Auto accidents continue to be on the rise within the member pools for both the SC Municipal Insurance Trust and SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund. Auto crashes and collisions can cause serious injury to all parties involved, but it is important to also consider how costly these accidents may become.
In 2024 so far, SCMIRF has received 701 claims totaling $3.57 million in total incurred cost. In a vehicle-versus-vehicle collision where the driver of an involved city vehicle is liable, that occurrence can potentially lead to a collision claim for the city vehicle, a property damage liability claim for the third-party vehicle, and bodily injury liability claim for any occupant in the third-party vehicle. There may also be a workers’ compensation claim for the municipal vehicle driver and any coworkers in the vehicle.
Auto collisions impact both SCMIT and SCMIRF. SCMIT is impacted by the cost for employee care, treatment and lost wages. SCMIRF is impacted by the cost of the damaged property as well as any liability claims from the third-party claimants.
Because member cities and towns of SCMIT and SCMIRF pay premiums based on the entity’s liability loss history, it’s important to prevent auto accidents from happening whenever possible, as these can often become costly claims that cause members to pay more in insurance premiums.
The majority of auto accidents can be prevented by implementing safety and risk management procedures within a municipality. Risk Management Services recommends the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety’s 10-step guide to prevent crashes and collisions:
- Management Commitment and Employee Involvement
- Written Policies and Procedures
- Driver Agreements
- Motor Vehicle Record, or MVR, Checks
- Crash Reporting and Investigation
- Vehicle Selection, Maintenance and Inspection
- Accountability or Disciplinary Action System
- Reward/Incentive Program
- Driver Training/Communication
- Regulatory Compliance
Detailed information on each of the steps above can be found on the Auto Loss Prevention webpage. It can help municipal officials review what is in place within their municipality and what further steps are needed to help prevent auto crashes and collisions. This information is crucial to the members of both SCMIT and SCMIRF as preventing auto collisions can save lives, time and money.
For questions or additional information, contact Kayde Niemira, loss control coordinator, at 803.354.4758 or kniemira@masc.sc.