Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed Erie Insurance's use of the "regular use" exclusion.
The exclusion denies additional UIM benefits when an insured person is injured in a non-owned vehicle that they regularly use but is not listed for UIM coverage under their policy.
The case involved an employee seeking to stack benefits from his personal auto policy with those already received from his employer's policy after a work-related accident.
The court referenced the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s 2024 Rush decision, which supported the validity of the regular use exclusion.
This decision provides clarity for insurers regarding policy drafting and claims handling in similar UIM disputes.
The case, Erie Insurance Exchange v. Richard Russo, centered on an accident from November 2018 where Russo, an employee of Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electrical, was injured while driving a company vehicle. He received the maximum UIM benefit of $35,000 from his employer’s policy with Donegal Insurance Group but sought additional compensation through his personal auto policy with Erie, which covered four vehicles with stacked UIM coverage. Erie denied the claim, citing the regular use exclusion in its policy. The court agreed with Erie, reinforcing that the exclusion applies when the insured regularly uses a non-owned vehicle not listed for UIM coverage under their policy. The ruling hinged on whether Russo qualified as an "insured" under the Donegal policy, which the court determined he did not, preventing the stacking of benefits under Pennsylvania law. This decision offers guidance for insurers in drafting policies and handling claims related to UIM coverage and the regular use exclusion, particularly when employees use work vehicles.
Q: What is the "regular use" exclusion in auto insurance?
It denies UIM or UM coverage for bodily injury sustained while using a non-owned vehicle that the insured regularly uses but isn't covered under their policy.
Q: What was the central issue in Erie Insurance Exchange v. Richard Russo?
Whether Russo could stack UIM coverage from his personal auto policy with benefits received from his employer's policy after a work-related accident.
If you regularly drive a vehicle not listed on your auto insurance policy, such as a company car, understand how the "regular use" exclusion might affect your UIM/UM coverage.
Review your auto insurance policy to understand the terms and exclusions related to UIM/UM coverage.
Insurers gain clarity on how to apply the regular use exclusion in UIM disputes involving work vehicles, influencing policy drafting and claims handling.
Do you think this ruling provides sufficient clarity for UIM coverage disputes? Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!
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