A volunteer firefighter was seriously injured in a hit-and-run car accident in Athens, Georgia when another driver crashed into his vehicle and fled the scene. The collision caused multiple severe orthopedic and spinal injuries, requiring surgeries, injections, and extensive rehabilitation.
Police identified and arrested the hit-and-run driver and our firm recovered the full $25,000 policy limits from Progressive, his insurance company.
Our Athens car accident lawyers then secured an additional $825,000 settlement with our client’s uninsured motorist coverage with Georgia Farm Bureau, bringing the total settlement to $850,000, which was more than six times his medical bills. Georgia Farm Bureau’s highest offer before we filed a lawsuit was only $150,000.
Case Summary
Location: Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
Accident Type: Hit-and-run car accident
Injuries: Broken pelvis, facial injuries, knee and shoulder injuries, herniated discs
Insurance Issues: $25,000 liability coverage + uninsured motorist coverage
Key Fact: UM insurer’s highest pre-lawsuit offer was only $150,000
Result: $850,000 total settlement
How the Hit-and-Run Car Accident Happened
Our client was a volunteer firefighter. A big storm knocked down a tree on the entrance ramp from Highway 78 to Highway 316 in Athens-Clarke County, blocking the road. Our client responded to the scene and was out of his truck preparing to remove the tree. Another car sped through the scene, striking our client, knocking him to the ground and then fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement investigated the collision and quickly identified and arrested the hit-and-run driver. The driver carried only $25,000 in liability insurance with Progressive, which is the minimum coverage required under Georgia law.
Volunteer Firefighter Sustains Multiple Injuries
National EMS responded to the scene and rushed our client to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Emergency room doctors diagnosed him with:
- Broken pelvis
- Severe facial lacerations
- Three broken bones in his face
- Torn meniscus and cartilage in his knee
- SLAP tear of his shoulder
- Herniated discs in his neck and back
Surgeries and Medical Treatment After the Crash
Our client underwent multiple surgeries and treatments for his injuries including:
- A left knee surgery to repair his torn meniscus and damaged cartilage
- A left shoulder surgery to repair his torn labrum and remove damaged cartilage
- Nasal surgery to repair his broken septum and revise his facial scars
- Prescription medication and physical therapy for herniated discs in neck and back
- Epidural steroid injections for herniated discs
- Radiofrequency ablations to burn away nerves causing pain in neck and back
While the injections and ablations help manage the pain, they usually wear off after three to four months and he must undergo another round of treatment to help keep the pain under control.
Recovery of the Hit-and-Run Driver’s Insurance Limits
We quickly sent a settlement demand to Progressive for their $25,000 policy limits, which they agreed to pay.
While this recovery was important, it represented only a small fraction of the damages caused by the crash.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage and Pre-Lawsuit Offer
Our client had two insurance policies with Georgia Farm Bureau, each with $500,000 in add-on uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage. Under Georgia law, the policies stacked on top of each other, providing a total of $1,000,000 in uninsured motorist coverage.
Our client wanted to resolve the case without a lawsuit – but his own insurance company only offered $150,000—an amount that did not fairly compensate our client for the severity and permanence of his injuries.
As a result, we filed a lawsuit and prepared the case for trial.
Lawsuit and Trial Preparation
We prepared the case for trial by:
- Preparing medical illustrations of our client’s injuries and surgeries
- Obtaining testimony from his doctors about his injuries and future medical needs
- Preparing his wife, family members and friends to testify at trial
- Creating exhibits to help the jury understand the impact of his injuries on him and his quality of life
$850,000 Settlement Outcome
The week before trial, Georgia Farm Bureau increased its settlement offer to $825,000, which our client chose to accept. This made for a total settlement of $850,000, including:
- $25,000 from the hit-and-run driver’s Progressive insurance policy
- $825,000 from the client’s Georgia Farm Bureau uninsured motorist coverage
Why This Hit-and-Run Case Matters
This case highlights several critical points for Georgia accident victims:
- Insurance companies may make very low settlement offers—even to first responders injured in the line of duty
- Hit-and-run drivers often have minimal insurance coverage
- In a serious injury case, uninsured motorist coverage is often necessary to secure a significant verdict or settlement
- Filing a lawsuit and preparing a case for trial is usually required to secure a fair settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hit-and-Run Accidents in Georgia
What if the hit-and-run driver is caught but has very little insurance?
Even if the driver is identified and arrested, recovery may still be limited by their insurance policy. In those cases, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can provide additional compensation.
Is it normal for uninsured motorist companies to make low offers before a lawsuit?
Yes. There is little to no penalty for UM companies to make unfair, low settlement offers. It is often necessary to file a lawsuit and prepare a case for trial before a UM company makes a fair settlement offer.
Can multiple insurance policies apply in a hit-and-run case?
Yes. The at-fault driver’s liability policy and the injured person’s uninsured motorist coverage may apply. If the injured person has multiple policies with UM coverage, those may be stacked to provide additional UM coverage.