University Insurance
91ΑΤΖζ participates in the Statewide Automobile Insurance program administered by the State Office of Risk Management. The program is tailored to provide liability coverage for any owned, non-owned, rented or hired autos operated by Texas Southern employees while conducting University business.
Rental Vehicles
When vehicle is rented under the State of Texas contract (Advantage, Avis, or Enterprise) the rental rate includes the following insurance:
- LDW (Loss/Damage Waiver or comprehensive), which covers all damage to the rental vehicle if it was rented under the state contract; and
- Liability, which covers persons and property outside the rental vehicle. The amount of this extended liability insurance is $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 bodily injury per occurrence; and $50,
*DO NOT PURCHASE ADDITIONAL INSURANCE FOR A RENTAL CAR*
If you are involved in an auto accident while using a rental vehicle, it must be reported to the jurisdictional police and the rental car agency immediately. Proof of insurance is located in the glove compartment or on the windshield of all contract rental vehicles. In addition, you must report the accident to the Risk Management Office (713-313-6859) within 24 hours.
Proof of Liability Insurance
When vehicle is rented under the State of Texas contract (Advantage, Avis, or Enterprise) the rental rate includes the following insurance:
- Please contact Mellany Patrong (713-313-6859) to verify that your department vehicle is covered.
- A copy of the liability insurance card is required in the vehicle at all times. Contact the Fleet Manager, Mr. Damon Steward to obtain a copy of the insurance liability card.
Requirements for External Certificates of Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a certificate of insurance?
It's evidence of insurance - proof of a contractor's financial ability to pay for
a loss caused by the contractor's negligence. No coverage benefits are afforded to
the certificate holder.
When are certificates needed?
They're needed when another party performs services on our behalf, has our property in their care, custody, and control, and/or controls or directs our employees. The dollar amount of a contract may not reflect the actual risk. For example, some small-dollar contracts or purchase orders (such as pyrotechnic displays or transportation contracts) are high-risk exposures.
What if I am not sure if a certificate is needed?
Ask: What can possibly go wrong? How likely is it to go wrong? If it does go wrong, how much will it cost? Who should pay for the loss if the contractor does something wrong?
What forms of insurance coverage should I request?
Most contracts and purchase orders require commercial general liability, automobile liability, and workers' compensation insurance. Depending on the exposures, other types of coverage may also be required. Refer to the "Insurance Requirements Checklist"
What amounts of limits should be requested from the contractor?
Refer to the "Minimum Insurance Limit Guidelines"
Are lower limits permitted for small contractors or artisans who are performing small
jobs for us?
No. These are the people we want the limits from, since they may not have the assets
to indemnify us in the case of a serious, underinsured loss.
If a contractor's insurance does not meet our insurance requirements, should we alter the requirements to fit the contractor's insurance?
No. This language has been carefully worded to afford us as much protection as legally possible. Altering the language would weaken our position. If the contractor is unable to comply with the limits requested, contact the Office of Risk Management for guidance.
Should I always ask for 91ΑΤΖζ to be named as an "additional insured"?
Additional insured means that 91ΑΤΖζ will be named as an "insured" on the contractor's insurance policy. If the contractor is negligent and a claim is filed against us, the contractor's insurance company defends the claim for us. The insured may or may not pay an additional premium. We can only be named as additional insured on general liability and automobile liability policies. 91ΑΤΖζ should always be named as the certificate holder and the additional insured.
What if we don't have the certificate when the contractor starts the work?
There are no good choices when this happens (and it's why the insurance specifications should be given to the contractor early). Either we must delay the work, or we must "self insure" the contractor until we receive and accept the certificate. (Don't forget that we self-insure the first $100,000 of any liability loss. So if the contractor does not have insurance, and a claim is filed against us because of the contractor's negligence, 91ΑΤΖζ will have to pay the first $100,000 of that claim.)
Property Program
All SORM client state agencies subject to are eligible to participate in this program. Each agency should consider its unique exposures, amounts at risk, and loss history to determine if property insurance is a cost effective risk transfer mechanism.
What is Covered?
Coverage is provided on an βall-riskβ basis which covers a number of potential claims, including:
- Damage from severe weather β tornado, hail, hurricane, flooding, wildfire
- Damage from vandalism and arson
- Breakdown or explosion of critical equipment, boilers, heating/cooling systems
- Building fire, smoke, lightning damage
- Theft of agency property
- Losses from building collapse, sink hole damage, earth movement
- Optional terrorism coverage