In Georgia, motorcyclists are required to carry the same minimum amounts of liability insurance as other drivers. See O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11. That means motorcyclists must carry at least:
$25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person per accident;
$50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for all people per accident; and
$25,000 in property damage liability coverage.
See id. Liability coverage protects motorcyclists from financial exposure for injuries or property damages sustained by other drivers in wrecks that they cause. Liability coverage does not, however, provide motorcyclists with any benefits for injuries or property damages they sustain in wrecks caused by other drivers.
For that reason, motorcyclists should seriously consider obtaining uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM coverage) in addition to liability coverage. UM/UIM is an optional type of insurance coverage that provides benefits to policyholders who sustain injuries or losses at the hands of drivers who carry either no insurance or too little insurance to cover the policyholder’s injuries and losses.
It is advisable for motorcyclists to obtain UM/UIM coverage for at least two reasons. First, because Georgia only requires drivers to carry $25,000.00 in liability coverage, chances are that a Georgia driver who negligently injures a motorcyclist will only carry coverage in that amount. Second, because most motorcycle wrecks involve serious physical injuries (and expensive medical bills), $25,000.00 is often an insufficient amount (and sometimes a woefully insufficient amount) to compensate a motorcyclist for his or her injuries and losses. By carrying a healthy amount of UM/UIM coverage, a motorcyclist can guard against the significant risk of being injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
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