Georgia drivers have felt the need to be extremely cautious on the roads this week as rain moved in, disrupting the fluidity of both morning and evening commutes. Roads slick with water and drivers anxious to make it to work on time have made both the highways and surface streets difficult and dangerous to travel, with car accidents only adding to the frustration. Unfortunately, the need for extreme caution cannot be abandoned any time soon as the inclement weather has made no signs of moving on, and indeed, promises only to escalate. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for metro Atlanta through Friday morning, on top of a flood watch for the area. Car accident attorneys know this means that the city is sure to see additional car wrecks before the week’s end.
Man is not the only one to blame for the increase in accidents this week. Natural disasters brought on by the advent of rain are at fault as well. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, heavy rains may be at fault for the 6-foot by 10-foot sinkhole that completely “swallowed a lane of Lyle Circle near Collins Hill Road” in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The article further reports that one car was damaged by the hole before city officials heard about it. Trees downed by the weather have contributed to motor vehicle damage as well. The very tentative promise of snow and ice moving in Thursday afternoon/Friday morning is sure to only exacerbate the problem.
Many motorists have a vague idea of what to do when involved in a car accident: make sure all parties involved are okay, call law enforcement, file a police report, call any respective car insurance companies, see a medical provider, and, if necessary, consult with a personal injury lawyer in order to assess damages. But what should a driver do if their car accident is the result of a natural disaster, such as a tree crushing one’s car? You may or may not be surprised to know that the answer is pretty much the same. Above all else, though, you will want to check your car insurance policy to make sure that your coverage is adequate.
When it comes to car accidents and natural disasters, it is imperative to have comprehensive car insurance coverage. The need for this type of insurance is often overlooked by novice drivers, who are not really clued in to its significance. In fact, it is the coverage under which most natural disasters, i.e. “acts of God” fall. You will want to be careful, however, as there are some exclusions to the coverage. In many cases, flooding, for example, is not covered – primarily due to its prevalence. Insurance companies do not want to place themselves in the precarious position of having to pay out for a natural disaster that is as common as flooding. This is extremely important for drivers to know, especially when dealing with inclement weather like the city of Atlanta has.
So if a natural disaster isn’t covered, what can you do? Consider a rider, or rather, an extension/amendment to your existing policy. You may be able to purchase additional insurance that will include natural disasters not otherwise covered by comprehensive coverage. Of course, you will also want to weigh the costs and benefits of paying an extra fee every month, versus the value of your car. Make sure you are not wasting money, but at the same time, do not forgo safety in favor of frugality.