Hit-and-run crashes in Georgia

Duties at the scene

The stopping driver must provide identifying and vehicle information and render reasonable assistance to an injured person. Georgia also requires immediate notice to the appropriate police authority when a crash causes injury, death or apparent property damage of $500 or more. The reporting requirement is distinct from making an insurance claim.^[1][2]

An unidentified vehicle

Georgia's uninsured motorist statute addresses an unknown owner or operator. Physical contact is generally required, but the statute provides an alternative when the claimant's account of how the occurrence happened is corroborated by an eyewitness other than the claimant. Coverage cannot be assumed merely because someone reports that a vehicle left.^[3]

Preserve identification evidence

For a potential unknown-driver claim, the contact and eyewitness rules make the actual account important. Record what was observed without supplying missing details. The UM statute also contains special procedures for actions involving an unknown driver, so identifying applicable coverage and obtaining advice about procedure should not wait for the driver to be found.^[3]

Related entries

• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in Georgia Georgia UM coverage choices, unknown-driver requirements and carrier-service provisions.
• Georgia crash reports and requests Georgia crash reporting duties and how GDOT and DPS describe requests for reports and related records.
• Georgia crash-claim deadlines Georgia injury and property filing periods, government notice requirements and limited tolling provisions.