Car Accident Claims in Georgia

A driver in a crash causing injury, death, or apparent property damage of $500 or more must immediately notify police by the quickest means available: the local police department if inside a city, otherwise the county sheriff or the nearest Georgia State Patrol office. A driver in a crash with no personal injury and no second party or second party's property involved has no duty to stop or immediately report it.

A driver in a crash causing injury, death, or damage to an attended vehicle must stop at or return to the scene and stay until giving name, address and registration number, showing a license on request, and giving reasonable help to anyone injured, including arranging transport for medical care. If an injured person is unconscious, appears dead, or cannot communicate, the driver must make every reasonable effort to get emergency medical services and police contacted. If no one appears seriously hurt, drivers on public roads must move drivable vehicles off the roadway to a safe spot. For an unattended vehicle, the driver must find the owner or leave a written note (a misdemeanor if not done). Knowingly leaving a crash that causes death or serious injury is a felony with 1 to 5 years in prison. Leaving a crash with other injury, or damage to an attended vehicle, is a misdemeanor with a $300 to $1,000 fine (not suspendable) and/or up to 12 months, with higher minimum fines for repeat convictions within 5 years.

Vehicle owners must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).

Modified comparative fault (50% bar). An injured person's damages are reduced by his or her percentage of fault, but a person who is 50% or more responsible for the injury recovers nothing. Fault is apportioned among all responsible persons, including non-parties in some cases, and each defendant generally pays only its own share.

A lawsuit for injuries to the person must be filed within two years after the right of action accrues. Injuries to reputation have one year, and loss-of-consortium claims have four years.

A lawsuit to recover personal property, or for damages for its conversion or destruction, must be filed within four years after the right of action accrues.