MEMORANDUM
TO:AgencyMotorVehicleCoordinators
PleasedistributetoeveryonewhodrivesonStatebusiness
FROM:ShannonM.Anderson,StateRiskManager
CC:Gerry Oligmueller,ActingAdministrativeServicesDirector
Steve Sulek,ASTransportationServicesBureauAdministrator
RE:StateofNebraskaMotorVehiclePolicy-FiscalYear2014-2015
DATE:October 3, 2014
I. STATEOFNEBRASKA-MOTORVEHICLEINSURANCE
A. AUTO INFORMATION CARDS: in order to expedite the issuance of the auto information cards, agencies are asked to download the card from the Office of Risk Management website and to print copies needed for your fleet of vehicles. Please keep a copy with each of your vehicles. The Office of Risk Management will not be sending you information cards.
B. POLICYINFORMATION
InsuranceCompany: PrincetonExcessSurplusLinesInsuranceCompanyand
Illinois UnionInsuranceCompany
PolicyNumber:64-A3-EX-0000006-10 and
XPE G19851667 004
PolicyTerm:July1,2014toJune30,2015
NamedInsured:TheStateofNebraska(includingallAuthorities,Boards,Commissions, Departments,Divisions,andanyotheractivitiesunderthesupervisionorcontrol oftheinsuredexceptfortheUniversitySystem)
ClaimsAdministrator:NRMA
CenterStoneBuilding
100North12thStreet,Suite200
POBox85210
Lincoln,NE68501-5210
Phone:(800)642-6671or(402)742-9220
Fax(402)742-9220
StateContact:ShannonM.Anderson,StateRiskManager AdministrativeServicesRiskManagementDivision Phone:(402)471-4436Fax(402)471-2800
Email:
B. COVERAGEUNDERTHISPOLICY
1. AllmotorvehiclesusedonStatebusiness.IfaStateemployeeuseshisorherownpersonalvehicle on Statebusinessandanaccidentoccurs,theemployee’spersonalinsuranceisprimarycoverageand theState'spolicyisexcess.
2. AlldriverswhousecoveredvehicleswithpermissionandonStatebusiness.Thismayinclude contractorswhoareauthorizedtousestatevehicles.RiskManagementencouragesagencies,through theircontracts,torequirecontractorstoprovidetheirowntransportationortoindemnifytheState whenusingstatevehicles.IfyouneedassistancewithrelatedcontractprovisionspleasecontactRisk Management.
3. Allvehiclesownedby theStatearecoveredtothemaximumof$5,000,000peroccurrenceforliability(bodilyinjuryandpropertydamagetopersonalorrealproperty)causedby aStatevehicle.While coverageisautomaticforvehiclesaddedordeletedduringthepolicyperiod,youmay want to informRisk Managementwhenyouaddorsurplusavehicleso that we may confirm coverage in the event of an accident.
4. Thereisno medicalpaymentcoverageforanyinjuredpartyinacoveredvehicle.
a.Stateofficialsandemployeeswhoareinjuredmayqualifyforcoverageoftheirmedical expensesunderthestate’sworkers’compensationprogram.
b. Injurytoanypassengerofthestate’svehicle,causedby anuninsuredorunderinsureddriver, maybecoveredundertheuninsured/underinsuredmotoristcoverageintheautopolicy.This coverageislimitedtoamaximumof$25,000perpersonand$50,000peraccidentforall damages(propertyandbodilyinjury)resultingfromtheaccident.
5. Physicaldamagecoverageforvehiclesownedbyand/orleasedfromtheTransportationServices Bureau(TSB)witha$500deductibleperoccurrence.The$500deductiblemustbepaidby the agencythatwasleasingorrentingthevehiclefromTSBatthetimethedamageoccurred.
6. PhysicaldamagecoverageforanyotherState-ownedorleasedvehicleattherequestoftheowning agencyandatagencycost,witha$500deductibleperoccurrence.Physicaldamagecoveragemust havebeenelectedandpaidby theagencypriortotheaccident.
7. PhysicaldamagecoverageforprivaterentalvehiclesintheUnitedStates,itspossessionsand territories,PuertoRicoandCanada,whilebeingusedforStatebusiness.
8. UninsuredandUnderinsuredMotoristCoverageat$25,000perpersonandwitha$50,000limitper occurrence.
II. INSTRUCTIONSFORREPORTINGMOTORVEHICLEACCIDENTS
ReportallaccidentstoNRMAimmediatelyby(1)callingPeteEidenat402-742-9220or800-642-
6671(2)e-mailingNRMAator,or(3)faxingthepaperformto NRMAat402-742-9230or888-311-3152. Forseriousaccidents,calltheinformationinfirstthen followupwiththewrittenreport.SeriousaccidentsshouldbereportedtoNRMAandRisk Management.IfyouaredrivingaTSBvehicle,followthesameproceduresbutreporttheaccident to Angela LLoyd, Aor(402)471-2381inaccordancewithTSB proceduresandtoNRMA.
•Ifyouareinvolvedinanaccidentbesureyouobtaintheinsuranceinformationfromtheotherdriver regardlessoffaultandwhetherthepolicearecalledornot.
•Checktobesurethattheformisascompleteaspossible.Anybills,estimatesoradditionalmaterials maybesentwiththereportbutdonotdelayfilingwhilewaitingfortheseitems.IftheStatevehicle is coveredby physicaldamageinsurance,notethisclearlyontheform.
•Ifadditionalinformationissentlater,identifyby agency,dateofaccidentandStatedriver.
•IfaStatevehicleoranyvehicleusedonStatebusiness(includinganemployee'spersonalvehicle)is involvedinanaccident,reporttheaccidenttotheagencymotorvehiclecoordinatorandfileaMotor VehicleAccidentReportFormwithNRMA(andTSBifitisaTSBvehicle)within24hoursofthe accident.
•TheaccidentformsshouldbeintheglovecompartmentofallStatevehicles.Formsarealsoavailable ontheRiskManagementwebsiteat retainonecopyofcompletedformsandonecopyshouldbesentorfaxedtoNRMA(andTSBifitis a TSBvehicle)immediately.
ItisimportantthattheinformationbesentthesamedaysothatNRMAisawareoftheaccidentandcan bepreparedtoinvestigateorfieldinquiriesfromtheotherparty.ANRMAadjusterwillinvestigatethe claimandcontactyouragencyandthedriveriftheyneedassistance.Anyinformationyoumayhave regardingtheaccidentshouldberelayedtotheState’sadjuster.Youmayspeakfreelytotheadjuster.
ThevehicledrivermustalsofiletherequiredaccidentreportwiththeAccidentRecordsBureau, DepartmentofRoads.ThisreportdiffersfromtheonefiledwithRiskManagement.
Anemployeeinvolvedinanaccidentshouldneveradmitfault.Anemployeeshouldgivetheinsurance informationfromtheInsuranceIdentificationCardfoundineachvehicleandansweranyquestionsasked by anylawenforcementonthescene.Nomatterhowsmallanaccidentseems,getallinformationfrom theotherparty,e.g.,name,addressandinsurancecarrier,beforeleavingthescene.Otherpartiesshould be directedtoNRMAorRiskManagementiftheyhavefurtherquestions.
AllinjuriestoStateemployeesmustbereportedimmediatelytoFARA,theState’sthirdparty administratorforworkers’compensation,followingthedirectionsforreportingworkers’compensation claims,whichmaybeobtainedfromtheriskmanagementwebsiteorfromyouragencyworkers’ compensationcoordinator.
III. POLICYCOVERAGEDETAIL
ThepolicycoversanyoneoperatingacoveredvehiclewiththepermissionofaStateemployee.The policycoversallState-ownedvehiclesandnon-ownedvehiclesusedonStatebusinessintheUnited States,itsterritoriesandCanada.Sincecoverageincludesstudents,volunteersandotherswhoarenot Stateemployees,aswellasemployeeswhoaredrivingtheirownvehicles(asexcesstotheemployee’s individualinsurance),itisimportantthatallagenciesknowwhoisdrivinganyvehicleonStatebusiness. IfyouhavequestionsorconcernsaboutuseofyourvehiclesorwhowillbecoveredpleasecontactRisk Management.
A. RECOMMENDEDDRIVERSCREENING
1. AnnuallychecktoseethateveryonedrivingonStatebusinesshasacurrentdriver'slicense.
2. Identifyallemployeepositionsthatrequireacommercialdriver’slicense,thentrainandlicensethe employees.
3.ObtainamotorvehiclerecordfromtheDepartmentofMotorVehiclesforallemployeeshiredtodrive anyvehicle,eventheirown,onStatebusiness.Thisrecordshouldbecheckedregularlyforalldrivers includingthosepresentlyemployed. Shouldanaccidentoccur,theStatecouldbefoundnegligentfor allowingemployeeswithpoordrivingrecordstooperatevehiclesontheState’sbehalf?
4. RequirethatallemployeeswhoregularlydriveavehicleonStatebusinesstakearefreshercoursein defensivedrivingeveryfiveyearsandanytimeaticketedaccidentoccurs.
5. Adoptpersonnelrulesthatmakeemployeesaccountableforpoordrivingrecordsandthatallow accommodationsforemployeeswhocannotdrivesafelytemporarilyduetoinjury,illness,seizure disorders,medications,orothermedicalornon-medicalreasons.
B. RENTALCARS
WhenaStateemployeerentsacarundercontractintheUnitedStates,itsterritoriesorCanadaonState business(e.g.,Avis,Hertz),theState’sinsurancepolicywillprovidecoverageinexcessofanyother policyinforce. ThepolicydoesnotprovidecoverageforcarsrentedinothercountriesbesidesCanada. PleasepurchasethecoverageofferedorpurchaseinsuranceattheborderifyouarecrossingintoMexico. TheState’spolicyalsocoversphysicaldamagetoarentalcar,soStateemployeesshouldnot automatically payfor collisiondamagewaiversofferedby rentalcompanies.Pleasenotethattheprovidedcoverageisfor physicaldamageonly,anddoesnotincludeanydowntimeand/orlossofuseallegedby therentalcar company. Therefore, agencies are encouraged to review available rental insurance to determine whether the coverage provided is prudent given the cost plus any deductible the agency may face from the State’s coverage. Your agency would be responsible for paying the premium for this elective coverage.
IfarentedvehiclewillbeusedforbothStateandpersonalbusiness,theStatecoveragewillonlyapplyfor thetimeyouareonStatebusiness.Ifyourpersonalpolicywillnotprovidecoverage,youmaypreferto takethecoverageprovidedby therentalcompany. Insuchacase,thecoverageshouldnotbecharged totheState.
C. VOLUNTEERDRIVERS,PERSONALVEHICLES,GUESTPASSENGERS
Thevolunteerwhousestheirpersonalvehicleforstatebusinessistreatedthesameasanemployeedriving hisorherownvehicleforwork.Thedriver'sowninsuranceisprimaryandthestate’spolicywillonlyapplywhenthevolunteeroremployeehasusedhisorherinsurancelimitsorhasnocoverage. Independent Contractorsarenotvolunteers.RiskManagementencouragesagenciestoaddresstheissue of autousageandinsurancecoverageinallagencycontracts.
ToprotecttheState’sinterests,itisnecessarythateveryagencyscreenvolunteersandemployeesfor:
1. Driver’slicenses.Inspectlicensesannuallyforrenewaldates,restrictionsandpoints.
2. Requiredinsurancecoverage. InspecttheFinancialResponsibilityorInsuranceIDCardsannually.
Theagencyshouldreviewforliabilitylimits,physicaldamagecoverage,anddeductibles.Beaware thatshouldtherebeanaccident,theagencymayberequiredtopaythedeductibleundertheprivate policycoveringthevehicleor mayberesponsibleforotherexpensesthathavenotbeenbudgeted. Additionally,manypersonalpoliciescontainexclusionsforuseofthevehicleforwork,whichmay impactcoverageonthevehicleifanemployeeisdriving.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthe insurancecoveragepleasecontactRiskManagementforassistance.
3. Gooddrivingrecords. AperiodiccheckwiththeDepartmentofMotorVehiclesto monitoraccrued pointsisadvised,especiallyifavolunteeristransportingotherindividualsforwhomtheStatehas responsibility.
Volunteersshouldberegisteredwiththeagency,havehaddefensivedrivingtrainingwithinthepastfive years,andmustkeeprecordsoftheirtripsby day andhoursoStatebusinesscanbeverifiedifanaccident occurs.
Vehiclesusedonstatebusinessmustbesafe.Anagencyshoulddevelopaprocessforinspectingor verifyingthesafetyofanysuchvehicle.
Whetheritisappropriatetoallowpassengersotherthanstateemployeesandstateclientsinstatevehicles is adecisionlefttoeachagencydirector.Agenciesshouldbeawarethatotherthanforaccidentscausedbyuninsuredorunderinsuredmotoriststhereisnoinsurancecoverageforthesepassengersshouldtheybe injured.Ifthepassengerbelievesaninjuryisduetothestate’sorstateemployee’snegligencethey may fileatortclaimbutthereisnoinsuranceavailableundertheautopolicy.Someagenciesareaskingguest passengerstosignawaiverbeforeridinginstatevehiclesorwithstatedrivers.Asamplewaivermaybe obtainedfromtheRiskManagementwebsiteorbycontactingRiskManagement.Afewagencieswith frequentpassengershaveaskedthatRiskManagementprovidemedicalpaymentcoverageforguest passengers.RiskManagementisnotcurrentlyofferingthiscoverage.Wecontinuetoconsiderthisrequest andthemostreasonablemethodtooffersuchcoverageandwillnotifyagencycoordinators
shouldthiscoveragebecomeavailableinthefuture.
1 / State of Nebraska Motor Vehicle Policy – Fiscal Year 2014-2015