Report Your Claims Promptly
Caring for the Injured Worker
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Tenant User Liability Insurance Program (TULIP)
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Reporting claims (or potential claims) in a timely manner is critical for allowing investigations and proper evaluation of claims to be conducted. Each of our policies contain a requirement of prompt reporting. As an example, the Employment Practices Liability form states: “You must see to it that we are notified as soon as practicable after you become aware of any situation or circumstances which may result in a ‘claim’ being made against you alleging an ‘employment wrongful act(s).’”
We see some claims that are reported after the municipality has taken actions, sometimes even going as far as assigning attorneys before notifying us. This can jeopardize coverage if we are prejudiced from being able to properly investigate due to this delayed notice. Additionally, assignment of an attorney that is not on our Panel Council may result in fees and expenses that cannot be reimbursed. It also can cause delays and confusion when council must be substituted in the process.
Prompt reporting allows our staff the opportunity to secure evidence that may otherwise be lost, modified or otherwise altered. We may also have an opportunity to suggest ways to mitigate or reduce the potential ultimate loss. When investigations are started immediately, we are much more successful in collecting important evidence and obtaining information from key witnesses before memory fades. This is even more important when there are questionable injuries or frivolous claims.
This may also assist with claims that are ultimately due, as it helps in building a relationship and forms a positive impression, allowing our reputation to remain high. Evidence has shown that early relationship building results in overall lower settlement values.
Working as a team, we can more easily accomplish positive results that will enhance all of us in the process.
Caring for the Injured Worker
Statistics show that reporting claims early and directing medical treatment can lead to successful outcomes in a worker's compensation claim. Early reporting enables the Adjuster to complete their investigation in a timely manner and make a determination of compensability. It also starts the communication between the Injured Worker, the Adjuster and the Employer to ensure that care and treatment recommendations are responded to promptly. If we are all communicating our desire to help get them well and back to work, it shows that we care and are vested in the process.
It's also important to be proactive and understand the worker's compensation process. This will help in alleviating the Injured Workers concerns about what will happen now that they have been injured at work.
We can provide you and the injured worker with information about worker's compensation. We are here to help you and answer any questions that may arise.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents continually cost our municipalities in a variety of ways, including loss of life, injury, property loss, and worktime losses. Our employees are our most valuable resource, and we must continue to improve on workplace practices.
Interestingly, crash-trends across North Carolina reveal that at-fault accidents contribute to a high percentage of our losses, leaving significant areas of potential improvement at the member level. Distracted driving and backing crashes are common denominators in a high percentage of at-fault crashes.
These facts fortunately demonstrate an enormous opportunity for our members to proactively address driving safety. Our municipal service delivery involves a great deal of travel, and thus a high frequency of driving. Our municipal missions are therefore tied directly to our employee's ability to operate motor vehicles effectively and safely. Training, policy, and supervision are areas that can positively lower the risk of loss associated with driving, and are very cost effective.
Some things to consider:
Does the municipality maintain motor vehicle operation policies that clearly define expectations, and include provisions such as distracted driving and backing avoidance directives?
Is the municipality properly internally investigating motor vehicle crashes in an effort to understand the cause of loss to reduce the possibility of future related losses?
Do supervisors hold employees accountable through consistent discipline for motor vehicle policy violations?
Does the municipality provide documented training and policy reviews for employees?
Our municipal members have significant resources regarding these areas of concern. The NCLM is staffed with experienced and dedicated risk management consultants ready to assist our members in these and many other areas of risk identification and mitigation.
Our field consultants help our members improve vehicle-accident prevention through effective, results-oriented risk management and loss control programs specifically designed for the individual municipal concern.
Our Risk Management Consultants make routine member visits to our member-municipalities who participate in the insurance pools, to provide safe-driving training courses, on-site consultation, hazard reviews, risk-identification, supervisory and employee training, existing loss control program evaluation, and assistance in the identification of liability exposures for all areas of a municipality's services.
Please remember that the NCLM Risk Management Field Staff are a valuable resource to our members providing expertise and resources in the pursuit of assisting our municipalities in making all of our communities' great places to work and live.
For more information related to Driving Safety and NCLM Risk Management Services, contact:
Tom Anderson- NCLM Director of Risk Control and Public Safety Risk Management. tanderson@zyjqlt.com
Does your city allow private use of its facilities?
Many cities allow individuals and groups to use or rent municipal owned facilities. When someone is injured at one of those events, they may look to sue the city and the event organizer. Individuals or groups who often use city property are often unaware that they can be held legally and financially responsible for injuries, accidents and property damage claims resulting from their event. Dealing with claims, regardless of their merit, can be expensive and time-consuming.
When individuals or organizations purchase TULIP coverage for their event, your city is automatically named as an additional insured on the purchased TULIP policy. This provides added assurance that your city will be protected from claims arising from an event held on city property by an individual or organization.
What does TULIP cover?
TULIP provides $1 million in liability protection for many types of events* including:
- Receptions
- Reunions
- Festivals
- Concerts
- Job Fairs
- Weddings
- Clubs & Meetings
- Arts & Crafts Fairs
- Many more events
Liquor liability coverage also is available.
*(Exclusions may apply for events greater than 5000 in attendance)
To get more information about TULIP coverage, please contact your NCLM IRFFNC underwriters.
Ariele D'Angelo Patrice Adams Michael Pittman
Sr. Property Casualty Underwriter Sr. Property Casualty Underwriter Director of Underwriting
919-715-8151 919-715-9549 919-715-2910
