40-9-103
Code Resources
Georgia Resources
Georgia Website
Georgia Governor
Georgia Legislature
Georgia Courts
Search this Code
in Google Scholar
on the Web
Google Web Search
MSN Web Search
Yahoo! Web Search
in the News
Google News Search
Google News Archive Search
Yahoo! News Search
in the Blogs
BlawgSearch.com Search
Google Blog Search
Technorati Blog Search
in other Databases
Google Book Search
40-9-103.
(a)
No motor vehicle liability insurance policy covering a motor vehicle principally
garaged or principally used in this state shall be issued, delivered or issued
for delivery, or renewed in this state unless such policy contains provisions or
has an endorsement thereto which specifically requires the insured to send his
insurer, as soon as practicable after the receipt thereof, a copy of every
summons or other process relating to the coverage under the policy and to
cooperate otherwise with the insurer in connection with the defense of any
action or threatened action covered under the policy.
(b)(1)
Noncompliance by the insured with this required provision or endorsement shall
constitute a breach of the insurance contract which, if prejudicial to the
insurer, shall relieve the insurer of its obligation to defend its insureds
under the policy and of any liability to pay any judgment or other sum on behalf
of its insureds.
(2)
In the event the insurer denies coverage and it is determined by declaratory
judgment or other civil process that there is in fact coverage, the insurer
shall be liable to the insured for legal costs and attorney´s fees as may
be awarded by the court.
(c)
Subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section shall not operate to deny coverage
for failure to send a copy of a summons or other process relating to policy
coverage if such documents are sent by a third party to the insurer or to the
insurer´s agent by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery within
ten days of the filing of such documents with the clerk of the court. If the
name of the insurer or the insurer´s agent is unknown, the third party
shall have a period of 30 days from the date the insurer or agent becomes known
in which to send these required documents. Such documents must be sent to the
insurer or agent at least 30 days prior to the entry of any judgment against the
insured.