family – is medical payment coverage (MPC). It’s a type of coverage where a little can go a long way. For example, common MPC ranges from $1,000 to $5,000. So if an ambulance is required in response to your accident, that roughly $2,000 ambulance expense will be covered by your MPC. No out of pocket expense, and no impact to your medical insurance coverage.

MPC is generally a marginal increase in your auto policy rate relative to the benefit it can offer you and your family in a time of need. And in some cases, you can even get this coverage added to your auto policy for little to no cost. For example, if you’ve been with your insurance company for some time and/or if you have multiple policies with the insurer – ask them if you have medical pay included. If not, point out your loyalty to the insurance company and ask if they can add it to your policy at the existing rate. Insurance is a very competitive industry, so they’ll often be open to doing small favors to keep your business.

Insured Driver Details:

Understand who’s covered on your policy. Is it everybody in your household? What about your driving son who has a separate policy for his first vehicle? Or how about your spouse if they’re driving your vehicle?

We’ve seen many cases where insurance companies try to deny claims where a spouse or separately-insured child are driving the family member’s vehicle based on the policy terms. Don’t get caught in this unfortunate situation – be sure to review your policy closely to understand who is covered in which of your household vehicles.

Keep a Copy of Your Policy Handy

We just touched on the importance of understanding your policy, and that’s a very important first step. However, you’ll also want to have easy access to your policy.

For example, consider saving a digital copy on your smartphone, or even printing out a copy of your policy and keeping it tucked away in your glove box. You never know when you’ll need to refresh your memory about your policy to make sure you and your passengers are covered for the situation at hand.

Leverage Your Relationship with Your Insurance Company

It’s no secret, the insurance industry is very competitive. Insurance companies want to earn your business and build loyalty – rather than lose business to the insurance agent down the street. Use this to your advantage, ask for better rates and policy add-ons like we discussed above around medical payment coverage (MPC). You deserve to get the best coverage for your hard-earned dollars – know the right questions and favors to ask to get you and your family the coverage you need and deserve.

Also, take advantage of speaking with an insurance agent who will familiarize themselves with you and your family’s specific insurance needs. And don’t hesitate to shop around. Be upfront with your agent about your plans to get different quotes from other agents in the area. This can help assure that you’re getting quotes with each agency’s most competitive rates.

Choose the Right Coverage

Deciding on coverage for your auto policy is personal. It depends on you and your family’s needs, budget, and preferences.

Remember that coverage minimums such as the Georgia Liability minimums noted above are not always the best choice. If for example, you’re a college student on a tight budget, maybe your only option is to select a policy at or near the minimum. However, if you have the means – drive an expensive car, have a nice home, etc. – choose a plan that will help you protect your assets.

To learn more about auto insurance coverage and help you select the right coverage for your unique situation, check out the National Association of Insurance Commissioners reference guide.

*Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety data cites 385,221 crashes in 2015 (divided by 365 brings us to an estimated 1,056 crashes per day).