Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 37 - INSURANCE Part
Part I - Insurance and Related Matter
Subpart 1 - Insurance and Related Matters
Chapter 7 - Reporting of Claims
Section I-703 - Reporting of Boiler and Machinery Claims

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 insurance coverage for bodily injury and third party property damage claims where such losses result from state-owned boiler and machinery equipment, and for property damage to state-owned boiler and machinery equipment.

C. All claims for damage to boiler and machinery equipment are to be reported to the Office of Risk Management's Property Claim Unit in writing. Any claim involving bodily injury is to be reported by telephone to the Office of Risk Management's Property Claims Unit.

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

E. Information required to be submitted when a claim is reported to the Office of Risk Management's Property Claim Unit includes the following:

F. After a loss has occurred, the property which has been damaged is to be protected against further damage and is to be made available for inspection by a claims adjuster.

G. If replacement, repair, reconstruction, or rebuilding is not commenced within 36 months of the loss date for all state property losses; or if a claim remains inactive for 36 months after replacement, repair, reconstruction or rebuilding is commenced; or if approval is not obtained from the commissioner of administration within the same period of time for expenditure of insurance proceeds for some other purpose, the claim file will be closed.

H. 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 Property Claim Unit for further handling.

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