If you were a passenger in a car and the driver of another vehicle caused the collision, his or her bodily injury liability should pay for expenses. In Georgia, drivers are required to carry a minimum $25,000 bodily injury liability for the injuries or death of one person and $50,000 for the injuries or death of more than one person.

However, if the driver of the car you are a passenger in was responsible for the crash, his or her insurance company would cover your costs only if that individual happened to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or medical payments coverage. And because both are optional, it’s possible the driver has no insurance that will pay for your medical expenses and other damages.

When the aforementioned options aren’t available or they aren’t enough to cover your costs adequately, it may allow for a personal injury lawsuit to be filed. An attorney could explain one’s right to pursue compensation this way -- whether it’s against the driver of the car you were a passenger in or the driver of another vehicle. Of course, it would be a good idea to seek legal advice anytime someone has been seriously injured in a crash, whether your car insurance covers you or not.

Jason R. Schultz
Helping Georgia area residents with car accident, medical malpractice, and personal injury claims since 1991.