La. Admin. Code tit. 37 § I-719

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-719 - Reporting of Road and Bridge Hazard Claims (Department of Transportation and Development)

A. All claims must be reported as soon as possible, but no later than the prescription period outlined in Book III, Title 24, Chapter 4 of the Louisiana Civil Code. In most cases, prescription periods are one year. ORM will pay only for covered losses reported before one year from the date of the accident or discovery date. Policy language clearly states: "...you must see to it that we are notified as soon as practicable of an 'occurrence' or an offense which may result in a claim." Failure to report potential claims as soon as possible severely limits the ability of ORM to investigate the facts and may compromise the state's legal rights to subrogation from a responsible third party.

B. The state of Louisiana provides road and bridge hazard liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage claims resulting from the establishment, design, construction, existence, ownership, maintenance, use, extension, improvement, repair, or regulation of any state bridge, tunnel, dam, street, road, highway, or expressway for which the agency could be held legally liable.

C. All road and bridge hazard claims are to be submitted, in writing, to the Office of Risk Management on the DOTD/ORM Report of Road Hazard Incident form. Forms can be obtained from the Office of Risk Management's Road and Bridge Hazard Claims Unit or on the ORM web site, www.doa.louisiana.gov/orm.

D. Claims are to be submitted, in writing, to the Office of Risk Management, P.O. Box 91106, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9106.

E. If a loss is serious in nature, it is to be reported by telephone to the Office of Risk Management for review to determine if coverage is applicable.

F. Claims which are made against a state agency by a third party are to be submitted to the Office of Risk Management for review to determine if coverage is applicable.

G. All lawsuits, demands, notices, summons, or other legal documents pertaining to a claim against a state agency are to be forwarded immediately to the Office of Risk Management's Claim Office for further handling.

H. Any objects and/or products which may have caused, contributed to, or which are suspected of causing an accident are to be retained and preserved as evidence.

I. If a loss or a claim arises, the agency is not to assume any obligation or incur any expenses without authority from the Office of Risk Management.

J. It would be the responsibility of the district office of the Department of Transportation and Development to verify the following:

1. that the alleged accident occurred on a state maintained highway/road;

2. existence of the damage;

3. whether the state had knowledge of the defect prior to the alleged accident;

4. the existence of any contract which may exist between the state and any municipality, contractor or other party.

La. Admin. Code tit. 37, § I-719

Promulgated by the Office of the Governor, Office of the Governor, Division of Administration, Office of Risk Management, LR 15:85 (February 1989), amended LR 31:67 (January 2005), LR 32:1441 (August 2006).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 39:1527 et seq.