Georgia law requires every driver to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. While this coverage is intended to protect others if the policyholder causes a crash, the required limits are often too low to compensate someone who suffers severe injuries entirely.
At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys routinely represent individuals whose medical needs, lost wages, and long-term care costs far exceed what the at-fault driver’s insurance policy can provide. If you’ve been seriously hurt in a Georgia roadway incident, it’s critical to understand how insurance coverage works—and why minimum limits may not be enough.
What Are Georgia’s Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements?
Under Georgia law, the minimum liability insurance drivers must carry includes:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person,
- $50,000 for bodily injury per incident if more than one person is injured.
- $25,000 for property damage.
These are liability coverages, meaning they pay for the harm the policyholder causes to someone else—not for their injuries or damage.
Why These Limits Fall Short After a Serious Crash
Georgia’s minimum limits may be sufficient for minor damage or soft tissue injuries. But when someone suffers severe harm, such as a brain injury, spinal damage, broken bones, or internal trauma, medical bills alone can quickly climb beyond $25,000.
Consider the following:
- An ambulance ride, ER visit, and imaging can exceed $10,000.
- Hospital stays, surgeries, and rehabilitation often run into six figures.
- Lost income, diminished earning capacity, and ongoing care can multiply those costs over a lifetime.
If more than one person is injured in the same incident, the $50,000 per-incident cap must be divided among all claimants, potentially leaving each with just a fraction of what they need.
Insurance companies will only pay up to the policy’s limits, regardless of the seriousness of the injuries. When those limits are exhausted, injured individuals are left to seek compensation elsewhere.
What Can You Do If the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Isn’t Enough?
You may still have options if the driver who caused your harm only carries the minimum coverage.
They include:
- Filing a claim under your insurance policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage: This optional coverage protects you when the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance.
- Personally sue the at-fault driver: While recovery can be difficult, a personal judgment may sometimes be appropriate.
- Exploring other liable parties: If another driver, company, or third party contributed to the crash, they may share responsibility.
At Ashby Thelen Lowry, we investigate every possible avenue to recover the full compensation our clients deserve.
Don’t Let Insurance Limits Define Your Recovery
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries on Georgia’s roads, don’t assume the at-fault driver’s insurance will cover your needs. The actual recovery cost goes far beyond emergency care, and you deserve to be made whole.
Contact Ashby Thelen Lowry today for a free consultation. We may be able to take your case and fight for the full and fair compensation you’re entitled to receive.