Georgia drivers involved in an accident may be able to find out in a hurry just how fast expenses can pile up. Two North Oconee High School students were injured Aug. 15 when their Nissan Altima was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer. The Georgia State Patrol reported the Nissan driver, a 17-year-old Bogart resident, was traveling eastbound on Georgia Highway 53 at 8 a.m. While trying to turn left into the school parking lot he collided with the semi, which was traveling westbound.
Paramedics took the car driver and a 15-year-old passenger to Athens Regional Medical Center where they were treated for injuries. The semi driver, a 55-year-old Vidalia man, was not injured. Police charged the car driver with failure to yield. Although this may have seemed like a minor car crash, the financial repercussions may get expensive.
Even minor fender-benders can result in thousands of dollars in damage to both vehicles, and the person at fault is responsible for footing the bill. In this case, the parents of the teen driver would have to pay not only for the students’ medical bills but also for car repairs. Fortunately the semi driver was unhurt, and so the chances of the victim suing for compensation may be low. Still, the parents may be required to pay court costs and legal fees if the case goes to trial.
The car insurance for a new teen driver, which was most likely expensive to begin with, may rise dramatically when the insurance company gets the accident report. Some insurers may even cancel the policy, forcing the family to scramble to find another insurer in order to stay legal. Conversely, victims who were injured in an accident caused by someone else may find the insurance company unwilling to pay for damages and medical expenses. A personal injury attorney may be able to help families with issues like this get their financial woes handled through a fair settlement.
Source: Oconee Patch, “Tractor-Trailer and Car Collide in Front of North Oconee High School“, Stephanie Gross, August 15, 2013
