Insurance for Self-Propelled Vehicles

Chapter 3040

Revised August 1, 2008

Table of Contents

.010 Insurance Company and Policy Number

.020 Claims Office Representing the Insurance Company

.030 Insurance Coverages

.040 Reporting Accidents

.050 Repairs When the Other Driver is Liable

.060 Repairs When the University Driver is Liable

.070 Payment for Vehicle Liability Insurance

.080 Personal Liability of KSU Employees for Damages to State Vehicles

.090 Questions

.010 Insurance Company and Policy Number

Insurance for state vehicles is provided by the Cornhusker Casualty Company, Policy Number KSA000895. The agent for this insurance is Charlson-Wilson Insurance Agency, P.O. Box 1989, Manhattan, Kansas 66505-1989. 

.020 Claims Office Representing the Insurance Company

All claims occurring after August 1, 2008 should be reported to the following:

Company Name:  Cornhusker Casualty Company

Address:  9290 W. Dodge Road, Ste. 300

                   Omaha, NE 68114

Telephone No.:  1-800-488-2930  (Toll Free) (8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.)

                              1-800-488-2930 (After Hours)

Fax No.:  1-402-393-7619

Contact:  Paula Opal

Email:   popal@bh-hc.com

Persons making these calls should immediately identify themselves as state employees to facilitate proper claim handling.

  .030 Insurance Coverages

The state insurance policy provides the following coverage for all state owned self-propelled vehicles, such as cars; station wagons; buses; trucks; trailers; graders; tractors; scooters; motorcycles; mowers; forklifts; farm equipment and other self-propelled equipment.

1.  Liability for Personal Injury:  Amount of injury not to exceed  $500,000 per person or $500,000 per accident.
2.  Liability for Property Damage: Amount of damage not to exceed $100,000 per accident.
3.  Medical Expenses:  Amount of medical expenses not to exceed $5,000 per person.
4.  Injury Caused by Uninsured Motorist:     Amount of injury not to exceed $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident. Covers only cars, station wagons, buses, pickup trucks, heavy-duty trucks and certain other vehicles.

Limits of liability should be discussed only with KSU employees.

The insurance provides protection and benefits to the State of Kansas, and its officers, agents, and employees when they are officially operating motor vehicles, owned, operated, maintained or controlled by the State of Kansas and for persons while riding in, entering or alighting from such vehicles, except Department of Transportation.

Insurance protection covers vehicles used in the United States of America, its territories or possessions and Canada if a Canada Non-Resident Insurance Card has been issued for a particular vehicle and trip. These cards can be obtained by calling the Purchasing Office at (785) 532-6214.

Non-employees (including students) are also covered while driving state vehicles if:

 

1.  The person has been authorized by the Head of the Department or his authorized representative to drive the state vehicle, and
2.  The driver is performing official University business, and
3.  The driver has a valid driver's license.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EMPLOYEES AND OTHER PERSONS BE ADVISED THAT THIS INSURANCE APPLIES TO THEM ONLY WHEN ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR AUTHORITY OR WITHIN THE COURSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT.

.040 Reporting Accidents

Accidents involving University and privately owned vehicles used for official state business are to be reported as follows: (Reports for private vehicles are necessary because the state insurance may partially apply in some cases depending upon the circumstances.)

1.    By the driver by:
A.   Immediately telephoning or otherwise notifying the appropriate law enforcing office as follows:
              1)   Accidents on Campus - notify KSU Police Department.
              2)   Accidents outside of the Campus - notify appropriate officials such as City Police,
                     County Sheriff, Highway Patrol, etc., and
        B.   Immediately telephoning the nearest claim office listed in PPM 3040.020 when an accident causes a

              serious personal injury, death or disabled vehicles, and
       C.   Signing and submitting a completed "Automobile Loss Notice" form in three copies to the Department

              Head, immediately following the accident.  This form is required for all accidents.   Copies of this
              form may be obtained from the Purchasing Office, Anderson Hall, Room 21, and
       D.   Signing and submitting a completed "Kansas Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Accident Report"

              form within 10 days of any accident in Kansas.  These Kansas forms and instructions will be furnished by
              the patrolman investigating the accident.  For all out-of-state accidents, use the instructions and
              forms provided by the patrolman investigating the accident.

2.    By the Department Head by:
       A.   Reporting all accidents to their Dean's Office immediately, and

       B.   Forwarding the signed original and two copies of the "Automobile Loss Notice" form to the Purchasing
             Office (retain a photocopy). This form is available on Eforms by accessing:   http://www.ksu.edu/controller/eforms2/.

.050 Repairs When the Other Driver is Liable

When there is a possibility that the other party is liable, the department head should arrange for the other party or his insurance company to pay for the cost of repairs to the state vehicle.

.060 Repairs When the University Driver is Liable

When the University driver is at fault, it is suggested that cost proposals for such repairs be obtained on the vendors' own estimate form. Upon receipt of the estimates, the department may order the repairs from the lowest bidder meeting all requirements.  Payment will be made on an A.P.O. with the invoice attached.

.070 Payment for Vehicle Liability Insurance

As yearly premiums for this insurance become due, departments are notified by the Purchasing Office as to how the payment is to be made. The cost to each department depends upon the number and type of vehicles they own.

.080 Personal Liability of KSU Employees for Damages to State Vehicles

The policy of the University concerning the personal responsibility of state employees for damages to state vehicles which they are driving while on official state business is not to seek indemnification from the employee for damages to a state vehicle incurred as a result of that employee's use of the state vehicle for official state business. The only exception to that policy would be cases where the employee was driving the vehicle on other than official state business or where the damage was caused by the employee's gross negligence. "Gross negligence" is generally defined as conduct indicating a reckless disregard and complete indifference for the possible consequences of the person's actions. One such example would be driving under the influence.

An University employee whose ordinary negligence led to damages to a state vehicle will not be held personally responsible for damages to a state vehicle.

However, when University employees use the KSU Central Motor Pool vehicles, the department will be asked to pay for insurance to cover the damages over normal wear and tear or if they do not desire to pay the insurance premium the employee's department will be responsible to absorb the cost of any state vehicle damaged beyond normal wear and tear during a trip by that department's employee.

.090 Questions

Any questions related to vehicle liability insurance should be referred to the Purchasing Office at (785)532-6214.