Liability

Liability & Accident Reporting

When you send a Standard Liability Incident Report, regardless of the type of incident, the form must be filled out by the OU employee (not the Claimant), with the following information provided:

Claimant
The person who sustains the injury is the Claimant. You should provide as much information as possible about the person, including their name, address, telephone number and extent of injuries, if any. If a vehicle was involved, please list the year, make, model, and describe any damage.
OU Employee
Please provide the requested information on the Standard Liability Incident Report. Additionally, you should complete the Scope of Employment Form. If a state employee is directly involved in an incident or accident, have it signed by the employee's direct supervisor. If not directly involved, please list the name and telephone number of an employee who has knowledge of the incident and may be contacted if questions arise.
Description of Incident
What happened to the Claimant?
Personal Injury
For slips-and-falls, find out how the claimant was dressed. What were they carrying and how much (arms full, could not see where stepping, etc.)? Where was the claimant injured (i.e., left leg, right knee, lower back, etc.)?
Vehicle Damage
Describe the area of damage (i.e., left front fender, passenger side taillight, right door, etc.) Describe the condition of the vehicle, noting any possible pre-existing damage. Get pictures if possible.
When, Where, and Why
Describe the incident in detail, including the time, day, and date; the exact location (photos are helpful); and any possible causes or contributing factors.
Note if something was broken, unsafe, or improperly maintained (e.g., walkways, stairs, roadways), and whether OU personnel were aware. Indicate if safety procedures were followed and whether OU responded appropriately. Include weather conditions if relevant. Use the Standard Liability Incident Report, and attach additional details using the same outline. All reports and witness statements should be completed immediately when the incident is reported.

How to Report a Third-Party Accident

Read instructions before completing any forms.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Anytime there is a contact with the public concerning an accident or incident:

Immediately report the incident to your supervisor.
Supervisors should notify Enterprise Risk Management of the incident either by phone or email. Do not send any documentation until instructed to do so by Enterprise Risk Management.
Complete the following forms below ONLY when directed to do so by Enterprise Risk Management (forms will be sent out when Legal Counsel approves the investigation). The OU employee reporting the incident - NOT the injured visitor - must fill out the following forms:
- Standard Liability Incident Report (SLIR)
- Scope of Employment (SOE)
Interoffice the originals (Enterprise Risk Management, Rm 314, Evans Hall) or scan/email to norman-riskmanagement@ou.edu.
If an employee is involved in an at-fault accident they are required to take an online defensive driving course within 6 months of the date of accident. If they fail to do so, the employee will be declared uninsurable and not able to drive any State vehicles.
Once a claim is filed, all correspondence is between State Risk Management and the employee/claimant.
If the employee or their supervisor is contacted by another party’s insurance company, that company should be referred to Enterprise Risk Management for further handling.

No statements of any kind should be made to an outside party regarding the details of the accident. Please contact norman-riskmanagement@ou.edu with any questions.

Be sure to check the "Claim Form Requested" either yes or no. State Risk Management does not solicit for claims so if neither box is checked, a claim form will not be sent to the Claimant. Do not, under any circumstances, take documents, estimates, etc. from the Claimant! This causes the claimant to believe that they have already filed a claim and only creates confusion for the Claimant.

When an incident is reported to you or your staff, instruct them to give only the address and telephone number of State Risk Management to the Claimant.

There should not be any statement made by anyone to the Claimant, or anyone else, as to guilt or negligence on anyone's part. This will keep you out of the middle of any confrontation that might develop. When any state employee is assisting the Claimant during an incident, do not suggest, recommend, or insist that the Claimant go to a doctor, call an ambulance, or suggest that the state will pay for it. If the Claimant asks for an ambulance on their own, or is unconscious or disoriented, then accommodate them.

Most of the time, injuries to a state employee would not constitute a tort claim, but would, most likely, be a worker's compensation claim. Original Incident Reports, Scope of Employment, witness statements, pictures, etc. should be sent to:

Enterprise Risk Management
660 Parrington Oval,
Evans Hall. #314
Norman, OK 73019

Please call 325-2490 and/or email norman-riskmanagement@ou.edu if you have any questions.