IN GEORGIA, THE INSURED MUST REJECT UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE, INCLUDING ADD-ON COVERAGE, IN WRITING
Posted by H. Lee Pruett
A recent telephone call from an acquaintance who happens to be a plaintiffs’ lawyer prompted a little research on my part to determine an insurance company’s obligations to provide uninsured motorist coverage, and how to know whether the coverage is “traditional” or “add-on.” With traditional UM, the insurance company is entitled to a setoff for any underlying liability coverage. For example, if the defendant driver has $25,000 in liability limits, and the plaintiff has $25,000 in UM coverage, the UM carrier has no exposure (assuming the liability carrier made no direct payments to satisfy any federal benefits liens). With add-on UM, the insurer would provide the full $25,000 in coverage after the defendant carrier’s payment of the liability limit. How do you know whether the plaintiff has traditional or add-on UM coverage?
