Agriculture & Natural Resources
OFFICE OF RISK SERVICES
Background Investigation Manual
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Automobile & General Liability Insurance
The University of California insures its automobile liability and general liability insurance through self-insurance programs which provide coverage for officers, employees and agents (formal volunteers) of the University while acting within the course and scope of their employment or volunteerism. Coverage is provided for activities that are scheduled, sponsored, and supervised by the University.
Employee's Guide to Vehicle use and Insurance at the University of California while on the job. It is important that employees understand UC policy and requirements with regard to insurance coverage when driving on University business. Insurance depends on who owns the vehicle and what gets damaged. It is different for University Vehicles, rentals vehicles, and personal vehicles.
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Automobile Liability Insurance
What's Covered? What's Not Covered?
The insurance program provides secondary automobile liability coverage while driving to and from an official UCCE business activity. Coverage is secondary to the insurance which covers the vehicle driven by the volunteer involved in an accident, and only if the volunteer's action is determined to be negligent in causing the accident.
When an employee uses a personal vehicle on University business, the employee's liability insurance policy is primary. The University provides secondary collision coverage only after the limits of the employee's liability insurance policy have been reached.
| What's Covered | What's Not Covered |
| Damage to any department-owned or -leased vehicle registered with Fleet services. | Injuries to the driver (covered by Workers' Comp if in the course and scope of employment). |
| Damage to private property or injuries to others (covered by the General Liability insurance program). | |
| Damage associated with selling, repairing, servicing, road testing, parking or storing University vehicles. | |
| Damage to rented or loaned vehicles. | |
| Damage to personal vehicles, even if driven on University business. |
Exceptions to the Coverage
In accordance with Business & Finance Bulletin 46 and related University policies, if a driver uses a University vehicle improperly, University insurance will not pay for any damage that occurs as a result, and the driver may be held responsible for reimbursing the department.
What constitutes improper use? Among other things:
Use for private
purposes
Use by a driver
with a suspended license or no license
Use by a driver
under the influence of alcohol or narcotics
Any kind of reckless behavior, from double-parking to speeding to leaving the
scene of an accident
Tickets received while operating a University-owned vehicle are the responsibility of the driver, not the University.
If You Know Who Did the Damage
University employees working within the course and scope of their employment are not personally liable for damage they cause to University vehicles. If the damage is somebody else's fault, and you know who that person is, contact us and we will pursue the liable party for payment.
How to File a Claim
Contact us as soon as you know about the damage. Under no circumstances should you wait longer than three business days to contact us.
The driver or employee responsible for the vehicle must complete a Report of Vehicle Accident form, even if the damage isn't accident related. Complete the Report, sign it and return it to us immediately.
Within 60 days we will need the following:
A Property Loss
Report. Not all sections will apply
A police report
or police report number, if any
Two estimates
from contracted vendors.
Depending on the circumstances, other documentation may also be required. If you have any questions, please contact the ANR Risk Management Office.
General Liability Insurance
What's Covered? What's Not Covered?
UCCE insurance program provides limited liability coverage for volunteers in cases where it has been determined, through investigation, that they acted negligently. Coverage is for supervision of people and general supervision of a UCCE-sponsored programmatic activity. There are some exceptions and limitations which are determined on a case-by-case basis through investigation.
The insurance program does not provide coverage for any personal or real property not which in its care, custody and control. Examples could be ownership of and use of an animal in a project, using one's home, ranch, garden or arena for a program.
| What's Covered* | What's Not Covered |
| Theft | Your own negligence (e.g., spilling coffee on your computer) |
| Vandalism | Earthquakes |
| Fire | Floods |
| Water (only sudden or accidental damage, not from floods) | Changes in temperature or humidity |
| Explosions | Electrical disturbances (i.e., power failure or surge) |
| Lightening | Unexplainable disappearances |
| Windstorms | Deferred maintenance (e.g., leaking roof) |
| Hail | Loss of data |
| Transportation from one site to another | Employees' personal property |
| Building collapse | |
| Most other sudden or accidental damage |
*University-owned property only
Exceptions to the Coverage
The University's property insurance program covers non-University property only under the following circumstances:
The property is
under the University's care, custody, and control
The property is
leased, loaned, or rented under a written agreements signed by authorized campus
personnel
The written
agreement specifically calls for the University to provide property insurance
If You Know Who Did the Damage
University employees working within the course and scope of their employment are not personally liable for damage they cause to University property (although they are subject to applicable disciplinary standards). If the damage is somebody else's fault, and you know who that person is, contact us and we will pursue the liable party for payment.
The Theft Deductible Buy-Down Program
Because theft is such a common cause of loss, the University offers a supplemental insurance program that reduces the deductible for forced entries to $250 (from $1,000) and non-forced entries to $1,000 (from $5,000). Although subject to change, the annual cost for the last several years has been 40 cents for every $100 of value (e.g., $8 per year for a $2,000 computer).
How to File a Claim
If a crime (theft, vandalism, or other suspicious circumstance ) is involved in you loss, call the UC police or local police and have them make a report.
Contact us as soon as you know about the damage. We will determine if your loss is covered and begin the paperwork process. Within three days we will need a completed Property Loss Report (not all sections of the report will apply; complete as much as possible).
Within 60 days we will need the following information:
The police report
number or the report itself, if the loss was reported to the
police.
Proof the
University owned the damaged/stolen property. Invoices and purchase orders are
ideal.
An invoice
itemizing the final repair or replacement cost.
Depending on the circumstances, other documentation may also be needed. If you have any questions, please contact the ANR Risk Management Office.