What if You’re Hit by an Uninsured Motorist While Walking or Riding a Bike?

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A young girl is crossing the street in front of a car.The good news is that you may still have several options for pursuing compensation. You can also take steps right now to ensure you’ll be protected if an uninsured motorist injures you, regardless of how the accident happens. In this article, we’ll take about what to do after an uninsured motorist crash and how an Atlanta car accident attorney can help you navigate this difficult situation.

Attorney Ali Awad has been fighting for victims of car accidents and other personal injury situations for years, and he founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm. In just a few short years, it rapidly became the fastest-growing law firm in the country, coming out ahead of 499 others. When he’s not negotiating a better deal for his clients, Mr. Awad shares engaging legal know-how with more than a million followers on social media. For a free consultation about your car accident, please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm today.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about what happens if you are hit by an uninsured driver:

Your Own Car Insurance Will Cover Uninsured Motorist Accidents Even If You Weren’t Driving or In Your Car

This is a pleasant surprise to many people who have been hurt by an uninsured motorist while walking or riding their bike. Your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UI) will still pay if you were a pedestrian, a bike rider, or even using public transit. UM/UI coverage starts with a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability, and the same amount in property damage.

UM/UI coverage is not required in Georgia, but insurance companies are required to offer it to you. If you remember rejecting this coverage in writing or aren’t sure whether you did or not, we recommend checking with your insurance agent. About 12 percent of Georgia drivers are uninsured, meaning that if you are involved in any kind of accident with a motor vehicle driver, there’s about a 1 in 8 chance they won’t be insured. Don’t roll the dice on having insurance coverage if you’re hurt in an accident – add UM/UI coverage today if you don’t already have it.

You May Still Have Gaps in Coverage

Although your UM/UI coverage will apply in this situation, depending on your injuries and your policy limit, it may not cover everything. If you have the minimum amount of coverage, your property damage will likely be covered. Most people who are not driving their car won’t have $25,000 in property damage. They may have a wrecked bike or a damaged laptop or smartphone, but these items typically cost less than $25,000 to repair or replace.

Your medical bills may be another story. If you were seriously hurt, medical bills could pile up quickly. Even with good health insurance, deductibles and copays can cost thousands when you have multiple injuries. Unfortunately, this situation is common with pedestrian and bicycle accidents. There is little protection when you get hit by a car, and many people suffer serious injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, internal injuries or bleeding, back and spinal cord injuries, and more. If your medical bills outpace your UM/UI coverage, your attorney will work to find other solutions to help you cover the balance.

Other Options Besides UM/UI Coverage

Aside from having more medical bills than UM/UI coverage, there are other reasons this type of insurance isn’t an option for everyone hit by an uninsured driver. Some people who bike or walk everywhere don’t own a car, and therefore have no car insurance. Others may have opted out of UM/UI due to cost. Are you completely out of luck if you can’t rely on UM/UI insurance?

Not necessarily, but it may be much more difficult to collect damages. You do have the ability to pursue a lawsuit against the driver who hit you, and if the evidence clearly shows they were at fault, you may win your case. However, if the driver has few financial resources, you may never recover all or even most of the damages you’re owed. Your lawyer will look into the situation and discuss options with you. If it’s clear that the other driver will likely never be able to pay a potentially large judgment, we usually don’t recommend proceeding with a lawsuit. The time, money, and stress you will have to devote to the case are not insignificant, and many clients realize that it’s not in their best interest to go through a trial if they won’t get anything out of it.

If that avenue doesn’t appear promising, your attorney will check to see if there are any other liable parties. Occasionally you may have a case against a third party whose negligence contributed to the crash. For example, if the car hit you not because of some error on the driver’s part but because a faulty brake component failed, you might have a case against the brake manufacturer. Or, if the driver who hit you was intoxicated, under certain circumstances you may be able to sue a restaurant or bar that either overserved them or furnished alcohol to someone under the age of 21.

What to Do if a Car Hits You While Walking or Riding a Bike

This is undoubtedly a scary experience, and it’s understandable if you don’t know what to do first. Try to remember the following steps to take as soon as you’re able to think somewhat clearly:

  • Quickly move out of the road to avoid further accidents, if you can do so.
  • Are you injured? Look yourself over and see if anything hurts.
  • Call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance if needed.
  • It’s a good idea to let the paramedics check you out even if you think you’re fine. Sometimes the adrenaline rush can dull pain or other symptoms at first, and you might not realize you have a potentially serious injury.
  • Exchange contact info with the driver, and in particular, ask for their name, number, email address, and insurance information.
  • If they get defensive or refuse to give you an insurance card, let it go. When the police arrive, inform them that the driver wouldn’t provide insurance info and let them deal with it.
  • If the driver takes off instead of fulfilling their legal obligation to remain at the scene, do your best to get their license number, or at least a description of the car and/or driver.
  • Ask for the names of any witnesses you see around the scene.
  • Get medical attention for any injuries as soon as possible. If you start feeling pain or other symptoms within the next few days, see your doctor and explain that you were recently in a biking accident.
  • Speak with an attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.

Get the CEO Lawyer On Your Side

When you or a loved one have been injured by a motorist, uninsured or not, having an experienced car accident attorney on your side will help you get the best settlement possible. Please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation about your case. Our injury and accident attorneys are ready to take your call at 833-254-2923.

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Frequently Asked Questions

After a personal injury, you're bound to have legal questions. The CEO Lawyer Ali Awad can provide you with answers to these questions, just as he's given answers to his millions of curious social media followers. Take a look at some of the most common personal injury law questions for general information, and then reach out to one of our seasoned attorneys for specific guidance on your case!

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Help Negotiating with Insurance Carriers

To quickly resolve matters following an accident, insurance companies will offer you less than you deserve in compensation for your injuries. Many victims feel pressured to accept these offers as the bills begin to pile up, but that is rarely a good idea. The insurance company is looking to protect its bottom line; and will offer injured victims less than they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate with the insurance company and can look out for your best interests by getting you the compensation you deserve after an injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to avoid negotiating or providing recorded statements to the insurance company without first seeking help from a qualified personal injury attorney.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?

The best way to determine if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. Our legal professionals have the expertise to evaluate your case and determine a strong legal strategy so that you can obtain the greatest amount of compensation possible under the law. We will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan. While you focus on your physical recovery, we will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.

Personal Injury & Accident Firm

Accident victims have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations. This means that if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you have only two years to pursue a personal injury suit. If you wait too long to reach out to an experienced attorney, you might be forever barred from seeking the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect From Your Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney?

During your initial consultation with CEO Lawyer team, we will go over the important details of your personal injury accident, which include the nature and extent of your injuries, how your injuries have impacted your ability to earn a paycheck, the cost of your medical treatment, and whether further medical treatment will be required. We will answer any questions you might have, as well, in regards to our experience, our track record of success, and what to expect from the legal process. Many personal injury victims wonder if they will be able to afford the legal fees required to pursue a lawsuit. CEO Lawyer injury and accident attorneys will not ask for any type of upfront fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. That means that if you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall accident, defective product accident, or any other type of personal injury accident, you can absolutely afford to contact our law office today for assistance. In fact, you cannot afford to wait. Reach out today. We understand that some accident victims might have already obtained the assistance of an attorney but may be dissatisfied with the services provided. We are standing by and prepared to help you change legal representation, regardless of where you are in the process.

Speak to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of personal injury accident, you should not hesitate to speak with the experienced attorneys at CEO Lawyer personal injury law firm. Call, email, or fill out our online contact form today so that we can begin helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.