The coverage that pays when the other driver cannot
Louisiana requires every automobile liability policy to include uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage at the same limits as your liability coverage, unless you reject it or select lower limits in writing (La. R.S. 22:1295). That written rejection is the "UM form."
Why it matters after a crash
Roughly one in five Louisiana drivers carries no insurance, and many more carry the state minimum. If a driver with $15,000 in coverage causes an injury that costs $80,000 to treat, your own UM coverage is what closes the gap. Without it, you are left pursuing a personal judgment against someone who likely cannot pay.
The form controls everything
The UM selection form must be on the state-prescribed template, signed and dated by the named insured, with the policy number and the selection clearly marked. Louisiana courts strictly construe these forms. If the insurer cannot produce a properly completed form, the law presumes you have full UM coverage equal to your liability limits.
That presumption has resolved many cases in favor of injured policyholders whose agents never had them sign, or had them sign an outdated version.
What to do after an accident
- Ask your insurer for a copy of your UM selection form immediately, in writing.
- Do not accept an adjuster's verbal statement that you "rejected UM." Ask for the signed document.
- Preserve the declarations page from the policy in effect on the date of the crash.
- Have a lawyer review the form. Small defects in the form can mean the difference between no coverage and full coverage.
UM claims are contract claims
Your claim against your own insurer for UM benefits is governed by your policy and by La. R.S. 22:1295, not by the tort prescriptive period. The deadlines and notice requirements are different. Treat it as its own claim with its own timeline.
This article is general information about Louisiana law, not legal advice for your situation.