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After a crash, questions pile up fast. Who pays the medical bills? Do you have to call the police? How long do you have to act? Below are straightforward answers to the questions Savannah drivers ask most often.
Usually, yes. Georgia law requires drivers to immediately report any crash that causes injury, death, or apparent property damage of $500 or more. With today’s repair costs, that covers nearly every collision. A police report also creates an official record that helps your insurance claim.
It depends on which agency responded. Crashes inside city limits are usually handled by the Savannah Police Department. Crashes in unincorporated areas may be handled by the Chatham County Police Department, and many interstate crashes are investigated by the Georgia State Patrol. Ask the officer for the report number at the scene, then request the report from that agency.
Yes. In Georgia, the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damages, usually through their liability insurance. You can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer, your own insurer, or both, depending on your coverage.
According to the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance, the minimum is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Those limits can run out quickly after a serious injury, which is why your own coverage often matters too.
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries. In a hit-and-run, report the crash to police right away, since prompt reporting can affect whether coverage applies. Hit-and-run claims often depend on quick action and careful documentation.
Yes, as long as you were less than 50% responsible. Georgia reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault. If you’re found 50% or more at fault, you can’t recover. Our guide to Savannah’s comparative fault law explains how this works.
It can now. For crashes on or after April 21, 2025, Georgia’s tort reform allows the defense to show the jury that you weren’t wearing a seatbelt. It doesn’t erase the other driver’s fault, but it can affect how damages are viewed.
Most personal injury lawsuits in Georgia must be filed within two years of the crash. If a government vehicle or road defect was involved, much shorter notice deadlines apply, as little as six months for claims against the City of Savannah. See our guide to the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Savannah.
Yes. Concussions, whiplash, and internal injuries often don’t show symptoms right away. Getting checked promptly protects your health and creates a record that connects your injuries to the crash. Our guide to whiplash and soft tissue injuries explains why pain is often delayed.
You can confirm basic facts, but you don’t have to give a recorded statement, and it’s usually wise not to. Adjusters work to limit what their company pays. Our guide to dealing with insurance companies after an accident covers what to say and what to avoid.
Rideshare companies carry their own insurance, but which policy applies depends on whether the driver was logged into the app and whether a passenger was in the car. Rideshare accident claims often involve several insurers.
Truck crashes are different from ordinary car accidents. Trucking companies may share responsibility, federal safety rules apply, and key evidence like driver logs needs to be preserved quickly. A truck accident lawyer can act before that evidence disappears.
Yes. Crashes that happen in Georgia are generally governed by Georgia law, even if you live in another state. A local lawyer can handle the case while you recover at home.
It depends on your medical costs, lost income, the severity and permanence of your injuries, and the available insurance. Our guide to economic vs. non-economic damages explains what can be included.
Most personal injury lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and there’s no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Our guide on how contingency fees work has the details.
Founding attorney Benjamin Clary has spent 13 years answering these questions for injured drivers and passengers across coastal Georgia. He holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and handles every case on a contingency fee basis.
If your question isn’t answered here, a car accident lawyer at our firm can help. We also handle car accident cases in Hinesville and nearby communities. For any other injury, a personal injury lawyer at our firm can review your case for free.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
