Rig Insurance question

[andyr354]

Was going through the KK form the other day and noticed the insurance deal. My cherokee has no insurance of any type on it and is not tagged

Does this mean I have to start forking over another $160 a year to my insurance company to participate in the Krawl? If so i guess not a terrible big deal, I guess I could throw a tag on it to and legaly drive it down the road then ;D

[rob83cj8]

This has been a topic of dicussion at our committee meetings and I can say there is no clear cut answer. I realize that that we may and more than likely will get some rigs that are off-road only and are not tagged or insured. Personally, I won't turn these rigs away, if mine was trailered everywhere and never driven anywhere except on the trail, I wouldn't tag or insure mine either. It's not an easy issue and does open up some liability issues for the club, but I'll stand by what I said. If there are other members that feel strongly enough the other way, we'll put it to a vote and the members will decide.

[andyr354]

Has kinda got me thinking to. It is a sue happy world today.
Theoretically what if for instance I blow a brake line or slide down a slick hill into some new TJ, or worse yet somebody gets injured. With no insurance I guess he comes after me for the money. I don' t know how this works since it is not on a road or highway as far as the law goes.
Guess these would be questions for an lawyer, anybody know one?

[ihc6480]

I personnally tag & insure my rig just because of liability issues. But with the custom rock buggies and trail only rigs now-a-days I can't see turning them away because there not street legal and insured.
There will be liability issues whether on or offroad, stop and think about how many vehicles are running around everyday with NO insurance. At least offroad it is a somewhat controled enviroment.

In Andy,s case we can put a student driver sign on his rig so no one will get close to him ;D.

PS: please use another axample besides a blown brakeline ;D

[rob83cj8]

ihc6480 said:

PS: please use another axample besides a blown brakeline ;D

;D LMAO, I got mini-bungee cords keeping the brake lines away from the tires now!

[andyr354]

In Andy,s case we can put a student driver sign on his rig so no one will get close to him ;D.

PS: please use another axample besides a blown brakeline ;D

The SD sticker would be funny

[bluexj89]

This get real tricky. According to the CoE rules for the park vehicles must have ins.But you know the quad, buggy, and Motorcycle guys don't. Personally I will always insure my vehicle even if it is off-road only.

[4x4junk]

I think that when you drive onto off road trails, you are assuming the risks associated. Part of the risk of driving off road trails would be the other vehicle's, with the damage that can occur to them.

Besides, how many people on the trails have anything worth sueing them for? How many people on the trail have the money to pay a lawyer to sue you? Your home, vehicle, and spouse's vehicle cannot be taken. 25% of your wages is all that can be garnished.(unless it's for child support) 25% of my wages isn't worth driving across town to pick up the check!

[bluexj89]

Here is where I think things would get nasty. You are driving up a hill and break/roll itreally doesn't matter. and hurt or kill someone. Then on property damage. I can handle rock rash better than I could Rok Frog bash!

[DadsCJ8]

Have people sign a waiver releasing us from any responsibilty or liability? Or do we already have one of those?

[rob83cj8]

Yup, we already have a waiver.

[4x4junk]

Waivers are always a good idea because the person signing often thinks they have signed their rights to a civil action away.
In the Kansas Krawl application, the waiver could be used if you got sued, to help show the signer knew they were going to participate in a dangerous activity. if the waiver was worded as such.

I hope club members understand that the waiver has no legal power to prevent anyone from sueing.

Does the club have insurance to cover the event?

By the way, who wrote the posted waiver?

[rob83cj8]

4x4junk said:

I hope club members understand that the waiver has no legal power to prevent anyone from sueing.

This is very true and has been discussed alot, a waiver isn't a sue-stopper, but it does provide ammo for the club if anything ends up in court.

4x4junk said:

Does the club have insurance to cover the event?

Unfortunately, no, not this year. It's just way too expensive for the club to get considering our bank balance is barely in double digits. Single day event coverage is going to run a minimum of $500.

4x4junk said:

By the way, who wrote the posted waiver?

I wrote the waiver using another clubs waiver and using a waiver that a lawyer prepared for a friends business(paintball field)and combined the 2 to fit our event. Not necessarily the right way to do it, but when there's very few $$ to go around, you make due with what you have available and considering what attorney's fee's are there's no way we could've afforded one.

Are we taking a risk? Without a doubt. I'm hoping that with the precedent set at the last 8 events I've worked, things go well and everyone has a good time. Most people that go to a 4x4 event realize what the risks are, exceptions being newbies on the easy trail, and accept the risks. This is why I've stressed the easy trail so much to our trail leaders, the easy trail is probably the most difficult trail to lead, you have to teach people that are completely new to our sport how to wheel safely and responsibly and get them through an entire day of wheelin' without a scratch on their brand new rig. It's also the most rewarding when someone's nervous going through the staging area and by the end of the day they're wanting to do Driveshaft. As with any event, 4x4 or otherwise, there are calculated risks, we just have to hope our calculations are correct.