Legally speaking, in Georgia you're absolutely right. But as you know, many people do not abide by the law. If you are in an accident with an uninsured/underinsured driver you need to be protected. That's why uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage exists. The truth is that uninsured drivers are out there! In fact, there are approximately 1 in 7 drivers (PDF) in the United States are driving without even basic coverage according to the Insurance Research Council.
What is uninsured motorist coverage? UM pays the medical bills of you and your passengers if you're the victim in a collision involving an uninsured driver.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage kicks in when the at-fault driver has liability insurance, but not enough to cover all the costs.
Many people ask, "Why buy the coverage? I can always sue the driver?" MAYBE, but...
While an uninsured or underinsured driver is still financially responsible, good luck getting a financial settlement from a driver who chose not to buy car insurance, It's likely that most uninsured drivers don't have the money or assets to pay others' medical bills, so suing them won't do much good. That's why UM/UIM coverage is important.
"I don't need UM/UIM because I have health insurance?" MAYBE, but..
UM/UIM offers some important benefits that health insurance probably does not provide. For one thing, it pays your medical bills up to the limit without deductibles or co-pays. In addition, UM/UIM pays for lost wages if you can't work because of injuries, and for pain and suffering.