University of Missouri System

Management Services

Risk and Insurance Management

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between liability and other types of insurance?
   
2. Is my department vehicle insured?
3. What do I do after an accident?
4. Does the University provide any insurance when I use my personal car on University business?
5. Will the University provide physical damage insurance if my personal vehicle is damaged while being used for University business?
6. If I rent a car while traveling on University business, what insurance options should I take?
7. Is my personal computer (or other equipment) covered if I use it at work?
8. Is University property covered for losses when it is in my home or my personal vehicle?
9. Is property leased or rented by my department covered under Business Personal Property Insurance?
10. How much Personal Property insurance do we need?
11. Our department recently purchased $50,000 worth of new computers; how do we get them covered?
12. We had a theft; what do I do?
13. We had water damage from a steam leak; what do I do?
14. Does your department have a vehicle? Is it insured?

What is the difference between liability and other types of insurance?

Liability insurance provides legal defense from and/or payment to third parties who may have been damaged because of the negligence of the Curators of the University of Missouri or their officers, employees, agents and, in some cases, volunteers.

Property insurance is a first party coverage that generally pays the university for damage it suffers as the result of an insured peril, such as fire, wind (tornado), earthquake, flood, etc.

Is my department vehicle insured?

Each campus has a designated individual to complete the titling and licensing process and to assist you with answering this question. These folks will schedule your vehicle with Risk & Insurance Management so your vehicle is covered in case of an accident. When you contact them, be sure to have at your fingertips:

• Year
• Make
• Model
• VIN
• Purchase price
• License plate number

Licensed or unlicensed? Licensed Vehicles include all vehicles that are licensed for city streets and highway driving that are owned, rented or leased by the university for official business purposes. An unlicensed vehicle is not designed for highway use and generally used on university grounds. Examples of these vehicles are golf carts, "Gators," also known as all-terrain vehicles, etc. used for landscaping or maintenance.

Licensed vehicles are covered by the university’s self-insured Auto Liability program. The liability program covers, less the deductible, costs for bodily injury or physical damage caused to someone else’s vehicle or property. This does not include costs to repair physical damage to your vehicle.

Physical damage, better known as Comp/Collision coverage, is an optional coverage. This coverage has an additional annual premium assessed on the original cost new of the vehicle being insured. Example: A car is purchased for $12,000 and the original cost of the vehicle was $14,000, the premium would be based on the original cost of $14,000.

Unlicensed vehicles are considered "property" and are covered under the university Self-Insured Property Program.

Do not delay scheduling licensed vehicles – be sure to send the information to your coordinator as quickly as possible to make sure you’re covered! Buckle up and drive safely!

What do I do after an accident?

If you drive a university vehicle, download your own innovative wallet guide to print and take with you (print with the double sided option). In the stress after an accident, it's good know exactly what to do!

All university vehicles are covered under the name "The Curators of the University of Missouri" as self-insured for automobile liability coverage. The self-insured Automobile Liability program provides coverage for bodily injury or property damage liability arising out of the operation of use of university-owned or operated vehicles. All university officers, agents, employees, authorized volunteers and authorized students are covered under this program.

Any employee involved in an auto accident should contact their campus representative:

Columbia	Pat Higgins	(573) 882-7254
Kansas City	Peter Maxwell	(816) 235-5357
Rolla	Jamie Feldhacker	(573) 341-4800
St. Louis	Gloria Leonard	(314) 516-5362
UMHC	Betty Wilson	(573) 875-9082
MRC	David Poteet	(417) 461-5217
System	Risk & Ins. Mgmt.	(573) 882-8100

or Corporate Claims Management Inc (our Third Party Claims Adjusters) at (800) 440-2264 for assistance in filing a claim.

As soon as possible, complete the Vehicle Accident Report, UM-5, available on our Web site at www.umsystem.edu/rim. Any letters, bills, suit papers, etc. should be forwarded promptly to your campus auto claims coordinator.

Does the University provide any insurance when I use my personal car on University business?

There are two types of insurance that may apply in the event you are involved in an accident using your personal vehicle on university business:

• Liability - The university provides only excess liability coverage on personal vehicles used on University business. In the event you are considered liable for such an accident, your personal automobile insurance would pay first; the university's coverage would become involved only when your policy limits are exhausted.
• Workers' Compensation - Any medical costs or lost time you might incur while on business would be subject to recovery provided through the State of Missouri's workers' compensation program.

Will the University provide physical damage insurance if my personal vehicle is damaged while being used for University business?

No, you are responsible for insuring your personal vehicle. The university's mileage reimbursement rate factors in insurance premiums and deductibles as part of the cost of operating a vehicle.

If I rent a car while traveling on University business, what insurance options should I take?

We recommend that you always use your university-sponsored Corporate Card when renting a car as it provides physical damage coverage at no cost to the university.

When renting a vehicle in the United States or Canada, you should decline all options as you are covered by the university for accidents while on university business. You would be responsible for damage occurring while using the vehicle for personal pleasure or business; however, you would normally be covered by your personal automobile insurance. You should check with your insurance agent should you have any questions.

When renting a vehicle in any country other than the United States or Canada, we recommend that you purchase the insurance options.

Is my personal computer (or other equipment) covered if I use it at work?

Personal property of employees is not covered by university insurance.

Is university property covered for losses when it is in my home or my personal vehicle?

Property which is covered by one of the university's property insurance options is covered any where in the world. Such property may also be insured automatically through the employee's homeowners/renters insurance.

Is property leased or rented by my department covered under Business Personal Property Insurance?

Yes, provided you have a contractual obligation to do so. However the $1,000 deductible is the responsibility of the department.

How much personal property insurance do we need?

All of your business personal property is covered subject to $1,000 deductible.

Our department recently purchased $50,000 worth of new computers; how do we get them covered?

They are covered automatically.

We had a theft; what do I do?

File a Disappearance of Assets and Money Report (UM Form 155) with your campus coordinator.

Note: As theft items are often recovered, theft claims are not settled for 30 days to allow time for possible recovery.

We had water damage from a steam leak; what do I do?

The first obligation in the event of any property loss is to take appropriate action to minimize the impact of the loss. This may mean relocating equipment, furniture, files, etc. out of harm's way; calling maintenance or other departments. Preserve any damaged equipment until its value can be substantiated.

File a claim form (UM Form 69) within 24 hours to your campus coordinator.