Asked and Answered

Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions by NDIRF members and agents.

If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, reach out to us here: Contact – NDIRF

General Questions

The NDIRF offers liability, auto, and public assets coverages. Our public assets coverage is similar to the insurance industry’s traditional inland marine coverage. Within our liability coverage, there is an option to include Governance Liability and Professional Liability.

For more information about NDIRF coverages, contact our Underwriting Department.

Since 2019, the NDIRF has administered the North Dakota State Fire and Tornado Fund (NDFT), which provides property coverage (building, personal, outdoor, and trailer) for North Dakota state agencies and political subdivisions, and the State Bonding Fund, which provides employee fidelity risk coverage to state agencies and political subdivisions.

For more information, contact our Special Funds Underwriter.

You must submit an application per each coverage line for which an estimate is requested. That way, we have the best information possible to determine your entity’s eligibility and provide an accurate estimate.

Depending on the coverage line for which an estimate is requested, you must include vehicle and/or equipment schedules.

New NDIRF members must include up to five (5) years of loss history information.

Applications are available on their respective coverage pages:

If you have any questions, please contact our Underwriting Department.

No. The NDIRF does not have specific agency appointments.

For liability, auto, and public assets coverage changes, please reach out to our Underwriting Department.

To request NDFT coverage changes, please reach out to our Special Funds Underwriting Department – NDFT.

To request Bonding Fund coverage changes, please reach out to our Special Funds Underwriting Department – Bonding Fund.

You can find sample coverage documents on the coverage page.  If you are the agent of record for an NDIRF member and have a question regarding their specific coverage details, please contact our Underwriting Department.

Yes, you can download the form from our Reference Section/NDIRF Updates page.

Risk Management Questions

The intent of these surveys is to make you aware of any potential liability hazards. At the time of the survey, one of our Member Services Representatives will be on-site to examine your facilities and/or operational and maintenance policies and procedures.  Our Representatives take photographs and make note of current or potential hazards. After the survey is complete, our Representatives provide you with a report, citing the current or potential hazards and providing recommendations on how to best handle identified hazards.

No. We schedule these surveys on an as-needed basis. Members and agents can reach out to our Member Services Representatives to schedule their surveys.

In many cases, recommendations provided in our Liability Hazard Survey Report are only recommendations; however, in rare instances, we may require one or more mitigation step(s) are made to maintain NDIRF coverage. By mitigating exposures, your entity helps to reduce the chance an accident occurs, helping to keep your premiums at stable and affordable levels.

There are too many criterion to list, but to give you an idea, we refer to safety and accessibility legal standards and industry standards or benchmarks. We also rely on our Member Services Representatives, who have completed numerous risk management training courses and have many years of experience.

Absolutely! We welcome the opportunity to provide a liability assessment specific to your entity’s risk types.

  • Attendees will gain a greater understanding of defensive driving
  • Attendees may be eligible for a discount on their personal automobile insurance
  • School bus drivers will satisfy their yearly training requirement for training

As an NDIRF member, all of your entity’s employees are eligible for free in-person and/or online DDCs.

Contact our Director of Member Services Corey Olson at (701) 751-9107 or Corey.Olson@ndirf.com to schedule DDCs for your entity today!

Contact our Director of Member Services Corey Olson at (701) 751-9107 or Corey.Olson@ndirf.com, and he will walk you through the process. The process is simple and short, so you can get your course scheduled and completed quickly.

Submit your request to our Member Services Department. If we don’t have the knowledge or experience to provide the assistance your entity is looking for, we will direct you to an individual or organization that does.

Safety standards are constantly evolving. It’s important your entity is aware of any changes that may specifically affect your organization and the way you provide services to you employees and community members. Remember, what was once acceptable, and maybe even met code at one time, could now be outdated.

As important as continuous updates are, so is continuous maintenance. Neglected policies, procedures, and/or property are more susceptible to potential liability hazards than those that are continuously reviewed and updated or maintained.

At one point in time, a given policy, procedure, or piece of property may have met legal and/or industry standards and/or codes, but codes and standards change over time. Just because you’re not legally required to bring up to code a given a policy, procedure, or property, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.

If you need assistance regarding the changing codes and/or standards for a specific policy, procedure, or piece of property within your entity, contact our Member Services Department.

Auto Coverage Claim Handling Questions

  • Make sure you and any other party(ies) involved are safe from oncoming traffic.
  • Ensure you and any other party(ies) involved (passengers, other drivers, other passengers, etc.) are OK.
  • Notify law enforcement, if required. Under North Dakota Century Code 39-08-09.1, notification is required if there is an injury, death, or property damage to an apparent extent of at least $4,000. Other states may have different requirements for notification.
  • Exchange the following information from any other party(ies) involved: Names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information.
  • Obtain the following information from any witness(es): Names and phone numbers.
  • Take photos and videos from the accident scene, and write detailed notes about the scene. This information enables us to review specific accident scene details, including lanes, view obstructions, and vehicle resting places.
  • Document the accident, as soon as reasonably practical. Your documentation should include: date, time, and location of the accident, and your written and/or recorded account from the accident. We suggest capturing your account as soon as possible following the accident to ensure details are still fresh in your mind.
  • Discuss accident details with only the NDIRF and law enforcement.
  • Do not commit to paying for damage, even if it is believed you may be at fault. You may not be legally liable for any other party(ies) involved injuries or auto repairs.
  • Report the claim to NDIRFClaims@ndirf.com.

You can take your vehicle to any body shop of your choice. Your NDIRF assigned adjuster and the body shop will review the repairs required to return your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.

All body shops are required to notify your assigned NDIRF adjuster prior to performing repairs beyond those specified in the original estimate. The adjuster must review and approve extra repair costs to ensure supplemental repairs are claim-related. If the body shop performs work without the adjuster’s prior approval, you could be responsible for paying the extra repair costs.

To report a claim, contact your local agent and provide them with the following information:

  • Name and contact information of the vehicle’s driver.
  • Name and contact information of your entity’s employee who is managing the claim, including injuries and repairs.
  • Covered vehicle’s year, make, model, and VIN.
  • Names, addresses, and further contact information of any other party(ies) involved.
  • Basic description of the accident.
  • Injury information.
  • Any accident scene documents, including pictures, video, and/or written notes.

After a claim is reported, it’s assigned to an NDIRF adjuster. Your assigned adjuster will reach out to you to discuss the accident and request additional information as needed. The adjuster may contract with an independent adjuster who will follow-up with you regarding the accident.

The amount of time it takes to process a claim depends on the complexity of the claim, including the number of parties involved and if any injuries occurred.

To help ensure your entity’s claim is processed as fast as possible, be sure to include as much information regarding your claim at the time it’s submitted. This information includes your documented accident scene assets (photos, videos, notes, etc.) and detailed written or verbal descriptions from the driver and any other party(ies) involved in the accident.

Non-complex claims submitted with full information regarding the accident may be processed in 24 hours or less.

If you have an auto claim that requires $3,000 or less in damage repair costs, you can submit it using our Quick Pay Claims Form. By completing this form, you may be given immediate authorization to complete repairs, and payment checks are issued weekly. To view this form, go here: Submit a Claim – NDIRF.

Glass Coverage Claim Handling Questions

No, you can take the covered vehicle to the glass shop or body shop and get the glass repair or replacement completed. After, include the invoice when submitting the claim.

If the claim is submitted purely for glass repair or replacement, comprehensive coverage would apply. If there is damage to glass as part of a collision claim from the vehicle’s overturn or collision with another object, then you have the option of having it covered under collision coverage.

No, the Automobile Memorandum of Coverage waives the deductible for Comprehensive losses caused by fire or lightning or to damaged glass that is repaired and not replaced.

Yes, if the glass repair or replacement has already been completed and the invoice has been paid by the member, submit the claim as a quick pay claim and reimbursement less the applicable deductible will be mailed to the member.

To submit a Quick Pay Claim, go here: Submit a Claim – NDIRF.

Unless there are other circumstances that led to the damage, rocks ‘kicked’ up from another vehicle are considered a road hazard and liability is difficult to establish.

Liability Coverage Claim Handling Questions

  • Provide first aid, if necessary.
  • Contact ambulance service, if necessary.
  • Obtain the following information from any witness(es): Names and phone numbers.
  • Take photos and videos from the accident scene, and write detailed notes about the scene. This information enables us to review specific accident scene details, including property condition, lighting, and weather conditions.
  • Document the accident, as soon as reasonably practical. Your documentation should include: date, time, and location of the accident, and your written and/or recorded account from the accident. We suggest capturing your account as soon as possible following the accident to ensure details are still fresh in your mind.
  • Save on-premise video footage.
  • Report the claim to NDIRFClaims@ndirf.com.
  • Take immediate action with your system to prevent further damage.
  • Advise the property owner to prevent further damage if possible.
  • Take notes, photos, and videos to detail what caused the incident.
  • Take notes, photos, and videos of the damaged property.
  • As soon as reasonably practical, document the incident with:
    • Date, time, and location of the incident.
    • A detailed description of what happened. It is important to document this as it while it is still fresh in your mind.
  • Not necessarily. A full liability investigation needs to be completed to determine if your entity is legally liable for the damage.
  • Do not make commitments or promises to the property owner to pay for the damage.

Who pays for the damage?

  • The property owner may have coverage under their own policy. Remind them to file a claim with their property insurance agent as soon as possible.
  • If the NDIRF adjuster determines the member is liable, the adjuster will work with the property owner to pay what is legally owed.
  • Immediately notify your agent and send them a copy of the documents.
  • Do not discuss the litigation with anyone except your entity’s legal counsel, the NDIRF Claims Department, or legal representatives appointed by NDIRF.
  • Failure to respond to a summons and complaint within 21 days may result in a judgment.

To report a claim, contact your local agent and provide them with the following information:

  • Contact information of employee most familiar with the incident.
  • Names, addresses, and further contact information of any other party(ies) involved.
  • Basic description of the accident.
  • Injury/damage information.
  • Any accident scene documents, including pictures, video, and/or written notes.

After a claim is reported, it’s assigned to an NDIRF adjuster. Your assigned adjuster will reach out to you to discuss the incident and request additional information as needed. The adjuster may contract with an independent adjuster who will follow-up with you regarding the incident.

The amount of time it takes to process a claim depends on the complexity of the claim, including the number of parties involved and if any injuries occurred.

To help ensure your entity’s claim is processed as fast as possible, be sure to include as much information regarding your claim at the time it’s submitted. This information includes your documented accident scene assets (photos, videos, notes, etc.) and detailed written or verbal descriptions from the driver and any other party(ies) involved in the accident.

Non-complex claims submitted with full information regarding the accident may be processed in 24 hours or less.

If you have an auto claim that requires $3,000 or less in damage repair costs, you can submit it using our Quick Pay Claims Form. By completing this form, you may be given immediate authorization to complete repairs, and payment checks are issued weekly. To view this form, go here: Submit a Claim – NDIRF.

North Dakota State Fire and Tornado Fund (Property) Questions

Depreciation is a reduction of value at the time of loss. It can be applied based on age, wear and tear, condition, or useful life expectancy.

Replacement cost is the cost to replace damaged property with materials of the same or similar kind and/or quality.

Actual cash value (ACV) is the difference of the replacement cost of the property or building material, less depreciation.

This is deferment of payment until the property is replaced. It is worth the actual cash value of the property at the time of loss. Replacement cost coverage is contingent on the damaged property being repaired.

One year from the date the settlement check is received to complete the repairs.

The adjuster uses specialized estimating software to calculate repair costs. The software’s per unit cost is regularly updated to reflect current material and labor costs.

If an estimate is presented to a contractor or repair person and additional work is necessary, contact the adjuster to discuss the additional repairs. The adjuster may also contact the contractor to discuss and verify the necessity of the additional repairs.

If the estimate costs seem low, discuss your concerns with the adjuster. If no agreement is reached regarding repair costs, you next step is to obtain at least two competitive bids from contractors in the area for repairs in question.

Forward copies of the bids to the adjuster. He or she will review the bids and contact you to discuss any adjustments. If you’ve already received a settlement check, contact your adjuster, or call the NDIRF at (701) 224-1988.

Yes. You must obtain approval from the assigned adjuster or NDIRF representative before you begin additional repairs or approve additional repair costs. If the adjuster is not contacted, or if you complete repairs at a higher cost without prior authorization, you will be responsible for all additional repair costs.

You can obtain contact information for repair contractors through local or regional building supply outlets and referrals from local schools, churches, businesses, fraternal organizations, and clubs. If you’ve exhausted all available resources, contact the NDIRF at (701) 224-1988.

To obtain the deferment, provide documentation showing the work was completed. Acceptable types of documentation include copies of billing invoices, certificates of completion, cancelled checks, project payment summaries, and photos. Provide documentation to the adjuster to obtain the deferment.

  • Mail: North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund, P.O. Box 2258, Bismarck, ND 58502-2258
  • Fax: (701) 224-0609
  • Email: NDFT@ndirf.com