State of Louisiana Automobile Claims

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State of Louisiana Automobile Claims

• byWalter Lockhart
• Email Walter.Lockhart_at_la.gov
• Office of Risk Management
• P.O. Box 91106
• Baton Rouge, LA 70821
• Phone[phone]
• Fax[phone]

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Auto policy definitions

• Auto means any vehicle required to be licensed
  by the Motor Vehicle Law of Louisiana but does
  not include mobile equipment.
• Mobile equipment means any vehicle not required
  to be licensed by the Motor Vehicle Law of
  Louisiana.

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Physical damage definitions

• Collision-collision with another object or
  overturn. Deductible 1000.
• Comprehensive-from any cause except above.
• (Examples fire, lightning, theft, windstorm,
  hail, flood, vandalism). Deductible 1000.
• All agencies have a 1000 deductible on all
  windshield claims.

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Proof of insurance for state owned/licensed
vehicles

• Website http//doa.louisiana.gov/orm/.
• Letter from J. S. Thompson, Jr.
• Policy period 7/1/09 to 7/1/10.
• Place copy of letter in all State vehicles.

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Auto physical damage and liability coverage

• State owned licensed vehicles used for state
  business.
• Licensed vehicles rented and/or leased used for
  state business.

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What should a state employee do after an auto
accident?

• Refrain from making any statements and/or
  commitments regarding payments of damages and/or
  medicals to anyone.
• Get names, addresses and phone numbers of all
  parties involved in the accident.
• Write down the license plate number(s) of each
  vehicle involved in the accident.

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Towing of state vehicles

• If possible, avoid having state vehicles towed to
  a wrecker yard.
• If vehicle is towed to wrecker yard, give state
  vehicle location on DA 2041, address and phone
  number of wrecker yard.

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DA 2041 form

• http//doa.louisiana.gov/orm/formsCR.htm
• Complete this form.
• Then email to (ORM-DA2041_at_la.gov) or fax
  (225-342-7740) to me within 48 hours after the
  accident.
• For all claims on state owned licensed vehicles
  and/or rented/leased vehicles on state business.

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Who will be the adjuster handling the physical
damage claims?

• Drew Hall. He will handle
• State owned licensed vehicles and
• rented/leased vehicles used on State business.
• Phone [phone]
• Email Drew.Hall_at_la.gov

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Process of a physical damage claim

• Claim assigned to adjuster. Adjuster reviews the
  DA 2041.
• If damages minor, adjuster will send letter
  asking agency if it wishes to make claim.
• If so, agency sends two repair estimates and copy
  of police report to adjuster.
• If vehicle is repairable, adjuster will check
  final invoice for correctness and then pay claim
  less deductible to vendor.

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Process of a physical damage claim(continued)

• ORM must have a final invoice to pay the vendor.
• The agency responsible for paying the vendor its
  deductible.

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Physical damage/supplemental damages

• If supplemental damages found after vehicle
  disassembled, vendor will contact ORM and/or
  appraiser.
• Additional damages must be agreed upon before
  being paid by ORM.
• All damages must be from accident. Old damages
  will be disallowed.

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Physical damages/vehicle undriveable

• ORM will hire appraiser to inspect vehicle.
• If repairable, adjuster will send copy
  (appraisal) to agency.
• If not, adjuster will advise agency vehicle is
  deemed total loss and prepare paper work for
  agency signature.

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Physical damage/total loss

• Total loss letter for state vehicles deemed total
  loss.
• Agency will send needed paper work directly to
  LPAA on total losses.
• ORM will subtract high salvage bid and
  deductible.
• Agency will receive salvage proceeds from LPAA
  after sale of salvage.

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Subrogation

• If adverse party at fault, we will turn this
  matter over to Subrogation Unit for recovery.
• Imperative that agencies cooperate by sending
  claims and having vehicles repaired in timely
  manner.
• Prescription period one year from date of loss.

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Personal vehicles used on state business

• Registered owners auto insurance (liability and
  physical damage) is primary and responds first.
• States insurance is excess on liability coverage
  only if employee is within scope and permission.

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Personal vehicles used on state business
(continued)

• See insurance notice letter number 98-2.
• Reimbursement of collision deductible up to
  1000.00 or
• If auto has no collision insurance, maximum of
  1000.00 per collision loss.
• Collision, not comprehensive claims.
• If other party/carrier pays your damages no
  payment from ORM.

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Rental Vehicles

• Report all rental auto accidents to ORM (use DA
  2041 form).
• New state motor pool rental contract with
  Enterprise effective 12/21/09.
• Report Enterprise auto rental accidents to
  Enterprise office where rented in addition to
  reporting to ORM.
• See Office of State Purchasing and Travel website
  for more information on new contract.
• http//www.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/travel/travelpoli
  cy.htm

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Automobile liability third party claims

• Agency will forward completed DA 2041 form to ORM
  by email or fax.
• Supervisor will assign claim to adjuster.
• Adjuster will investigate claim and decide
  whether there is liability on our driver. If so,
  damages will be paid based on percentage of
  liability. If no liability, claim will be
  denied.
• If any injuries involved, ORM will normally
  assign claim to independent adjuster.

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LAWSUITS

• If agency/employee receives lawsuit on auto
• accident, forward to ORM as soon as possible.

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Insurance information notice lettersWebsite
http//doa.louisiana.gov/orm/

• No. 97-1 Towing of state vehicles.
• No. 97-2 Inspection of rental vehicles.
• No. 98-2 Reimbursement of collision deductible on
  employees personally-owned vehicles used on
  state business.
• No. 99-6 Losses involving uninsured autos.
• No. 2001-2 Rented and/or courtesy vehicles.
• No. 2002-1 Reduction of liability limit.

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THE END