The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Does your Personal Vehicle's Insurance Carrier, know your are a Volunteer Firefighter with Lights/Sirens?
I and some others here at FFN have had an experience with personal vehicle damage while operating as a Volunteer Firefighter.
Sometimes the firefighters fault, other times it was clearly the fault of the other party. Regardless of fault, do you know if your personal insurance carrier requires you to report that you are running FD lights/sirens on your POV?
In my case, State Farm did require pre-notification and I didn't understand their policies... which was a very interesting discovery at a time of unease.
Well, do you know?
Sometimes the firefighters fault, other times it was clearly the fault of the other party. Regardless of fault, do you know if your personal insurance carrier requires you to report that you are running FD lights/sirens on your POV?
In my case, State Farm did require pre-notification and I didn't understand their policies... which was a very interesting discovery at a time of unease.
Well, do you know?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
-
Generally what happens in the FD circuit is the FD insurance will cover what the motorists insurance doesn't cover. (including deductables) I know our FD's insurance (VFIS) covers it that way.
-
Permalink Reply by turk182 on
-
We use to have VFIS but switched to another company and it is in our policy to cover our members vehicles on department business.
-
Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
-
All good until it comes time for them to payout- I'd be careful as you don't want to suddenly find you're not covered....
-
Permalink Reply by PFC Harmon on
-
I had state farm and the agent was my neighbor so she new I was a firefighter/emt. I assumed it was a don't ask don't tell. I responded to a call one night parked in a ditch my truck was 2 foot off the road and I had all my lights on tail light strobes and 2 light sticks in the back glass. A guy came around the curve rubbernecking wiped my truck out and another firefighters truck. I went to the inssurance company the next morning and was told that I was'nt covered because I was using my truck as a fire department vehicle. After alot of headache they got it worked out somehow. Bottom line I would make sure they know. Stay safe
-
-
What company is this. I thought state farm would give me a break for having CDL's but they raised my rates instead.
-
Permalink Reply by Josh Sullivan on
-
i have state farm here in texas and a class a cdl but not sure for raised prices, also run lights and siren. The company knows i'm with a vfd but no notice on premiums but will check it out
-
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
-
Yes; in fact; he used to be a member of our fire department until he moved to the next town over. He still has his office in our village, but he is no longer on.
So, do you ask the question, thinking that we should pay more/pay less for our auto insurance, because we drive fast/drive with due caution...
Come on; you didn't just wake up thinking that today you would ask this question. Got a squirrel chewing on your nuts?
Buddy?
TCSS.
Art
-
Permalink Reply by FETC on
-
Art,
Not sure if this was to me as the original thread but no I am not looking for anyone to pay more. My POV was involved in a FD related MVC. My vehicle was ONLY covered under my own personal insurance, it was parked at a call in which I ran with my VFD. Actually 1/2 mile from my house, FD was 4 miles away. It was parked at the scene and struck by another non-insured motorist who was passing by. Witnessed by the PD and I was sure I couldn't have a better witness on my side...
After the truck left the scene on a flat bed, I was informed by the PD that the "other party" was uninsured. My state does not require it until you have an incident? Good old live free or die state.
When I notified my insurance agent, he was surprsed to hear I had been a VFD. I was also told by my town, that I was on my own (no coverage for our POV's) from my town. When the claim was placed on my personal vehicle insurance under that portion we pay for "uninsured motorists" a person from the big corporate office, called to state they were never informed the vehicle had emergency useage for the VFD and therefore if they chose to, may deny the claim as it was not being used for personal useage, as claimed by the original policy. They actually ask all of us, how many miles we travel per day, who drives the vehicle, etc.
Bottom line was for a while I was without my new truck, I never got it back as it was totalled. Not sure if it would be fixed by the town or my insurance.... Ultimately the town bailed on me, no help what so ever for my financial loss. I actually had to lawyer up and threaten to sue everyone involved. Let me state, meeting with your town manager and telling him thanks for having the volunteers backs is a great place to be as a firefighter. My Fire Chief was absolutely useless...
My insurance ultimately paid my claim less my $1000 deductible and the town walked scott free. My insurance sued the motorist, as far as I know 16 years later they never got paid back a dime. My personal insurance went up as I had a very big claim without a payee and I had to shop for another carrier that was cheaper.
Now, as for home life... not to mention the inconvenience of being down a car, the phone calls, claims reps, renting a car out of pocket, and your wife wondering if you were to make the ultimate sacrafice on the next run, who would your family have security.
So I learned alot, and want no other brother to suffer my pain, and posed the question to ask your department, "Does your department, their insurance and/or your personal insurance really have your back?"
-
Permalink Reply by Aaron Smith on
-
HAHA, my vehicle isn't even in my name, much less do they know I respond in it...
-
-
I was messin' with you a little with the whole squirrel thing.
That's one of those Homer Simpson moments.
Makes sense, but I wonder what it would do if you cold called your POV agent and said, "Hi; I sometimes drive fast and park my car along very busy interstates for long periods of time and did I mention that I volunteer on our fire department and respond in my vehicle, which is why I drive fast sometimes and I have my car equipped with stingers and ringers and woop-woops and oh-shits...what's my premiums going to be and should I be talking to that little lizard?
Man; I don't know if that is something that you deal with at the time or you put it out on the front end.
It has me scratching my head, but got me to thinking.
TCSS.
Art
-
-
Well you know the whole squirrel thing was a bit funny.
It is the same with personal lights and sirens in my state. The Fire Chief is supposed to issue an authorization card to each volunteer. This is proof the lights and sirens are allowed by an official FD organization. The motor vehicle inspection station is supposed to ask for the card. Most car dealership's will ask to see your card, otherwise you will need to remove the lights to obtain a State DMV inspection sticker.
To assist an old chief before you scratch away what hair still remains.... well in your case, if you have VFIS or some other insurance coverage for your members, then in this case I guess I would wait and tell your personal insurance agent when the time comes or needed. Because many here have stated, their personal vehicles are covered under the town during "official business" and if their insurance doesn't pay then at least they are covered. Doesn't fix the financial impact of future increased premiums and points though.
I for one find it hard to believe there is insurance coverage on POV's in which the insurance carrier for the town isn't requiring a list of driver's names, their vehicle information and their driver's license #s. I have been on many departments in my state, volunteer, paid-call, combination and none of which provided coverage on a POV.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
